A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical—her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work—she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was heard, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines—including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae.

Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut, of which Down Beat said, “With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.” The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday, which took home Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance in 2025. Her new Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band, already earning her an NAACP Image Award this year for Best Jazz Album. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris.

This program is sponsored by The John T. and Katherine G. Bailey Family Fund.

Kenny G is the greatest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era and one of the best-selling artists of all time. With more than 75 million records sold worldwide and over 1.5 billion global streams, the Grammy Award-winning saxophonist has built a singular career spanning five decades of unprecedented success. His catalog includes some of the most iconic albums in music history, led by 1992’s Breathless — the best-selling instrumental album of all time — along with Duotones, Silhouette, Miracles: The Holiday Album, Heart and Soul, Brazilian Nights and, most recently, Innocence, his 20th studio album.

Kenny G’s influence transcends jazz. He has embraced pop culture and his place in it with humor, making surprise appearances across film, television and major brand campaigns, collaborating with contemporary artists across genres, and maintaining a vibrant online presence that continues to resonate with new generations of fans. He published the memoir Life in the Key of G and is the subject of the HBO documentary Listening to Kenny G, both offering a candid, personal look at his life and legacy.

A multiplatinum cultural icon with enduring relevance, Kenny G remains an active recording and touring artist. He continues to appear in film and television and maintains a highly popular Cameo channel. For more information, visit kennyg.com.

We will also host a Masters Series Masterclass: A Conversation with Kenny G and Phil Lerman at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 27 in Lenna Hall (separate ticket required).