Jazz at One: Samara Joy

Samara Joy

SAMARA JOY is still relatively new to jazz. Growing up in the Bronx, it was music of the past — the music of her parent’s childhoods, as she put it — that she listened to most. Though she’s young, she relishes the process of digging through the music’s history and learning new standards. In 2019, she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and she’s since performed with legends like CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE and Bill Charlap.

Samara makes her case as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation with her upcoming Verve Records debut, Linger Awhile. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the TODAY Show and millions of likes on TikTok — cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star.

On Linger Awhile, Samara is accompanied by esteemed veterans on Linger Awhile as well: her former professors, guitarist Pasquale Grasso and drummer Kenny Washington, form the core of the band, which also includes bassist David Wong and pianist Ben Paterson. With ease and a preternatural assurance, Samara swings right alongside them through understated yet powerful renditions of this creative collection of standards.

ABOUT JAZZ AT ONE

As part of Trinity Church Wall Street’s commitment to jazz, a uniquely American art form and uniting voice for our collective story and experience, Trinity presents Jazz at One in collaboration with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. Jazz at One is a part of Trinity’s renowned Concerts at One series and is curated by our very own Ted Chubb. Through access, learning, career development, and community building, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS cultivates tomorrow’s global citizens so they may build vibrant communities.