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Habaka KFJ

HER VOICE IS PURE AND DEXTEROUS...PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION (WORD PRESS)

About Me

The Panther of Cremona, Italy

Born in Nashville, reared in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and artistically nurtured across the United States and Europe, Habaka KFJ inherited music as a birthright.

Her grandmother, Minnie Leona Jackson, was a Gospel singer in Atlanta who filled churches with spirit and grace. Her grandfather, Jeri Jackson, was a pianist, bandleader, and promoter who led the Jeri Jackson Review, placing Habaka behind the scenes of live music from an early age. Her mother, MaryAnn Jackson, was a Jazz vocalist whose voice shaped Habaka’s ear for tone and phrasing, while her father, Melvin Jackson, performed internationally as baritone saxophonist for B.B. King’s Orchestra.

From sacred hymns to smoky jazz rooms and Blues stages across the world, Habaka absorbed it all and transformed it into a career spanning three decades defined by elegance and fire.

Her critically acclaimed album Heritage Blue produced multiple chart-topping singles, including “Love On The Brain” and “Love Is Never Lost,” earning international recognition and devoted listeners worldwide.

In September 2025, Habaka joined the legendary Kinsman Dazz Band on the single “Bossa Nova Tonite,” which reached #1 on Teerex Radio Teerex Top 30 Hump Chart Canada, and surged from #22 to #6 on Soul Tracks. In 2026, “Bossa Nova Tonite” kicked off the New Year as Video of the Month for January on Soul Tracks. The track received international praise from UK publication Soul & Jazz & Funk, with a review headlined “Bossa Nova Baby!!!”, further affirming Habaka’s global reach and cross-genre appeal.

Beyond performing, multi-award-winning artist, Habaka is celebrated not only for her performances but also for her work as a producer, radio host, and vocal coach known as Vocal Nectar, guiding singers of all ages in unlocking the secrets of their voice. This reflects a lifetime of lived tradition rooted in breath, phrasing, patience, and emotional truth. Her approach honors the belief that the voice is not forced, but cultivated.

Critics and audiences alike praise her ability to blend blues grit with jazz sophistication and gospel fire, creating performances that are both timeless and deeply personal.

Her music is not learned, it is inherited. Legacy in her blood. Blues in her bones. Gospel in her spirit.

Music Sweet As Tupelo Honey.

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My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's passionate, it tells a story, it makes me cry, it makes me laugh, it puts a pat in my feet, and joy in my heart. It's my heritage, my birthright. I was first exposed to jazz before ever being born, my mother was a dancer and jazz vocalist and she performed her full term of pregnancy with me, so the music is in my blood. My father was a saxophonist for more than 20 years with the legendary B.B. King. I met Dee Dee Bridgewater and Tuck & Patty in Italy and they were amazing, I loved their style's and how they interacted with their audiences and above all after the show they were all equally willing to chat for a moment. The best show I ever attended was Eartha Kitts show in D.C. and she was at the ripe age of 74. I remember thinking what an inspiration! The first jazz record I bought was by Nancy Wilson and that voice I said I wanted to be like her when I grew up. :-) My advice to new listeners: embrace the music, learn to ride the vibes and allow your heart to receive that which is for you, being unafraid of what you might find inside.