Samara Joy

Description

Produced by Grammy-nominated veteran Matt Pierson, she's joined by jazz guitar virtuoso Pasquale Grasso and his trio (Ari Roland and Kenny Washington) for a release that furthers Joy's reputation as one of America's most promising young jazz vocalists.

Joy's interpretations balance the breezy-fresh feel of a relative newcomer with a reverence for a tradition she is now undoubtably part of. "But Beautiful", "Let's Dream in the Moonlight" and "Jim" pay homage to Billie Holiday's original versions, and she acknowledges the great Nat King Cole with versions of "It Only Happens Once" and "The Trouble with Me is You". "Stardust" is another nod to Cole, showcasing a talent for storytelling well beyond her years. As she says, "There's nothing like hearing someone who understands sing it to you." Moods range from the happy-go-lucky simplicity of "Everything Happens to Me" to the longing of "Lover Man".

Winning the Vaughan award was transformational for Joy. "I was suddenly on the jazz radar. It's still bizarre to think of how fast things have progressed." Since then, Joy has dug deep to discover her jazz roots, without losing sight of the innate simplicity that makes her sound shine. Her first album announces the arrival of a young artist destined for greatness.

Press:

"Her approach is simple but beautifully poised, and when she does take off on an improvised passage or coda, the trickiest notes present no problem...The accompaniment is by a trio led by Pasquale Grasso, a guitarist with the most phenomenal technique and an endless flow of ideas...two young artists keeping a classic style alive with love, understanding." - **** The Observer

"Outstanding vocalist...impeccable time, timbral richness and emotional power... Consistently beguiling, this is an album that stays with you long after the last notes fade away." - **** Jazzwise

"Every once in a while, you encounter a voice that just hypnotizes you and stops you in your tracks... It's just astounding." - Jazziz Magazine

"A self-possessed, deeply emotive vocalist." - DownBeat Magazine

"[Samara Joy] has carved out her own space as a swinging traditionalist." - Grammy Awards

"A reincarnation of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald in the same body." - London Jazz News

"Voice of a New Generation... A star-in-the-making." - Bay State Banner

"Her rich tone and confident delivery show an astonishing maturity... There's not a weak performance across this collection of standards... Outstanding." - Jazz Views

"She really does revitalise these gassers... It's an absolute killer." - Bebop Spoken Here

"Joy has an immaculately smooth, perfectly pitched delivery that leans heavily toward tradition but at the same time emits a youthful quality and unique phrasing behind new arrangements of these classic tunes." - Making A Scene

"Samara Joy has a voice that seems to have a gravitational pull keeping the planets in orbit." - WGBO

Description

Samara Joy is a singing star in the ascendancy: the young vocalist attracted attention in 2019 after winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. On her self-titled debut release she puts her spin on jazz standards from the Great American Songbook.

Produced by Grammy-nominated veteran Matt Pierson, she's joined by jazz guitar virtuoso Pasquale Grasso and his trio (Ari Roland and Kenny Washington) for a release that furthers Joy's reputation as one of America's most promising young jazz vocalists.

Joy's interpretations balance the breezy-fresh feel of a relative newcomer with a reverence for a tradition she is now undoubtably part of. "But Beautiful", "Let's Dream in the Moonlight" and "Jim" pay homage to Billie Holiday's original versions, and she acknowledges the great Nat King Cole with versions of "It Only Happens Once" and "The Trouble with Me is You". "Stardust" is another nod to Cole, showcasing a talent for storytelling well beyond her years. As she says "There's nothing like hearing someone who understands sing it to you." Moods range from the happy-go-lucky simplicity of "Everything Happens to Me" to the longing of "Lover Man".

Winning the Vaughan award was transformational for Joy. "I was suddenly on the jazz radar. It's still bizarre to think of how fast things have progressed." Since then, Joy has dug deep to discover her jazz roots, without losing sight of the innate simplicity that makes her sound shine. Her first album announces the arrival of a young artist destined for greatness.

Press:

"Her approach is simple but beautifully poised, and when she does take off on an improvised passage or coda, the trickiest notes present no problem...The accompaniment is by a trio led by Pasquale Grasso, a guitarist with the most phenomenal technique and an endless flow of ideas...two young artists keeping a classic style alive with love, understanding." - **** The Observer

"Outstanding vocalist...impeccable time, timbral richness and emotional power... Consistently beguiling, this is an album that stays with you long after the last notes fade away." - **** Jazzwise

"Every once in a while, you encounter a voice that just hypnotizes you and stops you in your tracks... It's just astounding." - Jazziz Magazine

"A self-possessed, deeply emotive vocalist." - DownBeat Magazine

"[Samara Joy] has carved out her own space as a swinging traditionalist." - Grammy Awards

"A reincarnation of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald in the same body." - London Jazz News

"Voice of a New Generation... A star-in-the-making." - Bay State Banner

"Her rich tone and confident delivery show an astonishing maturity... There's not a weak performance across this collection of standards... Outstanding." - Jazz Views

"She really does revitalise these gassers... It's an absolute killer." - Bebop Spoken Here

"Joy has an immaculately smooth, perfectly pitched delivery that leans heavily toward tradition but at the same time emits a youthful quality and unique phrasing behind new arrangements of these classic tunes." - Making A Scene

"Samara Joy has a voice that seems to have a gravitational pull keeping the planets in orbit." - WGBO