Concert Review: Samara Joy And ‘A Joyful Holiday'

UB Center For The Arts December 17, 2024

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published at The Buffalo Hive in a slightly edited form on December 18, 2024. Frank is a contributing editor.

As the audience waited for Samara Joy to take the stage at UB’s Center for the Arts Tuesday night, it was apparent that “A Joyful Holiday” is a family affair.

Several generations of the musical McLendon family photos were displayed, including Samara’s father Antonio McLendon, her uncle Laurone McLendon, and cousins Thomas Niblack and Tierra “Lovey” Rowe who joined her onstage.

Buffalo’s George Brown and God’s Purchase Choir then stepped onto the risers and filled the room with a warm and wonderful Christmas gospel program.

Samara Joy and members of the McLendon Family, her band, and The George Brown and God’s Purchase Choir, Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at UB’s Performing Arts Center. Photos by Kirsten Anderson, © Kirsten Anderson.

With her family at her side, Samara performed inspiring gospel arrangements of “Christmas Time Is Here,” “O Holy Night,” and “Everybody Knows It’s Christmas.” Her family then cleared the stage, leaving Joy with her accomplished trio, Shedrick Mitchell (piano), Eric Wheeler (bass), and Charles Haynes (drums).

Joy began the jazz trio portion of Tuesday’s concert with “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” (Nacio Herb Brown Gus Kahn, 1940) from her recording “Portrait,” released October 11, 2024. Below is a video of an earlier performance at New York City’s Town Hall in June 2024.

Samara Joy just turned 25 and she has already released three albums, won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition, and three Grammy Awards.

Once you hear her sing, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about.

Joy somehow emerged into adulthood a fully formed, sophisticated jazz vocalist with note-perfect technique, musical depth and intelligence, a rich middle register, and a remarkable, belt-it-out head voice.

Joy and her talented trio followed with “Now And Then” (Barry Harris, 1972) during which her scatting vocals virtually channeled Ella Fitzgerald. She and her band performed Joy’s own composition Peace of Mind/Dreams Come True before a brief intermission.