A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy was captivated by classic R&B as a child and began her singing career in her church’s gospel choir. Although her family had a strong musical background, she didn’t explore the jazz tradition until she attended college at SUNY Purchase. During her time there, she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which brought her recognition as a rising star in the jazz world. Both audiences and critics consider her to be a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heir to the sound, technique, and charisma of jazz legends like Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, and Carmen McRae.
Joy’s new album on Verve Records is a great follow-up to her 2022 breakthrough album, Linger Awhile. The Grammy-winning singer co-produced the ‘Portrait’ with fellow Grammy winner Brian Lynch, who is a trumpeter and musical director known for his work with Eddie Palmieri and as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. The album was recorded with streamlined sessions at Van Gelder Studio, a renowned jazz recording site. Joy and Lynch aimed to recreate the close-knit energy of their live performances in the studio by recording all together in the same room. Joy describes it as the perfect place to capture the full sound of the band, with the members feeding off each other’s energy just like they would in a live show.
This is another one for your record collection. For further information on the artist, please visit the following links.
David Emmanuel Noel is an avid blogger, film fanatic, art enthusiast, music lover, and theatergoer. He is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and PR consultant who has been involved in several music events and visual art exhibitions at venues such as the Kennedy Center Washington DC, Bernie Grant Arts Centre London, the Landmark Arts Building New York, and Whole 9 Gallery in Culver City, California. He has worked closely with institutes, professional bodies, and agencies such as the Royal Institute of British Architects, New York Mayor’s Office, CAMBA- the New York-based agency, the NSPCC, and several London Boroughs on projects supporting the environmental and therapeutic benefits of the arts. He is based in London and New York.
