Jessica Fichot Band, photo by Diego Ruvalcaba
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Jessica Fichot is accompanied by her accordion, toy piano, and fiery band in the program New Spring 新春. The program features jazzy Mandarin classics from Old Shanghai and her own multilingual songs that hail the joy of new beginnings.
Singing in French, Mandarin, English, and Spanish, Fichot draws from her multi-ethnic French, Chinese, and American heritage, as well as her youth in Paris, to create a fusion of French chanson, Shanghai jazz, gypsy swing, and international folk. The concert includes Mandopop, upbeat call-and-response songs, and Fichot’s catchy originals. Joining her onstage is clarinetist Mitch Marcus, guitarist Vincent Islas, bassist Michael Papillo, and special guest Annie Zhou on guzheng (Chinese zither), a performer and composer known for her acclaimed performances and award-winning original music.
Selections announced from the stage.
Jessica Fichot, photo by Diego Ruvalcaba
About Jessica Fichot
Born in the US and raised in France by a Chinese mother and French father, Jessica Fichot has charmed audiences worldwide, performing in the US, China, Singapore, Mexico, Canada, and Western Europe. She also writes music for educational programs and indie video games. Her artistry and singing voice can be heard in French, Mandarin, and English on television shows, films, and commercials.
Annie Zhou courtesy of artist
About Annie Zhou
Annie Zhou is an artist, composer, and instructor specializing in the guzheng, the 21-string traditional Chinese instrument with over 2,500 years of history. Based in Los Angeles, Zhou is devoted to promoting and integrating Chinese traditional instruments into performance in the United States to bring this rich, "new," thousands-year-old sound into the Western music scene. She has been the vice chairman of SINO-US Chinese Musician Association and founded the Amare Girls Band, a Los Angeles group that melds Chinese and Western instruments into a unique listening experience. She studied under guzheng master/composer Changyuan Wang, Chinese instrumentalist/composer Qichao Liu, American composer/improviser Paul Novros, Vinny Golia, and Michael Fink.