With her sophomore album, 2022's
Linger Awhile
,
Samara Joy
achieved an uncommon feat, winning the Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist. While
Joy
is no stranger to accolades, having emerged to acclaim as the winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition, her double success at the Grammys was a surprise for a jazz singer, especially one whose impressive style harks back to icons like the aforementioned
Vaughan
Betty Carter
, and
Dinah Washington
. Produced by
Matt Pierson
nicely showcases
's verdant tone and adept vocalese skills. Part of the album's charm is how straightforward it is, with
framed by her acoustic ensemble featuring longtime guitarist
Pasquale Grasso
, pianist
Ben Paterson
, bassist
David Wong
, and drummer
Kenny Washington
. There are also tasteful contributions by saxophonist
Kendric McCallister
, trombonist
Donovan Austin
, and trumpeter
Terrell Stafford
.
brings a dusky warmth to standards like "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Misty," and an achingly slow rendition of "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)." Particularly notable is her vocalese take on trumpeter
Fats Navarro
's "Nostalgia," for which she wrote her own romantic lyrics, including some for the legendary bebop trumpeter's original 1947 solo. While
isn't the first jazz singer to sing a transcribed solo with lyrics, her artful attention to detail speaks to her maturity and deep feeling for the music -- aspects redolent throughout
. ~ Matt Collar