UB Center For The Arts December 17, 2024

By Frank Housh

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. 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. 

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 and Brown Gus Kahn, 1940) from “Portrait,” released Oct. 11, 2024. Click here for an earlier, June 2024 performance at The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, NYC).

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

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.

Joy is still finding herself as a songwriter as she seeks to process her musical success. She confessed to being “overwhelmed” by her rapid rise and expressed a sincere and humble gratitude for those who had helped her on her way up. 

Fame changes everything, for better and for worse. One senses that the close support of her family, as well has her obvious intelligence and self-awareness, will protect her from an exploitive music industry and allow her to develop her stunning talent.

Joy returned to the stage with her trio for a final jazz set that was, for me, the clear highlight of the evening. She began with a stunning a cappella introduction leading into Mingus’ “Reincarnation of A Lovebird” (1960), unfortunately marred by feedback. 

Joy and her band performed “Chega de Saudade,”aka “No More Blues” (Antônio Carlos Jobim, 1958), Billie Holiday’s “Left Alone” (written in 1953 but never recorded) and an uptempo “Day by Day” (Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston and Sammy Cahn, 1946) made famous by Sarah Vaughn. 

After her family joined her for the final portion of the concert, Antonio McLendon led a spirited rendition of “Mary Did You Know,” during which he doubled his scat vocal on bass. 

Joy’s family and the God’s Purchase Choir send the enthusiastic crowd into a cool December evening with “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) and “Joy To The World.” 

“A Joyful Holiday” gave Buffalo music lovers the rare opportunity to experience a generational talent early in her career. 

“A Joyful Holiday” lasted approximately two hours, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with one 15-minute intermission. It took place at the Mainstage Theater in the Center For The Arts at UB’s North Campus (capacity 1748). It was approximately 65% full.

Frank Housh is a contributing editor at The Buffalo Hive and the publisher of Media Room, which features regular and insightful commentary on music, film, books and the visual arts. Media Room focuses on Buffalo’s extensive cultural scene with regular reviews of The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the AKG Buffalo Art Museum.

You can subscribe to Media Room with a 20% discount off of the annual rate here.