by Review by Abby Kenna
“Spring Knows Its Way Back Home” by Jacqueline Lee Gibson is an achingly delicate song, with sweeping string arrangements and graceful whispers of piano. Both poignant and uplifting, Gibson’s expressive delivery guides listeners through a poetic exploration of love, darkness, and the faith found within.
With cinematic ambience, “Spring Knows Its Way Back Home” opens into a mystical arrangement of piano and strings. Wandering across the upper register, the piano resonates with inquisitiveness as a swell of strings blossom beneath. Billowing up with tension, the piano hangs on the echo of a note until the arrangement suddenly melts away with the start of the verse. Jacqueline Lee Gibson’s rich voice fills the mix, her expressive tone elaborating the stirring ache of the instrumentation. Through a lush poetic lens, Gibson questions:
“It’s easy to mourn the roses when they’re gone,
But would that be fair to wintertime?”
Although the verses pull back on the arrangement, replicating the distant, somewhat bleak outlook of winter, the chorus begins to bloom with the warmth of spring. The piano unfolds into swells of arpeggios, filling the space left by the verse with a spark of joy. Gibson’s voice glows with this newfound glimmer of hope, flush with faith like the first flower after a long winter. Waves of strings roll in as the chorus builds up to its title line:
“This may not be your favorite season,
Hearts frozen to the bone…
But spring knows its way back home.”
Venturing from the poetic lens of the first verse and chorus, “Spring Knows Its Way Back Home” flows into a more lucid, introspective look at love, illuminating the chorus in a new light. As the perspective widens, the fervor of the lyricism ripples out, inspiring the strings and piano to surge to greater heights before quieting to a whisper at the bridge. Rising up to one final, reflective chorus, Gibson embraces the rosy promise of spring’s return, assuring that she “knows [she] feels a stir” within.
Although in times of darkness we often notice no light, Jacqueline Lee Gibson reminds us that the hopeful warmth of spring always returns to relieve us from winter. “Spring Knows Its Way Back Home” is a heartwarming outlook on love and faith lilting within a beautiful, dynamic arrangement.
About Jacqueline Lee Gibson
Jackie Gibson Biography
JACKIE GIBSON is rapidly becoming one of the fastest rising new voices in the Los Angeles Jazz/Pop Scene. As with all overnight successes, Ms. Gibson’s musical journey has been evolving for decades. At a young age, her life was filled with music, having a father who sang in piano bars and a mother who put her to bed to classical music. By 16, she was a part of L.A.’s Folk Movement , appearing alongside the likes of Joni Mitchell at venues like The Troubadour and Ciro’s. Over the years, Jackie has performed all over the southland, at popular events in the Redlands Bowl, Barnsdall Park Garden Party, and The Kodak Theater. Proud of her Latina heritage, Jackie is a bilingual vocalist who has been seen on KMEX’s “Nosotros”.
Jackie has received enthusiastic acclaim for her appearances at Redwhitebluezz, Upstairs At Vitello’s, (now re-named Feinstein’s at Vitellos,) The Gardenia, Stoney Point, The Mixx, Smokehouse, Catalina Bar & Grill , the Mbar and the Derrick Lewis’ “Better With A Band Music series” in Palm Springs .
In 2014, Jackie created “JAZZ DEL CORAZON ”, a series of local fundraising events assisting struggling fellow jazz artists in various life- altering states of need. She was joined by several wonderful co- producers for different fundraisers, including Clifford Bell; most recently, working with co-producers , Cathy Segal-Garcia and Gary Brumburgh, to produce the “Jazz vs. Cancer” benefit for WeSPARK Cancer Center and for City of Hope. These events were some of the many memorable LA area music events serving our local based musicians and singers. Through her non- profit organization, Jackie continues to be a strong and vital LA pulse when it comes to the spirit of giving and healing via her enthusiasm for all types of music. Jackie is also, half of the music duo, “Dos Divas”, along with Lorraina Marro. They have done several Latin themed shows , sharing music from their Hispanic backgrounds and telling stories of what it was like growing up Latina, sharing the classic Latino music, that are tradtional and loved by many. Jackie is also a great lover of Big Band music and she is a featured vocalist with the Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous 8 Big Band. She is so grateful to be able to sing the classic and well known songs from the Great American Songbook with such an amazing ensemble. Jackie is following her heart by using her musical talents and professional relationships to provide support and comfort for those in our music community in extreme needwith her non-profit organization. Presently, she is working in the studio with record producer, Stephan Oberhoff, on several
single releases that will be compiled into an EP at the end of 2021. She has also been in the studio with collaborator, cabaret singer-songwriter, Wayne Moore, recording the music for their upcoming children’s story/book
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