Samara Joy

THE TOWN HALL PRESENTS

THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER

SAMARA JOY

Samara Joy (vocals)

David Mason (alto saxophone)

Kendric McCallister (tenor saxophone)

Jason Charos (trumpet)

Donavan Austin (trombone)

Connor Rohrer (piano)

Paul Sikivie (bass)

Evan Sherman (drums)

Welcome! And, may I add, congratulations. You are attending one of New York’s and America’s essential meeting houses, music venues and cultural institutions. I know that you will find the Town Hall Presents programming you are attending tonight to be timely and compelling. And each of our productions is an expression of our commitment to bring you significant, unique, eclectic and down right delightful events throughout the calendar year.

There is no place like The Town Hall. Founded “to promote good citizenship, social justice and general enlightenment through the education and expression of public opinion,” our hall’s world-class acoustics quickly became a calling card, and for over a century, playing The Town Hall stage continues to be a ‘must’ for musicians and singers from all genres and backgrounds.

Whether visiting our storied auditorium for the first time, or returning to experience yet another great night live on our stage, you can feel the vitality in the room. The Town Hall is truly contemporary; purpose-built to open its doors to art, ideas and especially to you.

Upon its dedication in 1921, The League for Political Education opened the building you are now sitting in with the watchwords:

“It does not matter who you are, what you are, or from where you come, you are welcome.”

As president of the non-profit organization that preserves our landmarked auditorium and produces the Town Hall Presents events like the one you are attending tonight, I thank you for coming to The Town Hall. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and our incredible staff of professionals, I echo the sentiment of our founders and assure you that you are always welcome here.

Nevin Steinberg

ABOUT SAMARA JOY

Samara Joy was born Samara Joy McLendon and raised in a musical household in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. Her father, Antonio McLendon, was a singer and bassist with gospel artist Andraé Crouch, and had a home recording studio and musicians regularly visited. Her paternal grandparents led the Philadelphia-based gospel group The Savettes. At home, Samara grew up listening to her grandparents’ gospel music and her parents’ Motown and soul collection.

Her first performances in public began as a teenager singing gospel at the Loew’s Paradise Theater and at Fordham High School for the Arts, where she graduated as valedictorian. Though her musical interests at that time mostly consisted of singing soul and in high school musicals, she won Best Vocalist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition.

When she auditioned for the jazz department at the State University of New York at Purchase, she knew only one jazz standard, but the college became the incubator for her growth into a striking talent. There, she studied under future collaborators guitarist Pasquale Grasso and drummer Kenny Washington, and was introduced to the wider catalogs of Vaughan, Fitzgerald and other great female singers, developing a deep love for the classic jazz repertoire and a desire to make it her own.

In 2019, during her junior year, she won the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition. The contest’s judges were singers Dee Dee Bridgewater and Jane Monheit, bassist Christian McBride, and producer Matt Pierson, who later became her manager. After winning the Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship at SUNY Purchase, Samara recorded a thank-you video of the Fitzgerald classic “Take Love Easy” that quickly went viral. That breakout success led to a GoFundMe campaign that paid for her 2021 debut album, Samara Joy. The recording was immediately embraced by audiences and media alike.

In 2022, Samara released her chart-topping second album, Linger Awhile, on the iconic Verve label. That led her to two GRAMMY awards – for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album. The recording showcases her deep-bench repertoire and easygoing charismatic presence. She brings a wise-beyond-her-years approach to both beloved songs like “Someone to Watch Over Me” and less familiar material, such as the rarely heard Vaughan tune “Can’t Get Out of This Mood.” Her re-imagining of the Nancy Wilson hit “Guess Who I Saw Today” struck a chord with a whole new generation.

Great acclaim has followed. National Public Radio’s All Things Considered called her a “classic jazz singer from a new generation.” She has an enthusiastic social media following on TikTok and has enthralled audiences in concert halls around the world and on nationally broadcast shows such as The Today Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Actor and director Regina King called her “a young woman who seems like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald are both living in her body.”

Joy captures the happiness and heartache of every song while deploying a remarkably versatile vocal instrument, turning each lyric into a singular thrill ride of textures and melodic flights. Samara’s intimate performance style is perfectly suited to The Town Hall, which was built to showcase the human voice and where Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Whitney Houston all made major debuts.

She won a third GRAMMY in 2024 for Best Vocal Performance on the Betty Carter song “Tight,” which has more than 2 million views on YouTube. Now, at age 24, Joy has continued to fulfill that initial promise, appealing to younger listeners as well as traditional jazz audiences.

THE TOWN HALL FOUNDATION

The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT

Nevin Steinberg

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Tom Wirtshafter

Marvin Leffler

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Susan Zohn

VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL

Ellen Miller-Wachtel

TRUSTEES

Teniola Adedipe

Anne Frank-Shapiro

Frederick Gabriel

Gita Gupte

John A. Jenkins

Natalie Wexler

James Shackelford

Madhu Southworth

LIFE TRUSTEES

Phyllis Putter Barasch

Mary Dettling-Wright

Bruce S. Leffler

THE TOWN HALL STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ted Lambert

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Melay Araya

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Jeff Mann

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Helen Morris

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Donna Banks, PhD

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Taione Martinez

DIRECTOR OF BOOKING AND EVENTS

Paul Cameron Hardy

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Carl Acampora

PUBLICIST

Cindy Byram

VICE PRESIDENT

Rita Robbins

TREASURER

Joan Rall

SECRETARY

Timothy Stambaugh

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair

Nancy Berman

Sandy Horowitz

Elizabeth Iannizzi

Candace Leeds

Zita Rosenthal

Rhoda Rothkopf

ARTS IN EDUCATION

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Michael Fram, Co-Chair

Dr. Eloise Messineo, Co-Chair

Barbara Murray

Dr. Pola Rosen

George Young

WARNING

The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theatre without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.

FIRE NOTICE

The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, WALK TO THAT EXIT. Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.

-FIRE COMMISSIONER

DIRECTORY OF THEATRE SERVICES

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 212.997.1003

Mon-Fri 9:30 am to 5 pm, for rental & membership info

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Bill Dehling

SR. DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

Alex Koveos

PROGRAMMING MANAGER

Gloria Lee

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Britni Montalbano

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Angel Rodriguez

CHIEF ENGINEER

Steve Franqui

HOUSE MANAGER

Johnny Lee Green

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Dennis Rakauckas

BOX OFFICE: 212.840.2824 Mon-Sat 12 noon to 6pm. 24/7 Recording

TICKETMASTER: 800.982.2787 to charge tickets by phone.online Ticketmaster.com

LOST AND FOUND: 212.997.0113

CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phones should be silenced prior to the performance as a courtesy to the performers and audience.

LOBBY REFRESHMENT BY Theatre Refreshment Company of NY

MAJOR GIFTS, CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Town Hall’s Education Outreach Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. The Centennial Concert Series is funded, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:

American Portfolios

Axe-Houghton Foundation

Bank of America

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

Edythe Kenner Foundation

Gund Investment Corporation

Henry Nias Foundation

Howard Gilman Foundation

The Hyde & Watson Foundation

The IV Fund

National Endowment for the Arts

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

New York State Council on the Arts

ABOUT

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine

New York City Council Member Keith Powers

New York City Council Member Gale Brewer

New York City Council Member Julie Menin

New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse

New York City Council Member Kalman Yeger

NYC Dept. Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo

Rea Charitable Trust

The Shubert Foundation

Ticketmaster

THE HISTORIC TOWN HALL

As of Jan 31, 2024

Town Hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of New York City for more than 100 years. A group of Suffragists’ fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921 The Town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory won by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. In 1921, German composer Richard Strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. Since, Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: The US debuts of Strauss, and Isaac Stern; Marian Anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker introduced bebop to the world; Bob Dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much much more.

LEARN MORE. VISIT THETOWNHALL.ORG/TOURS

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Thanks for putting art in the heart of the community

Bank of America recognizes The Town Hall for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout the community e commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural experience. Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

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