ABOUT
Motown legend Martha Reeves summed it up perfectly, describing Joanna Cooke as “the baby girl singing the blues". Joanna, much like her South West blonde counterpart Joss Stone, she demonstrates that true soul and emotional connection is not simply constrained by colour or creed. Moreover, her self-penned songs leave a lasting impression on audiences, by dint of their raw honesty and song craft.
Drive and talent combined with her contemporary sound blending Soul, Jazz & Blues now sees Joanna performing Festivals and notable venues around the UK and supporting big name artists such as Tom Jones, Rag N Bone Man, Martha Reeves & Paloma Faith.
2022 saw the release of Joanna's 6 track EP 'Kaleidoscope', With stylish arrangements and production from well respected polymath musician/producer/arranger Mark Edwards, (Katie Melua, Carleen Anderson, Beth Rowley) with single releases reaching the UK Soul Music Charts
Top 30 and picking up international airplay.
Notes to bookers, promotors and venues.
Currently Joanna performs as a duo (Vocal, Keys & Percussion) with long standing musical partner Nathan Austin on Electric Guitar, Stomp box & also solo performances accompany herself on Keys, with hand claps and clicks - Please see showreels above.
Festival Appearances
Boardmasters, Cheltenham Jazz Festival,
Smoked and Uncut (Bath), Leopalloza, Port Eliot,
Little Orchard, Tunes on the Sands, Tunes in the Dunes,
River Cottage, Chill at the Mill, Altitude, Kindred Spirits, Ocean City Jazz & Blues, Porthleven, Wonder Fields, Glas-Denbury, Dart Music, Jazz Jurassica, LauFest, Grinagog..
Exeter Food and Drink, Exeter Respect, Exmouth, Freedom Community Fest, BeCider Seaside (Dorset) Woofstock, Funky Lama, Kingsbridge Food & Music, Lapstock, Castlewood Wine, Salcombe Live, Yarty Party, Rattler, Rock Oyster, Party In The City Bath.
PRESS QUOTES
"That''s how you do a session. Unreal.The incomparable Joanna Cooke" BBC Introducing
"Rising star soul/jazz singer with a blues heart. A name to watch'" Jon Newey, Jazzwise
"Do It Slow" has that warm flashback sound that'll make good company with Aretha Franklins early '70's sides." SoulTracks.com USA
" ..a voice that drips with soul. Joanna takes a song and layers it over you like warm honey until it floats you away" - Dart Music Festival
"I first found Joanna Cooke in the musical feast of her 'Kaleidoscope' collection, delivering a diverse array of musical emotion - Imploring soul of Good Lover, the haunting angst of Caught Up, gospel chord progressions of Haven’t You Heard taking the blues back to church, the shimmering sensitivity of Like A Lover, the hustling soulful recovery of Still Healing and pouring her heart out on Falling a Little – whichever way you turn, Joanna spells soul with a capital ‘J’!!
Clive Richardson - Blues in Britain | Solar Radio
"Her voice is incredible....she really is becoming a tour de force" - MusoMuso
'it catches you in the feels in a way that the likes of Adele would kill for..' Listen With Monger
