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Emma-Jean Thackray (born c. 1989) is an English jazz musician, producer, bandleader, and DJ. She was born and brought up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and is now based in south London.

Early life

Thackray played the cornet in local brass bands in Yorkshire. She studied jazz performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under British jazz pianist and composer Keith Tippett. After her studies at the college, she took a Masters in orchestral jazz composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under composers Issie Barratt and Errollyn Wallen.

Music career

In 2020 Thackray started her own record label, called Movementt, as an outlet for her own music. The label's first release was her solo EP Rain Dance, followed by reissues of her 2016 EP Walrus and 2018 EP Ley Lines. In June 2021, shortly after appearing on Jools Holland's BBC Two show Later… With Jools Holland, she was signed by Warner Chappell Music.

In July 2021, Thackray released Yellow, her debut album, on her own Movementt record label. The chosen label name reflects her motto: “move the body, move the mind, move the soul". The album reached No. 1 in the UK Jazz Albums Chart, and No. 3 in the UK Independent Albums Chart.

Discography

Personal life

Emma-Jean is a Taoist, and regularly releases music inspired by her practice.

References

1. "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound. Not trying to force it, not trying to contrive anything."". jazzwise.com. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
2. sourced by her bandcamp bio notifications
3. ^ Richards, Debra. "Emma-Jean Thackray: "It's about trying to get that genuine, organic sound..."". Jazzwise. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
4. Hutchinson. "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian.
5. Bulut, Selim (4 March 2020). "Emma-Jean Thackray makes music to move the body, mind, and soul". Dazeddigital.com.
6. Helfet, Gabriela (12 February 2020). "Multi-instrumentalist/producer Emma-Jean Thackray launches new label with first EP, Rain Dance". The Vinyl Factory.
7. Andre Paine (14 June 2021). "Warner Chappell signs rising UK jazz star Emma-Jean Thackray". Music Week. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
8. "One to watch: Emma-Jean Thackray". The Guardian. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
9. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
10. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
11. "Emma-Jean Thackray Discography". Discogs.
12. "UM YANG Bandcamp Release". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

External links

• Official website of Emma-Jean Thackray
• Bandcamp profile E. J. Thackray
• Emma-Jean Thackray discography at Discogs

• 1980s births
• English cornetists
• English jazz trumpeters
• Women jazz trumpeters
• Jazz cornetists
• Women trumpeters
• British jazz bandleaders
• English multi-instrumentalists
• Warner Music Group artists
• Living people
• People from the City of Leeds