Samara Joy Revisits One Of The First Standards That Sparked Her Jazz Journey With New Single Out Today
Listen To “Three Little Words” HERE
Joy’s World Tour In Support Of Her Latest Album Portrait Continues This Fall; Austin City Limits Debut Airing November 1
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(New York, NY – September 26, 2025) – Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy has released a single, “Three Little Words,” today. First penned by Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar in 1930 and newly arranged by alto saxophonist David Mason, the track finds Joy revisiting one of the earliest standards she ever learned, breathing fresh life into the timeless classic with her signature warmth and once-in-a-generation voice. The track was recorded during the Portrait sessions.
“‘Three Little Words’ is one of the first standards I ever learned,” says Joy. “I first heard Sarah Vaughan’s recording from the album After Hours at the London House. Although it’s been performed by many musicians, I’m excited to add my interpretation to the list of incredible recordings of this song.”
Listen to “Three Little Words” HERE. Watch the visualizer HERE.
The Bronx-born jazz sensation continues her meteoric rise with a string of major accolades and career milestones. Her latest studio album Portrait offers a snapshot of Joy’s growth since her GRAMMY Best New Artist win, especially as a lyricist and band leader. NPR Music called it “the most jazz literate album of her career so far” and WRTI called it “an artistic breakthrough.” She recently made her stunning BBC proms debut, which The Times gave a 5-star review, plus her sold-out Carnegie Hall debut in her hometown of NYC. Joy’s Austin City Limits debut will air on PBS on November 1, 2025.
Earlier this year, Joy earned two more Grammys at the 67th Annual Awards, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance, bringing her total Grammy count to five. Shortly after, she was honored with her first NAACP Image Award, crowned Outstanding Jazz Album for Portrait. This Spring, she was a featured guest on the new season of Sesame Street and was featured in ELLE Magazine’s Women in Music issue, which you can read here. Additionally, Joy is featured on the new album from 9x Grammy winner Christian McBride, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, out now.
The “next-generation leader in jazz” (Rolling Stone) will continue her global tour this Fall, with headline shows kicking off tonight (September 26) in Beaverton, OR before stops in Seattle, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston and more. The tour will also stop across Australia and New Zealand. Please see below for all upcoming dates, and visit https://www.samarajoy.com/ for more information.
Samara Joy 2025 Tour Dates
Sept. 26 - Beaverton, OR - Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Sept. 27 - Beaverton, OR - Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Sept. 29 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Oct. 1 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Oct. 2 - Santa Barbara, CA - The Granada Theatre
Oct. 3-5 - San Francisco, CA - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Oct. 16 - Wellington, New Zealand - St. James Theatre
Oct. 18 - Hobart, TAS - Odeon Theatre
Oct. 20 - Canberra, ACT - Canberra Theatre
Oct. 23 - Penrith, Australia - Joan Sutherland Arts Centre
Oct. 24 - Sydney, NSW - City Recital Hall
Oct. 26 - Melbourne, VIC - Melbourne International Jazz Festival
Oct 30 - Subiaco, WA - Regal Theatre
Nov. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Miller Theater
Nov. 12 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
Nov. 14 - Carmel, IN - The Palladium
Nov. 15 - Madison, WI - Wisconsin Union Theater
Nov. 18 - Chesterfield, MO - The Factory
Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
Nov. 21 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitzgerald Theater
Nov. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Folly Theater
Dec. 10 - Boston, MA - Boston Symphony Hall
Jan. 24, 2026 - Grand Cayman - McBride’s World at Sea
Feb, 12, 2026 - Miami, FL - Arsht Center
Feb. 14, 2026 - Tampa, FL - David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 17, 2026 - Melbourne, FL - Maxwell X. King Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 19, 2026 - Naples, FL - Artis
Mar. 25, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall
March 26, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall
April 1, 2026 - Dallas, TX - AT&T PAC, Winspear Opera House
April 2, 2026 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater
April 4, 2026 - San Antonio, TX - Tobin Center / HEB Performance Hall
April 9, 2026 - Scottsdale, AZ - Highlights Church, Arizona Musicfest
April 11, 2026 - Las Vegas, NV - The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
May 12, 2026 - Chicago, IL - Symphony Center
May 16, 2026 - New York, NY - Geffen 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, which won two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” feat. Sullivan Fortner).
Her latest 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