Jazz vocalist wunderkind Samara Joy made her return to Northeast Ohio for the third time in as many years last night. The Bronx native played the Tri-C JazzFest in 2023; two years prior to that (and a year into the COVID-19 pandemic), she was still in college. Between her graduation and last night, she’s released two albums and racked up THREE Grammys, including “Best New Artist” at the 2023 edition of those awards.
Pretty impressive for someone so young.
Critics have compared her vocal abilities to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and, although only 24, I noticed a maturity in her voice since I saw her last year at JazzFest. I can only imagine what she’ll sound like in ten years.
The Cain Park crowd roared with appreciation as Ms. McLendon and her band took the stage a few minutes after 8:00. All smiles, she was sporting a fashionable dress that complemented her voice. Thanking the audience for sharing such a beautiful Friday evening, she remarked that she couldn’t believe how downright chilly the air was for a late-August night.
