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For the first time in SEVEN YEARS, Jj is back in the studio and working on her highly anticipated upcoming 2023 blues album.
She also has tour dates in Western Europe this November with the Luca Giordano Band!
The fertile Detroit music scene has always been a major contributor to blues, soul and all combinations of both. Clara Smith, Sippie Wallace and Alberta Adams laid the foundation, followed by Aretha Franklin, among others. But people better make room on the list for classically and jazz-trained JJ Thames.
Although dubbed the Mississippi Blues Diva, tall, powerful and beautiful Thames – pronounced “Timms” — is a full-bodied, sultry-voiced Detroit native, the daughter of a blue-collar worker at General Motors. She started performing as a child, and has worked as a backup singer for the reggae/rock band Outlaw Nation as well as rockers Fishbo
Although dubbed the Mississippi Blues Diva, tall, powerful and beautiful Thames – pronounced “Timms” — is a full-bodied, sultry-voiced Detroit native, the daughter of a blue-collar worker at General Motors. She started performing as a child, and has worked as a backup singer for the reggae/rock band Outlaw Nation as well as rockers Fishbone, The Beat, Bad Brains and Slightly Stoopid. And she’s shared the stage with chittlin’ circuit superstars Marvin Sease, Bobby Blue Bland, Peggy Scott Adams, Denise LaSalle and Willie Clayton after following her heart to Mississippi.
It’s clear that soul-blues is her calling. At age 30, Thames’ stage presence and vocal delivery are more reminiscent of singers from the golden era of the artform than they are of most blues belters on the scene today. Her delivery is never rushed, and her ability to express deep emotion is on par with someone twice her age as she deliver
It’s clear that soul-blues is her calling. At age 30, Thames’ stage presence and vocal delivery are more reminiscent of singers from the golden era of the artform than they are of most blues belters on the scene today. Her delivery is never rushed, and her ability to express deep emotion is on par with someone twice her age as she delivers everything from downhome juke joint stylings to full-blown torch songs, all containing messages of positive affirmation.
The Detroit Free Press said it best, "She’s young and beautiful to look at, she’s a wonderful storyteller and her vocals are consistently breathtaking. Her shows are electrifying, and crowd-pleasing. This doe-eyed Motown (Detroit, Michigan) native has the "it" factor...look out world.”
"The first thing that hits you is that this Woman can Sing, and she can also belt it out, and she knows right when to pull it back a bit. Do you want Blues? Soul? Gospel? R & B? She has it all and a powerful voice that can rival just about anyone else around. "
-Bob Gottlieb
"...Her delivery is never rushed, and her ability to express deep emotion is on par with someone twice her age as she delivers everything from downhome juke joint stylings to full-blown torch songs, all containing messages of positive affirmation."
-Marty Gunther
Jj performing her heart wrenching rendition of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind"
Check out Jj's full audio show with pictures. See why she's s crowd favorite.
Jj performing The Allman Brother's "Whipping Post" in Olavarria Argentina.
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