“Portrait,” the latest release from 3-time Grammy Award winner Samara Joy, is a testament to life on the road and a revealing glimpse into her current artistic journey. Following the resounding success of her 2022 album “Linger Awhile,” she embarked on an extensive touring schedule, captivating audiences around the globe. It has given her and her touring band, which features trumpeter Jason Charos, trombonist Donavan Austin, saxophonists David Mason and Kendric McCallister, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm and drummer Evan Sherman an opportunity to become a real cohesive whole.
“Portrait” is new, but it’s ‘old’ in a good way. Recorded at the legendary Van Gelder studio in New Jersey over three days, with just two or three takes of each tune, you can really hear how the material has been honed on the road over hundreds of gigs, intense rehearsals, and constant refining. Samara is keen to acknowledge the band’s contribution: “…Eight musicians, eight fresh perspectives and musical backgrounds.”
She says, “All joined together in a context designed for growth and exploration. Designed to put our pens and minds to work creating music inspired by many but still uniquely our own…yes, there’s an incredible depth of musicianship and creativity infused into the sound of this band.” It may be Samara’s name on the album, but the band totally mesh together musically. They are tight!
Over the course of 8 tracks, there is much to savour. The opening track, “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” (released as the album’s first single), showcases intricate horn lines written by trumpeter Jason Charos, on which Samara vocally becomes one of the horns. Apparently, she was intimidated by having her own written music part, “Because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to learn it as accurately as possible, But I’m often the fifth voice, the fifth horn,” she explained. “I hope listeners will see that I’m a musician too.” Well, she certainly holds her own. It is so tricky that it has already become one of those viral vocal-instrumental competition challenges on TikTok.
Another stand-out moment is Samara’s lyrical reworking of the Charles Mingus tune “Reincarnation Of A Lovebird.” It starts as a spine-tingling stratospheric acapella. As she sings “Visions of a world of beauty. Passions overflowing, and reflections of memories, the questions left behind…” it’s like she is taking flight, reaching thrilling operatic top notes that shimmer and bend as she sings, and then suddenly, the whole band comes in. It’s a work of superb artistry.
Despite often being compared to jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holiday, Samara is furrowing her own path.
Yes, there are reflections in style and approach, but there is also tremendous talent and an endearing honesty about her music. She says she thinks that that is what people relate to. “I think maybe people connect with the fact that I’m not faking it, that I already feel embedded in it. Maybe I’m able to reach people in person and on social media because it’s real.”
And that ‘realness’ makes her original song “Peace of Mind / Dreams Come True,” which melds her gospel roots with swinging jazz, a much-needed lyric of hope for her Gen Z fans. “Don’t give up… dreams come true… they just have to… mine came true & yours will too…”
The testament of a true storyteller is to know when to pull back in service of the song, which is what Samara does on her ballad composition, ‘A Fool In Love Is Called A Clown’ and on the wonderfully understated yet evocative ‘Now And Then (In Remembrance of…)’ which is a tribute to her late mentor, Barry Harris, whose famous jazz workshops she once regularly attended. The lyrics are poignant as she reflects on his passing, “We will sing your song though it’s not the same, will a spark like yours ever burn again?”
An uptempo Bossa Nova – “No More Blues,” follows, lightening the mood. When Samara performs it in concert, she often encourages people to get up and dance to it, and it’s great for a bit of shimmy wherever you are. I listened to the last 50 seconds of it on repeat because of the astonishing fluidity of her vocal choices. I must confess I played that section about ten times in a row! Future Jazz singers will definitely be studying those licks.
The album has something for all: classic jazz, experimental new compositions and some swinging tunes. We all know that every album an artist releases is only a snapshot of their current artistic state. As Samara Joy strides into the next phase of her career with multiple roles as a vocalist, producer, lyricist, composer, and band leader, this is genuinely her “Portrait” … for now.
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Jumoké Fashola is a journalist, broadcaster, and vocalist who currently presents a range of Arts and culture programmes on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and BBC London.
Header image: Samara Joy. Photo: AB + DM, courtesy of Verve Records.