JUDI, JUDI, JUDI!

JUDI JACKSON, a UK-based soul-jazz chanteuse originally from Roanoke, Virginia, releases ‘Peel Me A Grape,’ the second single from her upcoming second studio album My American Songbook, the follow-up to 2021’s highly acclaimed Grace. The new album will be released on November 10th ahead of a concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on November 12th as part of this year’s London Jazz Festival. The set features ten tracks where Jackson offers distinctive makeovers of jazz standards and classic pop songs, including her version of George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes The Sun,’ which is already available as the set’s first single.

Raised singing gospel music in her local church, Jackson later took inspiration from the likes of Betty Carter, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. Their long-standing influence can be felt in My American Songbook. Featuring smartly arranged, free-flowing reworkings of standards including ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me,’ ‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’ and ‘Stormy Weather,’ as well as Randy Newman’s ‘Baltimore’ and The Beatles’ ‘Here Comes The Sun,’ the album showcases Jackson’s masterful technical ability and the complex depth of emotion she brings to her vocal performances.

Says Judi Jackson about her new album: “I chose the title My American Songbook because these pieces of gold or American classics and songbook standards fill my heart with joy. The relationship to the music is a very close one because there are songs that I’ve been singing since I was 15 years old. Every song on this album has had a really big impact on me, my life, and where I am today.”

She adds: “With this album I’m telling my story, even though there are songs that have already been written by other composers and sung by other artists, once you allow the song to come into your soul and you deliver it in your own way, you’re immediately telling your own individual story. And we’re paying homage to the tradition of jazz, simply by allowing the stories to be told and to be heard and to fall upon receiving ears.”

Since being named Jazz FM Vocalist Of The Year in 2020, Jackson has continued to build a reputation as an enigmatic songstress in possession of one of the scene’s most engaging voices. Her major label debut Grace, released last year on Sony Music, received widespread international acclaim and earned an array of rave reviews along with an appearance on BBC 2’s Later…With Jools Holland.

‘Peel Me A Grape’ is released today. My American Songbook is released on November 10th.

Read SJF’s 2017 interview with Judi here: https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/interviews/shes-worth-it-uk-based-us-singersongwriter-judi-jackson-talks/