“Owen’s expressive, crystal-clear voice imparts drama and vitality” – Jazz Journal
Judith Owen is a performer whose stylistic range spans rock, pop, classical, jazz, blues, and musical theatre. Owen is also a comedic actress and master storyteller. Judith grew up in London surrounded by classical music, ballet, theatre, and the fine arts. Further, she was also exposed to many jazz icons and Broadway musicals that her parents loved. Thus, this mixture would become her signature sound.
Owen quickly began performing at a variety of different venues around London. Her unique hybrid of classical/jazz-influenced styled sound soon affirmed a regular slot at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s.
Judith’s new live album, 2024’s Comes Alive, follows her hugely successful 2022 album Come On & Get It. That album received over 2.6 million album streams and more than a million YouTube views. Judith Owen Comes Alive features sixteen tracks recorded live over a weeklong residency in Bern, Switzerland at Marians Jazzroom.
Owen conceived of the project because of her childhood fascination with the music of the “pioneering but oft forgotten women” of jazz and blues. For example, Julia Lee, Blossom Dearie and Nellie Lutcher. She discovered these women hidden in her father’s record collection alongside Oscar Peterson and Jelly Roll Morton. There, Owen became captivated and enchanted by these “unapologetic” chanteuses of the 40’s/50’s. They were singing about sex and enjoying it, at a time when women were meant to sing about romance. Then, Owen made it her mission to dig deep and find out more from both a musical and historical perspective. The result is a joyful, uplifting, and empowering project. Moreover, she honors these entertaining women who broke the glass ceiling with their stiletto heels and were proud of it!
Recommended for fans of Davina and The Vagabonds, Veronica Swift, Blossom Dearie and Peggy Lee.
LEARN MORE: https://judithowen.net/
- Genre:
- Jazz
