Grammy-winning Samara Joy's jazz vocals fill the Pabst Theater with soul and style.
Samara Joy, a rising star in the jazz world, is set to perform at the Pabst Theater. Her journey from a gospel choir in the Bronx to winning multiple Grammys is a testament to her talent and dedication. With her septet, Joy delivers a performance that blends classic jazz with her unique lyrical style.
Her latest album, "Portrait," showcases her growth as both a vocalist and a lyricist, drawing inspiration from jazz legends and personal mentors. The Pabst Theater, known for its excellent acoustics and historic charm, provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of soulful jazz.
Whether you're a longtime jazz enthusiast or new to the genre, Samara Joy's concert promises an unforgettable experience. Be sure to arrive early to soak in the theater's ambiance and find a good spot, as her performances are known to draw a crowd.
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A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical—her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work—she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was heard, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines—including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae. Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut, of which Down Beat said, “With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.” The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday, which took home Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance in 2025. Her latest Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band, earning her an NAACP Image Award in 2025 for Outstanding Jazz Album and the GRAMMY for Best Vocal Jazz Album in 2026. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris.
