Habaka KFJ

Member Since: 2014 | Location: Las Vegas | Page Views: 2,697

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About Me

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

Habaka KFJ, known as “The Panther of Cremona, Italy,” is a self-made international Blues, Jazz and Gospel vocalist whose four-octave contralto has carried her from the United States to stages throughout Europe. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Habaka spent 25 years living and working in Italy, building a career encompassing performance, recording, vocal instruction and Gospel music. Now based in Las Vegas, she continues an artistic journey rooted in musicianship, storytelling and an unmistakable voice. Music runs deeply through Habaka’s family. Her mother, MaryAnn Jackson, was a Jazz singer and dancer; her grandfather, Jeri Jackson, was a pianist, bandleader and promoter; and her father, Melvin Jackson, was a baritone saxophonist with B.B. King’s Orchestra. Gospel, Jazz and Blues were not simply genres Habaka discovered—they were part of the musical language surrounding her. A 2019 BMA Las Vegas Best Female Jazz Performer, Habaka is the founder of Husky Tone Records, her independent label and home for her music. Her album Heritage Blue reflects her meeting place of Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Soul, shaped by the depth and warmth of her distinctive contralto and a career that has crossed cultures and continents. Beyond the stage, Habaka is Vice President of Teerex Radio Canada and host of Habaka’s Bee Hive, with international syndication reaching audiences in the United Kingdom, Sicily, Cleveland and New Zealand. In 2026, she was selected to participate in Radio Studio 104’s 24-hour International Jazz Day marathon as one of 12 DJs—and the only woman and only American in the international lineup. She is also the creator and host of Habaka’s Honeycomb Hideout, her independently produced storytelling podcast. Habaka’s creative work also extends through Soul Nectar Productions, her production company, and the Free Voice Method — “The Secret to Unlocking Your Voice,” developed through more than 20 years of teaching, including a decade teaching voice in Italy. In 2026, she also became a published author, contributing her stories to multiple anthologies. Whether performing, recording, broadcasting, producing or teaching, Habaka’s work is united by the same philosophy: authenticity, independence and a voice unmistakably her own.

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Habaka KFJ

John Beasley

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.