Samara Joy

Samara Joy, an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar during her jazz studies at SUNY Purchase, began her career with early recognition, earning Best Vocalist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program while attending Fordham High School for the Arts. Her breakthrough arrived in 2019 when she won the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, quickly establishing her as a formidable talent in the jazz world. Following this acclaim, she signed with Whirlwind Recordings and released her self-titled debut album, Samara Joy, in 2021, which led to her being named Best New Artist by JazzTimes for the same year. This period also saw her gain significant viral video success on platforms like TikTok, broadening her audience.

This project highlighted her growing maturity as both a musician and a bandleader. Portrait swiftly earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album in 2025 and secured two additional GRAMMY Awards at the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance, solidifying her status as a multi-award-winning artist at the forefront of contemporary jazz.