Samara Joy
Samara Joy to the world!
Despite her young age, Samara Joy has already managed to collaborate with a number of high-profile musicians, toured extensively, and won several competitions, including the title of "best vocalist" in JALC's Essentially Ellington competition and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.
Samara Joy McLendon (b. 1999) grew up in the Bronx in Manhattan, New York, in a very musical family. In her late teens, she became a regular lead singer in her local church and discovered jazz while in high school. While studying at SUNY Purchase, she came into contact with teacher Pasquale Grasso, with whom she has since collaborated on tours and on record.
She has been a hot name in June for quite some time, and in Molde, she is doing her very first Norwegian concert ever.
Recently, she received two out of two possible Grammy's for "Best New Artist" and "Best Jazz Vocal Album" for the record Linger Awhile (2022). Previously, she released the eponymous Samara Joy (2021) and has a huge following on social media.
The curious can take a look here to get an impression of this jazz comet coming to Moldejazz 2023.