EPK
Tagline
Electronic Press Kit
“Austrian singer Maja Jaku is redefining contemporary jazz, enchanting listeners worldwide with her emotive voice and fearless artistry.”
About Maja Jaku
Short Bio (for quick intros)
Maja Jaku is a jazz and soul vocalist whose music bridges tradition and modernity. Her voice carries the depth of jazz history while creating original, deeply personal music for today’s world.
Full Bio
Maja Jaku is an acclaimed jazz and soul vocalist, composer, and respected university professor whose voice and artistry transcend cultural and musical boundaries. In 1991, she passed the fiercely competitive entrance exam for the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, where she studied under jazz legends Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Andy Bey, and Jay Clayton. These formative years shaped her singular style—a sound rooted in emotional honesty, fearless improvisation, and technical brilliance. Since then, Maja has released several acclaimed albums, collaborated with world-class musicians, and performed across Europe and internationally. In addition to her career as a performer, she is a respected educator at Jam Music Lab University in Vienna, where she mentors the next generation of vocalists. Maja’s artistry has been described as courageous, poetic, and transcendent — a singular voice in contemporary jazz.
Latest Release
Blessed & Bewitched
(2025, Origin Records)
• Release Date: October 17, 2025
• Label: Origin Records (USA)
• Recorded at: Bunker Studio, New York
Maja presents her most personal and ambitious project to date: Blessed & Bewitched, a fully original album exploring the emotional and spiritual dimensions of jazz—raw, poetic, and transcendent.
Featuring:
• Johnathan Blake (Blue Note artist, drums)
• Adrian Varady (protégé of Quincy Jones, drums)
• Michael Rodriguez (Grammy-winning trumpeter)
• Alan Bartus (Herbie Hancock Competition semi-finalist, piano)
• Dezron Douglas (bassist for Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, etc.)
The album is not just music—it is a declaration of authenticity, vulnerability, and uncompromising artistry.
Links:
• Spotify (single The Witch): Listen here
• YouTube teaser trailer: Watch here
• YouTube (The Witch official single): Watch here
Selected Music and Videos
Spotify:
• Blessed & Bewitched – single “The Witch”
• Cross My Heart (Universal Music Austria) – Spotify link
(written by Grammy-nominated Iain Dench, who has worked with Beyoncé and many others)
• Soul Searching (full album, 2022, ATS Records) – Spotify link
YouTube (live & official):
Discography (Highlights)
• Blessed & Bewitched (2025, Origin Records)
• Soul Searching (2022, ATS Records)
• The Universe Makes No Mistakes (2012, ATS Records)
• Message (2005, PG Records)
• Talking Jazzik (2002, Extraplatte Records)
Selected Press Quotes
“It was a joy to work with Maja. She is a fantastic singer with a beautiful and natural instrument. Her passion for music is at the highest level.” — Sheila Jordan
“Maja has an incredibly wide vocal range, high quality, and deep soul. Even when she’s wrong—it sounds right.” — Andy Bey
“Your old teacher likes your record… especially ‘Out of This World.’ How well you do the language and scat! Now you are there, Maja, so relax and enjoy! Just think—I remember your first day at school… and you declared: I am for jazz!” — Mark Murphy
“True magic occurs when Jaku allows herself to step away from pure technique and embrace the vulnerability of interpretation… Blessed & Bewitched affirms Maja Jaku as a voice worth following.” — Thierry De Clemensat, Bayou Blue Radio / Paris-Move (USA, 2025)
“Austrian vocalist Maja Jaku sings with power, magic, depth, and a striking emotional range. Her album Soul Searching blends 1970s soul with a Blue Note aesthetic and West Coast groove—a sound both timeless and vibrant.” — Dionizy Piatkowski, Era Jazzu (Poland)
“Maja Jaku is a world-class artist whose presence is magnetic yet humble. Her music carries depth, compassion, and an unwavering devotion that inspires all who hear it.” — Adrian Varady
“Her powerful, soulful, and deeply emotional vocals, combined with the groovy quintet sound reminiscent of Blue Note and the West Coast, lift the listener’s spirits.” — Vento Azul, Japan
Notable Performances & Collaborations
Festivals & Venues:
• Austrian Jazz Festivals
• Jazz Stockwerk Festival (Austria)
• Porgy & Bess Jazz Club (Vienna)
• Jazzland (Vienna)
• Novi Sad Jazz Festival (Serbia)
• Performances in Croatia, Germany, and throughout Europe
Collaborations with:
Johnathan Blake, Dezron Douglas, Michael Rodriguez, Alan Bartus, Adrian Varady,
Howard Curtis, Jim Rotondi, Doug Weiss, Danny Grissett, Fritz Pauer, Scott Kinsey, Sheila
Jordan, Renato Chicco, and many more
Education & Teaching
• Professor of Jazz Voice, Jam Music Lab University, Vienna
• Over 30 years of performance & teaching experience
• Mentored by jazz legends Sheila Jordan, Andy Bey, Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton
• Also trained in classical singing (Mary Frances Lubahn) and contemporary vocal techniques (Dave Stroud, SLS)
• Known for combining high-level technical instruction with holistic artistry, guiding students toward international careers
Contact Information
• Phone: +43 676 344 0131
• Email (primary): majajaku@yahoo.com
• Alternative Emails: marijajakuofficial@gmail.com | maja.jaku1111@gmail.com
• Address: Am Hundsturm 5/2/4, 1050 Wien, Austria
• Website: www.majajaku.net
• Bandcamp: majajaku.bandcamp.com
• All About Jazz profile: allaboutjazz.com/tag-maja-jaku