Maja Jaku releases album "Blessed and Bewitched"
Montenegrin-born and in Vienna based jazz vocalist and JAM MUSIC LAB Privatuniversität professor Maja Jaku returns with her fifth studio album, “Blessed & Bewitched”, a collection that elegantly balances tradition and self-discovery. The album features five original compositions alongside two reinterpretations of classic standards, inviting listeners into a space of reflection, connection, and emotional honesty.
Jaku’s voice is remarkable for its emotional depth, intimacy, and timeless expressiveness, qualities that have been honed from her early jazz upbringing—immersed in the sounds of her trumpet-playing father—and formal studies under luminaries such as Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Andy Bey, and Jay Clayton at the Conservatory of Graz. Over the years, she has transformed her instrument—her voice—into a singular, unforgettable sound.
For this album, Jaku assembled an all-star ensemble, recording in New York with drummer Johnathan Blake (Blue Note artist), Grammy-winning trumpeter Michael Rodriguez, and bassist Dezron Douglas, known for his work with Pharoah Sanders and Ravi Coltrane. The project also spotlights JAM MUSIC LAB students Alan Bartuš (piano, Herbie Hancock Competition semi-finalist) and Adrian Varady (drums, protégé of Quincy Jones), giving the next generation of jazz talent a platform alongside celebrated artists.
Musically, Blessed & Bewitched evokes the delicate balance jazz singers sought in the late 1980s and early ’90s—reverence for tradition intertwined with personal reinvention. Jaku navigates this space with grace, her hushed, intense timbre drawing listeners into intimate worlds of mysticism, longing, and romance. While a few standards are revisited, the originality of her compositions and voice leave a lasting impression, offering glimpses of the fully personal statement that may come in future works.
Ultimately, the album demonstrates Jaku’s artistry at the intersection of technical mastery and heartfelt interpretation. It confirms her place among contemporary jazz vocalists carving out a space that respects tradition while embracing individuality. Blessed & Bewitched is a testament to a singer poised between the familiar and the entirely her own, with every note revealing the depth of her musical journey.
