Vocalist Samara Joy has unveiled a piano-vocal duo rendition of “Can’t Get Out of This Mood,” the lead single from her GRAMMY-nominated album “Linger Awhile,” out now on Verve.
Featuring four-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton, the new track has earned the 23-year-old two nominations at the upcoming 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album. Adding to her breakout year, Samara Joy has also received a nomination for Outstanding Jazz Album (Vocal) at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.
2022 found Samara Joy dazzling crowds at jazz clubs, festivals, and cultural institutions across the globe. The artist possesses a unique ability to reinvigorate beloved songs and standards for a fresh audience.
Music has always been a guiding presence within the Bronx native’s family. Her grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, led the well-known Philadelphia-based gospel group, The Savettes, and her father toured with the renowned Andrae Crouch. Although Samara relished the process of digging through music history from early childhood, it wasn’t until she was asked to sit in with her high school jazz band that she discovered her passion for the genre. Samara took home the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition prize while earning her degree from SUNY Purchase’s jazz studies program and eventually graduated as the Ella Fitzgerald Scholar.
Before heading to the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 5 in Los Angeles, Samara will perform at “Verve at Winter Jazzfest” in New York City on January 16. Next month, she’ll return to her hometown crowd for special performances around Valentine’s Day at the Blue Note (February 14-15). She will also perform in Queens at Kupferberg Center For The Arts on January 15.