Linger Awhile

by Samara Joy

Overview

With her sophomore album, 2022's Linger Awhile, Samara Joy achieved an uncommon feat, winning the Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist. While Joy is no stranger to accolades, having emerged to acclaim as the winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition, her double success at the Grammys was a surprise for a jazz singer, especially one whose impressive style harks back to icons like the aforementioned Vaughan, Betty Carter, and Dinah Washington. Produced by Matt Pierson, Linger Awhile nicely showcases Joy's verdant tone and adept vocalese skills. Part of the album's charm is how straightforward it is, with Joy framed by her acoustic ensemble featuring longtime guitarist Pasquale Grasso, pianist Ben Paterson, bassist David Wong, and drummer Kenny Washington. There are also tasteful contributions by saxophonist Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donovan Austin, and trumpeter Terrell Stafford. Joy brings a dusky warmth to standards like "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Misty," and an achingly slow rendition of "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)." Particularly notable is her vocalese take on trumpeter Fats Navarro's "Nostalgia," for which she wrote her own romantic lyrics, including some for the legendary bebop trumpeter's original 1947 solo. While Joy isn't the first jazz singer to sing a transcribed solo with lyrics, her artful attention to detail speaks to her maturity and deep feeling for the music -- aspects redolent throughout Linger Awhile. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	11/18/2022
Label:	Verve
UPC:	0602448266507

Tracks

1. Can't Get out of This Mood
2. Guess Who I Saw Today
3. Nostalgia
4. Sweet Pumpkin
5. Misty
6. Social Call
7. I'm Confessin'
8. Linger Awhile
9. 'Round Midnight
10. Someone To Watch over Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Samara Joy   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gerald Clayton   Primary Artist,Piano
Ben Paterson   Primary Artist,Piano
Pasquale Grasso   Primary Artist,Guitar
Terell Stafford   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Kenny Washington   Drums
Shedrick Mitchell   Piano
Luther Allison   Piano
David Wong   Double Bass
Mike Migliore   Bass
Eric Wheeler   Bass
Evan Sherman   Drums
Don Austin   Trombone
Kendric McCallister   Sax (Tenor)
David Mason   Sax (Alto)
Donavan Austin   Trombone
Jason Charos   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Terry Shand   Composer
Sydney Robin   Composer
Bernie Hanighen   Composer
Chris Allen   Mixing,Recording
Duke Ellington   Composer
Barry Harris   Composer
Don George   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Erroll Garner   Composer
Jon Hendricks   Composer
Ronnell Bright   Composer
Matt Pierson   Editing,Producer
Mark Wilder   Mastering Engineer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Harry Owens   Composer
William Garrett   Producer
Gigi Gryce   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Cootie Williams   Composer
Fats Navarro   Composer
Doc Daugherty   Composer
Ellis Reynolds   Composer
Vincent Rose   Composer
Jimmy Henderson   Composer
Murray Grand   Composer
Oscar Zambrano   Mastering Engineer
Ryan Streber   Recording
Elisse Boyd   Composer
Jimmy Eaton   Composer
Christopher Allen   Mixing,Recording,Mastering Engineer
Samara Joy   Composer,Producer
Will Bennett   Assistant Engineer,Recording Assistant
Sampson Alvarado   Assistant Engineer,Recording Assistant
Kendric McCallister   Recording Arranger
Donavan Austin   Recording Arranger