Tia Gordon @ Jazz Cafe

Stepping out to a warm crowd and a bouquet of flowers on her stool, Tia Gordon was all smiles as she opened her Jazz Cafe show and coincidentally wrapped her first UK tour.  

Celebrating the success of her recent EP, i asked the stars for this. x Gordon took the crowd with her on a journey defined by her projects, both old and new, along with laughter for good measure.

Credit : Alice Palm

Since 2022, Gordon has steadily been working her magic within the neo-soul genre, releasing heart-led projects and singles. She was a recipient of the PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music grant which helped her to record and promote the EP, i asked the stars for this. x. 

Most recently she’s joined singer Sam Smith as part of their tour, performing at the London Coliseum in September. 

This time she’s on the Jazz Cafe stage with an intimate band behind her. We’re introduced to her producer and bassist Darryl, who she banters with in between songs, guitarist, Harry, backing singers, Kemi and Adaeze. There’s Johnny who smashes a brilliant trumpet solo, Antonio on the keys and Joe on the drums.

Gordon delivers a show full of heart and beautiful vocals. Hopping through her body of work across projects, ‘it’s so nice’, ‘love’, ‘friends’ and more, she has a synergy with the crowd that is clearly made up of close friends and fans alike. 

At one point some audience members shout to ask if Gordon remembers them from Brick Lane Jazz Festival. At another point, during her performance of ‘should i give it up?’ whilst singing the bridge, “Like, am I good at this? Am I really good at this?” someone shouts, ‘yes, you are, T.” 

Credit: Alice Palm

It’s evident this is a community affair, Gordon is joined in performing most of her show by her adoring audience and at one point a cake is brought out for her upcoming birthday (Saturday) and she laughs at the thought of her “very Jamaican dad” being superstitious about celebrating before the big day. 

We’re treated to an exclusive as about a third of the way through Gordon asks the crowd to remind her when it’s 10PM. At 10:20 ish we discover that it’s to share her latest single, ‘Caffeine’ which dropped at 10 PM and then with little fanfare she asks the crowd to join in with a song we’ve never heard before.    

Gordon closed her show with “the song you’ve all been waiting for,” ‘Cold Showers’ which has generated just under 13 millions streams on Spotify. Her easy laid-back approach to performing carries across her music and this last leg of her tour. 

Long may Gordon’s beautiful rise continue.