A Jazz Voice Too Powerful to Forget
Baljit Sangra’s moving portrait of Judi Singh premieres at festivals nationwide.
In the late 1950s, a young woman from Edmonton walked onto a jazz stage and shattered expectations. Her name was Judi Singh — Black, Punjabi, and fearless in a scene where women of colour were rarely welcomed. Her ethereal voice stopped musicians in their tracks. Audiences adored her. But the industry? It barely took notice.
That silence is broken with Have You Heard Judi Singh?, a new documentary feature directed by Baljit Sangra. With archival recordings, intimate recollections, and the bohemian spaces Singh once called home, the film retraces the brilliance and resilience of a jazz artist who deserved far more recognition in her lifetime.
More Than a Biography
Sangra doesn’t just document Judi Singh — she resurrects her artistry. Co-written with Singh’s daughter Emily Hughes, the film paints a moving portrait of an artist who lived deeply, loved fiercely, and created beyond the limits society placed on her.
As a musician and single mother, Singh’s story is layered with both hardship and joy. Her life was a reminder that artistry isn’t about awards or industry gatekeepers — it’s about connection. Have You Heard Judi Singh? invites us to feel that connection, decades later.
Festival Screenings
- World Premiere: iSAFF Vancouver — September 27, 2025
- Edmonton International Film Festival — October 4, 2025
- Tasveer (US Premiere) — October 10, 2025
- IFFSA Toronto (Ontario Premiere) — October 13, 2025
- ReelWorld Film Festival — October 18, 2025
- Knowledge Network Broadcast — November 2025
Why Judi Singh Matters Now
For too long, women of colour in Canadian music history have been footnotes — if mentioned at all. Have You Heard Judi Singh? reclaims one of those voices and gives her the stage she always deserved.
Her legacy isn’t in awards. It’s in the lives she touched, the artists she inspired, and the reminder that creativity’s true purpose is not grandeur, but connection.
This film is food for the soul of any artist — and a reminder to listen closely to the voices history almost let slip away.
Tags: Judi Singh, Baljit Sangra, ReelWorld Film Festival, Black Canadian jazz, Punjabi-Black artists, Canadian documentary, women in jazz
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