JOY: I can remember being - one of my - when I was, like, asking my professors what records I should listen to, my vocal teacher, Alexis Cole, she told me to check out Sarah Vaughan live "At Mister Kelly's," which is an amazing recording. GROSS: What's a song you heard early on when you were first getting excited by jazz that made you want to sing it? And it's just like if you have somebody, supportive family or a teacher who believes in you or wants to support you or - and people around you that want to help and lift you up, you know, it doesn't matter where you come from or where, you know, they say that the reputation is bad, and they say, you know, don't go there or that kind of thing. You know, it's like there's potential, and there's talent, and there's people with dreams everywhere, you know, no matter where you're from. So I don't look at that as, like, even though I'm from the Bronx, I made it out. Like, for me, I had an amazing childhood, an amazing time in public school and going to school and stuff. It's just every time I've talked to anybody about the Bronx, they're like, oh. But my - thankfully, you know, my dad, he would pick us up and drop us off from school every single day. My grandmother bought a house in the Bronx that we all lived in and still, you know, have and own to this day that was kind of like half in the suburbs and kind of half in the, I guess, the more dangerous, you know, side of town. JOY: Well, for me, you know, it was half and half chaotic and peaceful, you know, if that makes sense. What was your neighborhood like in the Bronx? GROSS: And for both of your acceptance speeches, the Grammys, you said, I'm from the Bronx. It's like I fit in already by just being myself. And so I felt like it was incredible for me to even be in that room and be a part of something so special and part of that night without having to necessarily change anything about who I am in order to fit in. But I guess what I meant - really, in my head, what I was trying to say was, you know, a lot of times in the music industry or from the outside looking in, you see people change or they're kind of forced to change in order to fit in or forced to blend in or assimilate alongside all of these creatives in order to get their shot. JOY: I was very overwhelmed, and I wish I could go back and do it again. What did you mean by that? Because you seem really overwhelmed by the idea of being here by just being yourself. So, you know, when you accepted the Grammy for best new artist, you said that you were amazed at being here by just being yourself, by just being who you were born as. But I'm saying it, and I'm playing it dumb. Wasn't part of my scheme to sigh and tell you that I love you. The thrill, it should have been all gone by today in the usual way. Last night, your lips were too appealing. GROSS: Well, I'd love for you to sing it now. And so when I heard it, you know, I was like, this is something a little bit more upbeat and positive to add to the repertoire, and that's why I love to sing it. And I realized that at the time of choosing it, I was attracted to a lot of sadder torch songs. I heard this first from Sarah Vaughan and later on from Nina Simone. The song is "Can't Get Out Of This Mood." And I'm wondering, like, why did you choose this song? What does it mean to you? How did you first hear it? It's not a song that many people do. It's a song by Frank Loesser, who also wrote the score for "Guys And Dolls" and Jimmy McHugh. So I'd like to start with a song that you include on the new album. Samara, I really love your singing, and it's so great to have you here. They joined us from the WNYC studios in New York. For her FRESH AIR performance, she was joined by Cameron Campbell at the piano, Michael Migliore bass, and Evan Sherman drums. Samara Joy was a soloist in her church choir in the Bronx. Her father is a singer and bass player who toured with gospel star Andrae Crouch. Her grandparents co-founded a gospel group in Philadelphia called The Savettes and traveled around Philadelphia preaching in their God-mobile (ph). She comes from a family of gospel singers. She won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which helped launch her career. Samara Joy is 23 and didn't really immerse herself in jazz until she was in college, when she was studying music at the State University of New York's Purchase College. The album is called "Linger While," which has now been released in a deluxe edition with some bonus material, including alternate arrangements. To top it off, she also won the Grammy for best jazz vocal album. Earlier this year, she became the second jazz performer in Grammy history to win the award for best new artist. On today's holiday show, we're going to listen back to a delightful recent performance and interview with jazz singer Samara Joy.
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