
Jazz vocalist SAMARA JOY is a triple Grammy winner lauded for her energetic, crisp delivery and her ability (like all jazz greats) to use her remarkable voice as an instrument.
Right now, she’s putting the finishing touches to a new album, ‘Portrait’ – due for release on October 11th via Verve Records. Previews reveal that the collection is a concise eight tracker. It was recorded at the famed Van Gelder Studio and Ms. Joy not only fronts the set, she’s also the co-producer (with Brian Lynch), arranger and band leader. Though, she’s quick to add that the album is an egalitarian affair. She’s keen to be accepted as one of the band which features trumpeter Jason Charos, trombonist Donavan Austin, saxophonists David Mason and Kendric McCallister, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm and drummer Evan Sherman. She says: “I’m often the fifth voice, the fifth horn. I hope listeners will see that I’m a musician too.”
The repertoire includes sparkling new arrangements of standards like Charles Mingus’ ‘Reincarnation Of A Love Bird’, Sonny Rollin’s ‘Autumn Nocturne’ and Nat Cole’s ‘You Stepped Out Of A Dream’ which is available now as the album’s lead single.