Two Major Grammy Nominations for Samara Joy ’21

Congratulations to Samara Joy ’21—who’s been taking the Jazz world by storm—and has now been nominated for two Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best New Jazz Vocal Album for her second album, Linger Awhile.

“Every so often a new vocalist blows everyone on the jazz scene away with their distinctive style, charm, and dexterity. Samara Joy is that new voice that’s giving new purpose to the music.”     —Jazz Times

Joy is also a TIkTok sensation, with more than 196k followers. She’s introducing Gen Z to Jazz standards.

Last February, she appeared on NBC’s TODAY show, performing “Stardust” off her self-titled first album, accompanied by Visiting Affiliate Artist Pasquale Grasso on guitar.

Grasso also plays on Linger Awhile, in addition lecturer of music and legendary Jazz drummer Kenny Washington.

While a student at Purchase (using her last name McLendon) she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, a prestigious award known as the Sassy.

“Samara Joy is a self-possessed, deeply emotive vocalist, with power that usually takes a lot of living to master. But the Purchase College graduate has got it in spades.”      —Downbeat