Disk of 2021
Samara Joy: album "Look for the silver lining", Jazzy hour, October 19th, 2021
If you tell a jazz lover that another singer influenced by Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole has emerged, they may not show much enthusiasm. There are many talented young singers who begin their journey with this essential baggage and infinite resources, but at the same time it is very difficult to convey something profound with the same repertoire - one needs a highly personal and distinct style, an intelligent way of using the same language to truly bring a contribution and to create a legitimate surprise. This is where Samara Joy comes in, who at 19 years old has won the Sarah Vaughan competition, has debuted with an album in 2021 and with confidence and grace demonstrates the difference between the old legends and her own story, that of a young woman in 21st Century New York. With elegance and maturity, Joy leaves her mark on these well-known pieces, keeping the sound musically simplistic and the discourse direct. It is a mix of confidence, skill and admiration of life's upcoming mysteries. Accompanied by Pasquale Grasso on guitar, Ari Roland on double-bass and Kenny Washington on drums, Samara Joy carries her voice over sumptuous harmonies and confident rhythms, connecting with the entire history of jazz and portraying the ideal artist, regardless of age - she is classic and contemporary all at once.
Berti Barbera
