Samara Joy - Samara Joy [CD]

Cat. no: WR4776
Format: CD
Barcode: 0630808829147
Release Date: 19 Aug 2022
Genre: Jazz

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.

Now, the 21-year-old announces her self-titled debut release, which 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:
Echoes (June 2021) cover feature
Jazzwise (July 2021) ‘Taking Off’ feature, 4 star review (May 2021)
Jazzwise Exclusive Video of the Day and album announcement Hi-Fi News & Record Review (August 2021) - album review confirmed, further reviews expected on LondonJazz News, Jazz Views, Jazz Journal, The Jazz Mann,
UKVibe + Kind of Jazz

Received airplay on Jazz FM (Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show, Late Night Jazz with Helen Mayhew) further airplay expected on BBC Radio 2 (The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum), BBC Radio 3 (J to Z) + Worldwide FM (Tina Edwards) 

“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

Tracks: Stardust / Everything Happens To Me / If You Never Fall In Love With Me / Let’s Dream In The Moonlight / It Only Happens Once / Jim / The Trouble With Me Is You / If You’d Stay The Way I Dream / Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) / Only A Moment Ago / Moonglow / But Beautiful