Samara Joy Earns Two Grammy Nominations For ‘A Joyful Holiday’

Joy To Embark On 14-Date “A Joyful Holiday Tour” In December

November 11, 2024: Congratulations to three-time GRAMMY-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy, who earned two GRAMMY nominations for the 67th GRAMMY Awards - “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and “Best Jazz Performance” - for her holiday EP, A Joyful Holiday. The collection of seasonal favorites, released last year on Verve, features multiple generations of Joy’s family, plus Pasquale Grasso on guitar, David Wong on bass, Kenny Washington on drums and Sullivan Fortner on piano.

“I’m so grateful to be supported by such an incredible organization of musicians and artists,” says Joy. “This is a huge step, not only for me, but for my family, The McLendon Family, featured on this album with me. Being able to honor the very people who encouraged me to pursue music in the first place, particularly recording alongside my 94 year old grandfather, is an incredible moment and I can’t wait to share this news with them.”

Produced by Matt Pierson, A Joyful Holiday includes “O Holy Night,” “Warm in December,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and more, plus a new recording of Stevie Wonder’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” featuring Sullivan Fortner, which earned a separate GRAMMY nomination on Friday for “Best Jazz Performance.” Get in the holiday spirit with A Joyful Holiday HERE.

Last month, Joy released her new studio album Portrait. The collection offers a snapshot of Joy’s growth not only as a once-in-a-generation vocalist but also as songwriter, arranger and band leader. NPR Music calls Portrait “the most jazz-literate album of her career so far,” while VIBE Magazine describes it as “eight tracks guaranteed to not only impress, but change the way we listen to modern vocal jazz.” Listen to Portrait (out now) HERE.

Joy, who previously took home the GRAMMY Award for “Best New Artist” (2023), “Jazz Vocal Album” (2023), and “Best Jazz Performance” (2024), is about to embark on her “A Joyful Holiday Tour” where she’ll perform gospel-infused holiday tunes from her newly GRAMMY-nominated A Joyful Holiday. The tour kicks off December 3rd at Penn State before stops in Richmond, Louisville, Baltimore, New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Philly, Atlanta and more. Please find all tour dates below and via https://www.samarajoy.com/tour. 

Samara Joy “A Joyful Holiday Tour” Dates

December 3 – Penn State, PA – University Park

December 4 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

December 6 – Richmond, VA – Altria

December 8 – Louisville, KY – Brown Theatre

December 10 – Baltimore, MD – Murphy Fine Arts Center

December 13  – New York, NY –  United Palace

December 14 – Storrs, CT – Jorgensen Center

December 16 – Albany, NY – The Egg

December 17 – Buffalo, NY – U Of Buffalo Center For The Arts

December 19 – Detroit, MI – Fisher Theatre

December 20 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theater

December 22 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

December 23  – Philadelphia, PA – Verizon Hall

About Samara Joy

A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical — her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work — she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was heard, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines — including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae. 

Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut, of which DownBeat said, “With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.” The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday. Her new Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris. 

Connect with Samara Joy:

Website / TikTok / Instagram / Facebook

Press Contacts:

Allison Elbl (Shore Fire) - aelbl@shorefire.com 

Taylor Perry (Shore Fire) - tperry@shorefire.com 

Erin Ryan (Verve Records) - Erin.Ryan@umusic.com