Album Review: Portrait by Samara Joy
Polished by a group of skillful young jazz musicians, ‘Portrait' echoes the energetic richness of Samara Joy’s live performances—a celebration of community and artistic fellowship.
From the heart of the Bronx comes a voice that carries the timeless soul of jazz into the heartbeat of today. At just 24, Samara Joy has ignited the music scene, channeling the spirit of a bygone era with a freshness that’s utterly her own. Her debut album, Linger Awhile, breathes new life into classic jazz standards; her soulful interpretations reverberate with warmth and sincerity, touching old souls and new fans. At the 65th Grammy Awards, Joy’s meteoric rise was celebrated as she claimed Best Jazz Vocal Album and the illustrious title of Best New Artist. In a nod to Esperanza Spalding’s groundbreaking triumph over a decade ago, her accolades shine a long-overdue spotlight on jazz in a category often dominated by mainstream pop and hip-hop acts.
Raised in a family steeped in gospel traditions and inspired by the echoes of soul greats, Joy’s velvety voice reflects the layers of her musical upbringing, artfully merging her roots with her jazz education. Standing beneath the Grammy spotlight, her voice quivered with disbelief and heartfelt gratitude as she paid homage to the musicians who once inspired her on a television screen. Embracing the moment, she credited her ascent to staying true to herself—a message as genuine as her music.
Experiencing Samara live is to witness an artist transporting you into a world of pure musical enchantment. Over the years, she has mesmerized audiences with her warm and precise vocals, her incomparable technique drawing listeners into her embrace. Equally devoted to their art, her band creates a seamless sound blend that enhances their live performances and studio recordings.
This newest musical venture is a collaborative effort with her longtime friends and octet members: trumpeter Jason Charos, saxophonists David Mason and Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donavan Austin, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm, and drummer Evan Sherman. Co-produced with trumpeter and musical director Brian Lynch, they have assembled a body of work that honors icons like Art Blakey and Max Roach while infusing their fresh perspectives—a delicate balance many modern jazz artists aspire to achieve.
Her third album, Portrait—the follow-up to her 2022 breakthrough Linger Awhile—reveals her creative liberation as she breathes new life into timeless standards, carefully selecting tunes that have been largely overlooked. Alongside these revitalized classics are original compositions, all brought to life over three days at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder studio in New Jersey. She brings fresh interpretations to other standards as well, offering an inventive “Autumn Nocturne” arranged by McCallister and a vibrant take on “No More Blues,” where she navigates Jon Hendricks’ lyrics with gusto. The album concludes with the potent “Day by Day,” arranged by Mason. While these tracks are strong, the true essence of the album resides in the unexpected moments.
The album opens with a spirited rendition of “You Stepped Out of a Dream,” arranged by Charos, where Joy showcases scat and vocalese not as prominent in her celebrated Linger Awhile. Her vocal techniques intertwine effortlessly with the trumpet solos, creating a harmonious dialogue. There’s a nod to Ella Fitzgerald here—the kind of power that could shatter glass, reminiscent of that unforgettable Memorex commercial from the early ‘70s. Joy wields that same formidable vocal strength.
Rather than simply fronting the band as a vocalist, Joy becomes an essential component—the “fifth horn”—interweaving her voice with the ensemble. Her band, a collective of peers and long-time collaborators, includes trumpeter Jason Charos, saxophonists David Mason and Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donavan Austin, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm, and drummer Evan Sherman. Together, they create a multifaceted unit, with Joy and McCallister co-writing a piece and Austin contributing another original composition. The band members also crafted the arrangements, while Joy penned lyrics for compositions by Mingus and Harris.
Joy contributes her own lyrics to Mingus’ “Reincarnation of a Love Bird,” a tribute to Charlie Parker, infusing it with a tender intimacy. The piece begins with a stunning a cappella, holding attention from the first note before the band joins with crisp, punchy solos from each horn. In collaboration with McCallister, she crafts the medley “Peace of Mind/Dreams Come True,” marking her first original composition. This song addresses the anxieties she navigated after her Grammy success. They seamlessly construct in Sun Ra’s piece, and the collective performance channels the spirit of Abbey Lincoln, showcasing Joy’s remarkable vocal range that builds to a roof-raising finale.
She also pens heartfelt lyrics for Barry Harris’s “Now and Then (In Remembrance Of ...),” a deeply personal homage, as she and McCallister were students of the late bebop pianist. Among these treasures, Austin’s original “A Fool In Love (Is Called a Clown)” materializes as a highlight—a tune so delectably warm, one might think it is a standard from yesteryear. Portrait surpasses the margins of a traditional jazz vocal album. Joy leads her exceptional octet with enthusiasm and a spirit of collaboration, delivering innovative arrangements and showcasing top-notch musicianship.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Reincarnation of a Love Bird,” “A Fool In Love (Is Called a Clown),” “Now and Then (In Remembrance Of…)”