We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamaal Wicks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamaal below.

Hi Jamaal, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

While all of my projects are meaningful, the one that stands out the most is my recently released album, Heart Things, available on all platforms. Unlike any full length project that I’ve released in the past, this is the first one that I fully self-produced. Everything that you hear from the keys, vocals, trumpet…literally every sound, was done by me. It’s something I’ve always envisioned that I would do. With that, it’s a great showcase of my writing (all original music), arranging, understanding of jazz harmony, improvisation, and the ability to tell a story through song. You will be encouraged. You will relax. Hopefully, you’ll revisit and share it. From this project, I also have my first official music video. Look up the song Heart Things on YouTube. This was another bucket list item. This project felt like a rebirth. I love it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Though I spent time in elementary and junior high learning the violin and trumpet, the desire to be a creator surfaced during my high school years. My mother bought me a keyboard that allowed me to put tracks together. My obsession and attention to detail told me that I had a special connection to music. I was also in the school jazz and concert band, and was blessed to have many enriching experiences. For example, during my senior year, our jazz and concert band traveled to New York to perform in competition with other schools around the country. This experience awarded me Best Jazz Soloist at the Big Apple Classic. I was highly encouraged by this. I still have the trophy. Many thanks to directors Christopher Piecugh, Jackie Thomas, O’Neal Douglas. They truly challenged us to be our best.

During the following college years, I continued to play in as many ensembles as possible. I even had the opportunity to tour with blues icon Bobby “Blue” Bland and open for jazz artist Robert Glasper. I am thankful and learned so much from both of these experiences. As I began to mature creatively, I desired to encourage the world around me by incorporating gentle messages of inspiration and Christian themes into my music. (Check out my song Meant to Fly from my Heart Things album). I am continuously inspired by all facets of music, from Coltrane to Beethoven, from the vocals of Louis Armstrong to Bon Jovi, and everything in between.

As an independent artist, I’ve released 3 albums, and 3 singles, all currently in digital stores.

1. If You Were Ever Alone (2010) – album
2. Back Again for the First Time (2014) – album
3. 4U2Relax (2020) – single
4. You Are My Source (2024) – single
5. Heart Things (2025) – album
6. Better Together (2025) – single

One thing that sets me apart from others is that I don’t believe my purpose is to solely attempt to wow audiences with virtuoso trumpet performances. Of course, I want to be the best trumpet player that I can be. But when listening to my projects, you also learn that there are other ways to communicate with audiences, and that the power of words cannot be underestimated. I don’t want people to just hear me. I want them to feel me. I want to speak to them in a real way.

As a trumpet player, you can find me at jam sessions around Dallas-Fort Worth, or sitting in with different bands. I perform in numerous genres, including jazz, blues, r&b, and classical….wherever a trumpet player is needed. I’ve played countless weddings and other events, including a few contracts on Holland America Cruise Line with the B.B. King Blues Club Allstars, so I try to remain as versatile as possible. If you need music for an event, let’s talk.

I am most proud that I cannot be boxed into be one thing. The more you learn about me, the more layers you will discover. I recently established Jamaal Wicks Music LLC and Jam4all Music, my music label. I look forward to bringing more quality music through this establishment. My music will always be meaningful. I want to not only speak to the hearts of those who want to hear me, but speak to those who need to hear me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I will say that being a creative is not a choice. It is not a choice to wake up every morning with melodies, orchestrations, and jazz flowing through my mind before I even get out of bed. It’s not a choice that while driving, windshield wipers and turn signals turn into cues for me to start tapping on the steering wheel. It’s not a choice that when I hear music, my brain begins to process possible chords and pitches. I can’t help that I like to guess the pitch of the train siren as it passes by. Creatives are wired differently. We don’t “get” to create. We “have” to create. Whether it’s considered a hobby or not, music is very much a part of our identity. There is a part of us that can only be expressed through music. If you try to silence that part of us, you are trying to silence us.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that music is one of the most powerful forces on earth. Music heals hearts. Music consoles. Music stimulates the imagination unlike any other discipline. Music brings us together. Music calms the savage beast, as the saying goes. Music fits into every aspect of our lives. I get to be a part of that. I am blessed beyond measure and I don’t take it lightly. I am in constant pursuit of how to be a better communicator of this beautiful art form.

Contact Info:

• Website: Under construction
• Instagram: jamaalwicksmusic
• Facebook: jamaalwicksmusic
• Linkedin: Jamaal Wicks
• Youtube: jamaalwicksmusic
• Other: tiktok – jamaalwicksmusic

Image Credits

Twicks Photography, Justinvision