Samara Joy’s eponymous first album (Whirlwind, 2021) was one of the most impressive debuts by an artist that I’ve ever heard. It had everything – Joy’s incredible voice, the extraordinary guitarist Pasquale Grasso, the swinging rhythm section of double bassist Ari Roland and Kenny Washington, a great song selection and straight forward production by Matt Pierson. The following year Linger Awhile (now on Verve in the big leagues) built on that foundation, with her trio now expanded to a quartet and her repertoire diversified to feature many facets of her flourishing craft, not least her astonishing command of vocalese.
Now comes her new album Portrait, and it’s all change. Matt Pierson steps back to his management role, leaving room for the artist to co-produce with the experienced trumpeter and bandleader Brian Lynch. Grasso and the trio/quartet lineups are gone, superseded by Joy’s eight piece touring band consisting of trumpeter Jason Charos, alto saxophonist/ flautist David Mason, tenor saxophonist Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donavan Austin, pianist Connor Rohrer, bassist Felix Moseholm and drummer Evan Sherman.
The recording took place at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs with engineer/owner Maureen Sickler, and the sound is excellent. Apparently each of the eight songs went down in no more than a couple of takes, which is remarkable considering how tight the playing is and how ambitious the arrangements are, split liberally between five members of the band.
The opening two tracks show just how ambitious this record has the cojones to be. Jason Charos’ deceptively intricate arrangement of You Stepped Out of a Dream features Joy soaring on the verses and choruses and wordlessly blending with the horns for the solo section, which features fine piano and trumpet breaks. This is followed by a two minute an astonishing a cappella introduction to Charles Mingus’ The Reincarnation of a Lovebird with lyrics by Joy, and when the band comes in with Kendric McCallister’s arrangement she somehow finds another gear to ramp things up even further, before laying out for a satisfying instrumental section and eventually, a wonderful ending with some spectacular drumming from Sherman.
A high standard has been set and doesn’t dip for an instant over the remaining six tracks. There are versions of Jobim’s No More Blues, the ‘40s standards Autumn Nocturne and the big closer Day By Day, and a wonderful pairing of Joy and McCalister’s compostion Peace Of Mind that eventually turns into Sun Ra and Jae Mao’s Dreams Come True, with a suitably stellar arrangement by Evan Sherman. Donavan Austin’s arrangement of his A Fool in Love (is Called a Clown) is an absolutely gorgeous vehicle for Joy, and her lyrics to Barry Harris’ Now and Then (In Remembrance of…) are as heartfelt as is her respectful performance to her late mentor.
Few vocalists could get anywhere close to the level of performance Samara Joy achieves with this album. The solid touring over the last couple of years with this tightly knit and deeply swinging band have only increased her confidence, power and control, her instrument is so finely tuned that it’s sometimes hard to remember its owner is only 24 years old. I’ll still go back and listen to her debut album and the joy it always brings, but Portrait is an astonishing display of a magnificent talent and the enduring power of jazz music.
Release Date: 11 October 2024
