Bio

Jo is a singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in the UK, Jo was raised in New Zealand and was introduced to theatre at age 11. She appeared in many theatrical productions, which gave her a solid grounding for her future musical career. At 18 she discovered jazz and studied at the Christchurch Polytechnic School of Jazz (CPIT). She graduated with an A Grade Diploma in Jazz Performance. That same year she was presented with the Jazz Soloist of the South Island Award. This granted her a trip to Wellington to undertake her first professional recording of Jazz Standards via the National Radio program titled ‘First Time Out’.

Her first single, ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’, was released through Warner Bros Music NZ and led a National Family Violence campaign. It reached #5 on the NZ charts. She then moved to Sydney Australia in 1998.

Jo’s won awards for her original compositions in the 25th Australian National Songwriting Contest and twice at the Musicoz awards and has given electric performances at The Manly International Jazz Festival, The Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival, The Norfolk Island Jazz Festival, The New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival and the Java Jazz Festival held in Jakarta Indonesia alongside Chaka Khan, Jamie Cullum and Level 42. She’s composed songs for the hit children’s TV series ‘As The Bell Rings’ (Disney Channel). She’s sung backing vocals for artists such as Rick Price, Glenn Shorrock, Tina Arena, Mark Williams, Margaret Urlich, Julie Anthony and Steve Clisby.

Other credits include a lead role in ‘The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers- Live On Stage’, a featured role in the hit TV series ‘Hercules’ and a lead role in the US TV series ‘Deadly Women’ playing real life convicted murderer Sheila LaBarre.

Her performances have seen her grace international stages; The Claridges Hotel in London with Dame Edna Everage, London’s legendary live music venue The Bedford, with London power-show ‘The Battle of the Divas’, and as part of the London show case for Australian talent based in the UK ‘Sunday At The Apartment’ along side Australian star Tim Minchin.

In New York, she performed at the city’s famous venue ‘Arlene’s Grocery’ with a star-studded band featuring Ben Butler on guitar (George Michael) and Matt Beck on Piano (Matchbox Twenty).