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The Universal Radio Network

Welcome to The Universal Radio Network's podcast page, here you can access our interviews, discussions & podcasts. Visit our website at www.theuniversalradio.com or follow us on social media for updates!Instagram: @theuniversalradioTwitter: @theuniversalrad

  1. #257 Judi Singh: Black Punjabi Voice Of Edmonton’s Jazz

    2월 9일

    #257 Judi Singh: Black Punjabi Voice Of Edmonton’s Jazz

    Send a text The story of Judi Singh doesn’t arrive with fireworks. It unfolds like a standard that sneaks under your skin: a Black Punjabi jazz singer who chose Edmonton, guarded her pace, and built a life where music stayed honest. We follow her roots back to a household shaped by policy and love—Sohan Singh Bhullar's migration under exclusionary rules, Effie Jones’s steady hand raising seven children—and see how two histories, often unrecognized on the prairies, met and made something new. We talk about why Judi turned down the grind of six nights a week, treating singing as deep emotional work that needs breath and space. Edmonton gave her a canvas to paint slowly: fewer gigs, more presence, community over spectacle. That choice challenges today’s hustle logic and offers a blueprint for sustainable artistry. And when pianist and cultural anchor Tommy Banks recognized Judi as a true collaborator, not a novelty, their work placed her firmly within Canadian jazz, not just as a local curiosity but as part of the country’s musical backbone. The Yardbird Suite threads through the story as more than a stage—it’s an archive, a meeting place, a reminder that venues can hold memory. Judi’s performances there, including a final appearance in 2017, show how spaces help a city remember itself. We also name the reality: doors haven’t always opened equally. Many of us have felt unsure we’d be welcomed. Yet the record is clear—our communities have shaped these rooms and the music inside them. The takeaway is both tender and practical: make the band feel good, let joy last longer than applause, and honour the intersections where Black history, Punjabi heritage, and prairie jazz meet. If this story moved you, tap follow, share it with a friend who loves music history, and leave a review so others can find these voices. IG: @theuniversalradio

    7분

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Welcome to The Universal Radio Network's podcast page, here you can access our interviews, discussions & podcasts. Visit our website at www.theuniversalradio.com or follow us on social media for updates!Instagram: @theuniversalradioTwitter: @theuniversalrad