Samara Joy

Samara Joy at Helzberg Hall - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Let Samara Joy handle the longing, the tenderness, and the feelings a great jazz melody can hold. The Bronx vocalist comes to Helzberg Hall in Kansas City on March 2, 2027, with a sound rooted in classic jazz singing and the emotional warmth of gospel and R&B.

Her phrasing is a reason to get excited. A melody can be beautiful on its own; a singer's personality makes you care about the words inside it. Joy brings expressive detail to familiar standards, giving listeners who love vocal jazz something more satisfying than a collection of pretty notes. The attraction is a singer with feeling behind the technique.

There's discovery here, too. Joy belongs to a new generation carrying this music forward, with influences that include Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae. You can enjoy the connection to those voices without wanting an imitation. Part of the fun is getting to know the personality she brings to the tradition.

Her 2022 album Linger Awhile earned Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist. Those awards offer an introduction; the expressive singing is the reason to make a concert plan.

Spend an evening with melody, character and a voice worth getting to know. Find Samara Joy ticket options for Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center and make room for a little romance in your March plans.