Meet Jamaal Wicks

We were lucky to catch up with Jamaal Wicks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamaal , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

This all-to-common occurrence was one that used to trouble me quite often in my earlier years, mainly because I didn’t understand that trying to kick and punch my way through writer’s block didn’t produce the type of results that I wanted. To remedy this, what has worked most consistently is getting up and walking away from my keyboard or writing station and doing something completely unrelated. I will go about my day or evening, even being so bold as to go to sleep. Then I’ll wake up around 4 or 5am and whatever I was struggling with the day before flowed more freely in my waking up state. And while I can’t explain the science behind why it works, I know that it allows me to wake up in a more relaxed and free-flowing space where thoughts and ideas connect more fluidly.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At my core, I’m a creative who is still realizing how far, deep, and wide that goes. I am mostly known as a trumpet player who loves to partake of jam sessions around Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas. There’s something incredibly freeing about being onstage surrounded by some of the best musicians around, creating special moments that will never be replicated again. The camaraderie, spontaneity, and chemistry are all elements that I truly love about jazz.

To others, I’m an independent artist who sings, plays keys and produces music. Most recently, I released an album titled Heart Things that I fully self-produced that combines all the many facets of my creative persona into one collection of all original music. I’d like to think that it’s an easy listen. You can put it on while you’re cruising or working around the house. Or you can listen to examine all its layers. You’ll hear various elements of jazz throughout. I’ve heard on multiple occasions that my voice is reminiscent of jazz icon Michael Franks. I used to listen to him a lot in my early years and I have a lot of respect for his singing and composition style. So peaceful and unforced. Also, I love to use my music as a vehicle to encourage and inspire those around me. This album can be found on your favorite streaming platforms and digital stores. Check it out.

The latest title I’ve added to the mix is now being an author. I just released my first book titled Somewhere There’s a Love For Me that falls into the category of literary fiction. This e-book and audiobook are currently available on Amazon, Kindle, Audible, and ITunes. While this appears to have come out of the blue, my love of storytelling developed during my elementary school years. I recently mentioned to my wife that I remembered writing my first story in 2nd or 3rd grade titled Mean King, Nice King. Clearly, the love of storytelling never left. I just got involved in music at a young age and allowed my creativity to develop in other ways. As the saying goes, “You are at 80 who you were at 8.” Once a storyteller, always a storyteller.

A recurring theme that shows up in both my book and music is my faith and walk as a Christian. While it is a major part of who I am, I don’t force anything I believe on anyone. We all live according to what we think is best for us. But as for works I create, I love to include little splashes of light that are reflective of God’s love and kindness.

I strive to be as versatile as possible. I perform in big bands, orchestras, and small group jazz settings. I’ve played on cruise ships, with cover bands, and also in church settings. I love music and will always strive to live up to what the moment requires.

As an independent artist, I’ve released 3 albums, and 3 singles, all currently available 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

7. Somewhere There’s a Love For Me (2025) Book – literary fiction

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

What a great question. First and foremost, do everything in your power to be great at your craft. Not mediocre, great. Whatever your lane is, do it to the best of your ability. Study your craft from all angles. Strive to be as fluid as possible in understanding even the nuances of your discipline. For me, being a trumpet player requires me to first be technically proficient. I have to be able to play the darn thing. So with that, I work on various exercises to improve my sound, flexibility, articulation, range, and dexterity. After the technical aspect, I study the jazz language. You cannot speak a language that you haven’t submersed yourself in. If it never goes into you, it can never come out. Live it……Love it. I study improvisors, compositions, the mood that the artists create, and anything that comes to mind.

Secondly, accept that you will have to spend a lot of time alone. Whatever your discipline, understand what will have the greatest value 10-20 years from now. I’m not saying don’t ever hang with your friends. Just prioritize. This was difficult for me to understand that during my early college years, I was very social and went to lots of parties. There were so many new experiences that came with learning to be a responsible adult. I wasted a lot of time just doing “stuff.” Thankfully, I didn’t stray too far from this beautiful music that I love. To walk into your practice or study space, away from all the noise, is where you begin to discover yourself. Embrace who you are and who you want to be. For better or worse, your story will affect the next generation. Either by emulating what you did, or by observing you and learning what not to do. We all play a part whether we want to or not. That’s just the way it is.

Thirdly, know that it’s okay to not have all the answers. There can be a lot of layers to unpack and I know that it can sometimes be overwhelming. Regardless of the area you’re operating in, there’s always someone who has walked the path you’re on. I would highly recommend having someone that can serve as a mentor or even someone more tenured in your field that you can bounce questions off of from time to time. I would also suggest joining like-minded communities of your peers.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The dichotomy between my parents are that which reflected two sides of the same coin. Both sides were very much needed. I think it should be stated that my parents divorced when I was very young, so their impact reflected in different ways. I lived with my mom after the divorce, so she was on the front lines of my daily wants and needs. The greatest thing that my mother did was listen and observe. She listened when I asked to play violin in 4th grade and observed how much I enjoyed learning it for three years. She listened in 7th grade when I said I wanted to play trumpet because my new school didn’t have an orchestra program. While my mother wasn’t very vocal, her observations and continued support were unmatched. She bought my violin, first keyboard, and my first two trumpets.

My father, on the other hand, was the ying to the yang. He was the extremely vocal presence that would always tell me how proud of me he was. If my high school band played a Christmas parade in very cold temps, my dad would be marching beside me on the sideline cheering me on. There was a time where someone in a store recognized his last name and asked if he was my dad. They joked about how he went on and on about how proud he was of me. His support was unmatched.

I wouldn’t be who I am without either of their contributions to my life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jamaalwicksmusic
• Facebook: @jamaalwicksmusic
• Linkedin: Jamaal Wicks
• Youtube: @jamaalwicksmusic
• Other: For inquires, you can contact me at [email protected].

Image Credits

Terrence Wicks, Justin Morris