Samara Joy - Samara Joy (2021)

I wrote about Samara Joy McLendon's jazz and gospel inflected Christmas EP almost two years ago, but I shouldn't have waited so long to discuss the first of her three full length albums. So, let's do it now. This eponymous debut was released when she was only twenty-one years old, even before she graduated from college with a magna cum laude designation.

The young singer - who doesn't use her last name professionally - comes from a very musical family. Her father and paternal grandparents are renowned gospel singers, so music is in her blood. She was introduced to jazz in college at SUNY Purchase where she was the valedictorian of her graduating class.

The still young singer has already won five Grammys, including the sometimes cursed Best New Artist award in 2023. The good news is unlike Milli Vanilli or The Starland Vocal Band she's not going to disappear any time soon.

Like Ella Fitzgerald, Joy has a powerful, but feminine voice. This twelve song set is all about her vocals. The unobtrusive, but highly talented jazz trio includes electric guitarist Pasquale Grasso who authored a handful of brief, but tasteful solos; Ari Roland on double bass; and drummer Kenny Washington on eight tracks.

The album's overall mood strikes me as being influenced by the much-loved Nat Cole Trio, and just like his group, Joy's music easily finds a groove without working up a sweat. It can be upbeat without raising the volume, and her ballads always set the proper mood.

Joy's song selection is decidedly retro. Most of her choices are standards from the Great American Songbook. Among them are Hoagie Carmichael's "Stardust," originally from 1927, and it's the oldest of the classics found  here. The most recent one, "If You Never Fall in Love With Me" was released by Carmen McRae in 1962.

Samara Joy is not a singing Kenny G. This isn't a pop album disguised as jazz. She sings real thing.

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