The Questlove Show Samara Joy Part 2
Jan 14, 2026
In this insightful conversation, Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Samara Joy shares her deep admiration for Carmen McRae and how her influential style shapes Joy's own singing. She recounts her experiences recording at the iconic Rudy Van Gelder's studio, where she captured her septet's live acoustic chemistry. Joy discusses the meticulous process of writing lyrics for compositions by Mingus and Sun Ra, her musical family background, and memorable performances. With aspirations for authenticity, she reflects on her journey and future projects in jazz.
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Taste Over Technical Acrobatics
- Samara Joy studies Carmen McRae to learn taste, restraint, and rhythmic interaction with a band.
- She values emotion and simple melodic improvisation over vocal acrobatics to reach a song's heart.
From Bass Gifted By Dad To Piano
- Samara Joy used to play both electric and upright bass and was given a Fender Jazz Bass by her father.
- She later moved to piano and says she misses playing bass while admiring great players like Louis Johnson.
How She Approaches Vocalese
- Samara Joy practices vocalese by writing lyrics to melodies and sometimes to solos, but finds solos often too rhythmically complex.
- She started with melody-based lyrics and gradually expanded her approach as her skill improved.
