With a voice like honey and the stage presence of a star, the steady rise of South London’s Jaz Karis comes as no surprise. Performing to a packed Islington Assembly Hall on Friday 22nd November, Jaz had a beautiful London crowd celebrating the success of her long-awaited debut album ‘Safe Flight‘.
The themes of nostalgia and identity Karis explores in the album were perfectly reflected in the creative direction of the gig. It felt like looking into a visual scrapbook of Jaz’s literal and musical journey making ‘Safe Flight’, with realistic clouds adorning the stage, and snippets of home videos making up her backdrop. I arrived to the danceable sounds of Kennedy Taylor’s DJ set, followed by an opening set from London pop princess Ayanna that filled the room with energy, and songs brimming with personality.
Jaz’s signature soulful, melodic vocals were uplifted by a full band that included the trio The Prodigal Sons, a group who produced part of ‘Safe Flight’. Reekado Banks, Mahalia, and Magnum Mike also made exciting appearances to help perform her near decade-long catalogue. The set’s highlights included new album favourites ‘MET YOU AT A BAR’ and ‘TEQUILA’, classic crowd favourites ‘Petty Lover’ and ‘Sunrise’, and even a sneaky preview of new music. With a career-defining album under her belt, wide acclaim for her smooth vocals and honest lyricism, and the unending support of adoring fans that have been following her trajectory since 2017 – this really feels like Jaz Karis’ moment to shine.
by Izzy Reeve
(@izzymayv photos)
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