Samara Joy

The leaves may not be turning, but the Eagles are back on the field, the kids are back in school — and the fall arts season is upon us. What does that mean for jazz fans in the Philadelphia area? A lot of big names doing big things, along with the usual steady hum around the scene.

She's won Best New Artist at the Grammys, and played to a sold-out Carnegie Hall. But for Samara Joy, the biggest win has been her deepening engagement with the jazz tradition.

Heads up: the Exit Zero Jazz Festival is rolling into Cape May, NJ, bringing some of today's greatest jazz talent to the stage. If you're looking for something closer to Philly, then don't fret - V. Shayne Frederick, Nasir Dickerson, Ken Fowser and more are performing in the city this week.

If the winners circle for jazz felt familiar at the Grammys this year, there's good reason. So what's the problem?

For our first episode of 2025, Nate and Josh talk through a few New Year’s resolutions. And we’re sharing one of our favorite interviews in recent memory: a sit-down with Samara Joy, her father and her grandfather at Mother Bethel AME Church.

Ring in the new year with celebratory sounds from around the world.

This week's Moment's Notice covers the best jazz performances through the end of the year, including Samara Joy, Anaïs Reno, Bobby Zankel, and more.

Play It Forward is our monthly online column and a nightly feature on-air for new jazz albums. This month, we feature Samara Joy, Jane Monheit, Tom Harrell, and the supergroup Three Visitors.

Singer Samara Joy, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and pianist Sullivan Fortner all have multiple nominations in the 67th Grammy Awards. So does the late pianist Chick Corea.

Representatives from three generations of the musical McLendon family — Elder Goldwire, Antonio and Samara Joy — commune together in conversation at Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia.