Samara Joy

with
Connor Rohrer, piano
Paul Sikivie, bass
David Mason, alto saxophone, flute
Kendric McCallister, tenor saxophone
Jason Charos, trumpet
Donavan Austin, trombone
Evan Sherman, drums

In jazz, every generation has a few “old souls” who skip the line to join the pantheon of greats—young artists who burst on the scene seemingly out of nowhere, fully formed. Also boasting a deep history in gospel music, the wildly talented vocalist Samara Joy is just such a figure. Joy won Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards for her debut release, an old-school affair that explores classic tunes associated with Carmen McRae, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday, and followed it with a third Grammy, for Best Jazz Performance in 2024. This year, she scored two additional wins—for Best Jazz Vocal Album (for A Joyful Holiday) and Best Jazz Performance (for her rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” with pianist Sullivan Fortner) “Listening to Samara Joy, I’m struck by the sound of her voice—warm, grounded and sturdy, an impression reinforced by her sure sense of pitch… Her understated, swingy rhythm can feel lighter than air” (NPR).