Judi Jackson’s debut album ‘Grace’ has established the rising London artist as the new great hope of the UK’s jazz and soul scenes. Shimmering with a bright, blissful atmosphere, the album has seen Judi grace the cover of Blues & Soul, while diverse radio support has included sessions and/or interviews for Jazz FM, Radio 4, Radio 5 and BBC London. Judi now presents another engaging insight into her talent by sharing a new video for her single ‘River’.
‘River’ is a deeply affecting ballad which seems to exist out of time and space, as it flows from grief to resolution to peace, with Judi’s eloquently poised vocal expressing every nuance of emotion. Set in the ornate oasis of Clapton Tram Studio, the song’s video reveals Judi to be a diva in all the best ways: her natural yet magnetic performance is both sensual and mysterious, while her styling is delicately decadent. The video was directed by Ricky Allen, whose credits include Mimi Webband Little Mix.
Judi says, “The song river for me is about the flow of life in music and love. And it means the world to me because this album means the world to me and this is the first music video from the album. It felt amazing to create the music video, I had so much fun making it! Big thank you to Sony and the team ... I cant wait for everyone to see it!”
After recently playing a sold-out album launch show at Notting Hill Arts Club, the next chance to see Judi in action comes with a live performance and signing session at Rough Trade East on April 21st. ‘Grace’ is an album which sees Judi fulfilling the potential that saw her crowned as Vocalist of the Year at the 2020 Jazz FM Awards.
While jazz is a key aspect of her artistry, the album shows that she isn’t going to repeat the same idea or even style twice, as moves confidently from the glorious soul of ‘Crashing Down’ to the Stevie Nicks-tinged majesty of ‘Magic’ via a true space oddity with the galactic synths and staccato rhymes of the Blue Lab Beats collab ‘Space Gyal’. Finally, Judideparts with ‘Grace’, a song of such unadorned elegance that it couldn’t be titled anything else.
Judi co-wrote every song on the album. Key collaborators include production from Tommaso Colliva (Erykah Badu, Damon Albarn’s Africa Express) and string arrangements from Grammy Award-winner Davide Rossi (Coldplay). It also includes contributions from the cult Brazilian artist Arthur Verocai plus Reuben James (John Legend, Nile Rodgers), Tim Baxter(Jasmine Thompson, John Newman), Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist) and Benny Atlas.
Judi Jackson grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, playing piano and singing in the church choir.
Inspired by the greats - Bettie Carter, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone - her career started to take shape in her teens. She was just 16 when she opened for Mavis Staples, and two years later, teamed with jazz fusionists Snarky Puppy to record her own song, ‘Only Love’, for their Grammy-winning album ‘Family Dinner: Volume One’.
She later moved to London, where she channelled influences such as Joni Mitchell, Sade and Erykah Badu into her acclaimed EP ‘Blame It On My Youth’. She ended 2021 with a sold-out London show at the Jazz Café.
