Samara Joy is the complete package. Merging head and heart, her performance is equally mesmerizing as it is melismatic. She and her band are true students of jazz which makes each performance a masterclass in jazz appreciation. As self-proclaimed leader of the international Duke Ellington fan club, the discovery of “The Queen’s Suite” in her repertoire was a learning experience. Samara Joy McClendon was raised in a very musical family and while she is an immaculate performer, her knowledge of and deeply held connection to the music she performs makes every performance a memory.
Where does she fit in popular culture? We know she can sing anything from gospel to R&B but Samara Joy made waves with her reminiscent tone matching of jazz singers from a bygone era. Once she showed the world what she could do with other tones, she brought listeners into her world with her tone. Armed with decades of music knowledge, she is years ahead, ‘miles ahead‘ even of singers in her age group. As a music lover, my unique perspective of Samara Joy is begging for a collaboration with Lalah Hathaway. Samara Joy is a rarified air. You can compare her to other singers. Her voice and performance definitely reminds of other singers but there is truly no one like her and that’s why she travels the world delivering captivating performances.
Samara Joy’s performance at the Riverfront Jazz Festival was no different as she brought Saturday’s performances to a rousing close. To have her as part of the lineup is a testament to The Black Academy of Arts and Letters‘ commitment to making the Riverfront Jazz Festival a premiere event for music lovers in Dallas and surrounding areas.
