SYNOPSIS
Have You Heard Judi Singh? is a touching portrait of Canadian jazz singer Judi Singh—a trailblazing Punjabi-Black artist who, in the late 1950s, stepped onto Edmonton’s jazz stages with a voice that defied expectations. Directed by Baljit Sangra, the film reintroduces a once-celebrated performer now poised for rediscovery.
Singh’s childhood home—a unique cultural crossroads shaped by her Punjabi Sikh father and Black Canadian heritage—frames her journey. Through lush archival footage, re-creations, and intimate interviews, Have You Heard Judi Singh? traces her rise, from the breakthrough album A Time for Love with Tommy Banks in 1970, now revered as a Canadian vocal jazz classic, to her contributions on Woody Shaw’s Grammy-nominated album Rosewood.
The film illuminates Singh’s elegance, resilience, and artistry, weaving them into a narrative that transcends time and genre. It is also a tender exploration of memory and heritage, as Singh’s story intertwines with the broader cultural and musical history she helped shape. Have You Heard Judi Singh? is a tribute, reclamation, and celebration—a stirring revelation that honors Canada’s forgotten jazz icon with nuance, artistry, and reverence.