Habaka signs record deal for releases on UK label Expansion Records!
“Love Is Never Lost” is the first single release on the UK’s leading classic and new soul label Expansion Records, sung by the 2019 BMA (Black Music Awards) recipient of the “Best Female Jazz Vocalist” for Las Vegas, also known as The Panther of Cremona. This debut single is released on the 15 January 2021.
Habaka, the four octave Blues, Jazz and Gospel chanteuse was born in Nashville, TN into a family of musicians that played a part in American music history: her grandfather Jeri Jackson pianist and promoter, Grandmother Irene Jackson dancer, her mother Mary Ann Jackson a dancer and jazz vocalist, and her father Melvin Jackson band leader to Bobby Bluebland 16 years, and saxophonist to the legendary B. B. King (King of the Blues) for more than a decade.
Habaka has performed on some of the hottest Blues and Jazz stages in the world. The famous Catalina Jazz Club (Los Angeles), The 56th, and 57th Annual Jazz and Blues Riverboat Cruise (Hartford, Connecticut), Suoni Di Marca Festival (Treviso, Italy) (Gdynia Blues Festival (Poland), Carpenetto Romano, San Vito Blues Soul Festival, Portello River Festival, Jazz in San Donà, Budapest Blues Festival, Tropea Blues, Torritta Blues, Pordenone Blues Fest, Narcaro Blues, Narni Blues, Bellinzona Blues Fest, and Trasimeno Blues) she has also shared the stage with such artists such as; The Original Blues Brothers, Bo-Diddley, Wilson Picket, Kenny Neal, Solomon Burke, Louisiana Red, Sandra Hall, Peach's Staten, Ana Popovic, Scott Henderson, Sugar Blue and B. B. King to give you an idea of where she's been and where she's going.
In 2012, Habaka collaborated with the Bella Blues Band now called Shakeblues in Europe where she was featured on their new CD entitled "Blue @", in March 2014 Habaka kfj under the distribution of Tate Music Group released her CD entitled " I Will Wait For You".
In 2016 Habaka released "Heritage Blue" on Husky Tone Records, stepping into her inheritance, paying homage to her lineage and she wears the crown belting out such classics as “The Thrill Is Gone”, “Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City)”, “I Put A Spell On You”, with a sprinkle of originals presented Habaka Style, bringing into the 21st century, a ‘New Blues’.
Reared in Bloomfield, CT, Habaka is known for changing her style with ease and Blues is no different. As she steps up to the mic you know from the first note that you're in for a special treat. Her voice is smooth and crystal clear, aggressive yet sultry, commanding just what she wants from her musicians with the energy of Tina Turner, the sassiness of Eartha Kitt, big vibrato of Etta James and Mahalia Jackson. She wears the crown, it’s in her DNA!
About Expansion Records:
Expansion Records is the UK’s premier modern soul label for brand new music and reissues since 1986. The award winning label’s first releases in the 1980s were through Richard Searling and John Anderson from Soul Bowl Records in Kings Lynn. Ralph Tee joined in 1989, around the time Ronnie McNeir released his Life and Love album. Early success came with the singles Give Me The Sunshine by Leo’s Sunshipp and James King’s Memory.
In 2008 Expansion Records joined forces with Jazz FM for joint venture label Jazz FM records, creating a series of compilations including The Sound of Jazz FM, The Soul of Smooth Jazz and Funky Sensation.
Critiques:
- “I played this newest release on Husky Tone Records, and I'd have to say that moniker: "husky tone", is righteously earned. ” — Jacquie “Lady J Griot" Maddix KFAI Radio.
- "All in all it has to be said the lady can really sing"... (Living Blues Magazine)
- “Her voice is pure and dexterous”. Peggy Guggenheim collection. (WORD PRESS).
- “In his play, "Twelfth Night" Shakespeare wrote, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Habaka is a perfect example of all three”. …. (Anthony Darkstone, Global Music Club-UK)
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