VIDEO OF THE DAY: SAMARA JOY SHARES ‘STARDUST’

Samara Joy is a singing star in the ascendancy, already attracting attention in 2019 after winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Now, the 21-year-old has announced her eponymous debut album, released on 9 July on Whirlwind Recordings, which sees her put 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 grew up in the Bronx around a supportive musical family. Music was a pervasive presence, due to the inspiration of her paternal grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, who led the Philadelphia-based gospel group, The Savettes. “My mother and father gave me the opportunity to hear music on an interesting spectrum, from Luther Vandross and Chaka Khan through to George Duke and Stevie Wonder. Actually, I hadn't heard of Sarah Vaughan until college. My friends were all into jazz and started sharing their favourite recordings with me. The turning point was when I heard Sarah's version of ‘Lover Man’ – I was hooked.”

Samara Joy plays Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club on 6 July - see the video below and for more info visit samarajoy.com