Samara Joy's extraordinary voice and magnetic stage presence have catapulted her to international stardom at the tender age of 26. 'She’s the kind of artist who comes along once in a generation and reminds you why you fell in love with jazz in the first place, says legendary bassist Christian McBride. Joy is that rare example of an artist who can turn the younger generation on to jazz (she's followed by millions on social media) and whose appeal extends far beyond the boundaries of the genre. With an astounding six Grammys to her name already, it's clear that this is Samara Joy's moment, and there's no better time to catch her live.

Samara's route into jazz was somewhat circuitous. She grew up in a gospel family, where music had primarily a spiritual meaning, and gained her first experience singing in a church choir. She only fully embraced jazz during her time as a student, when she discovered recordings by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, which opened up a whole new musical world for her. Her breakthrough came quickly: at the age of twenty, she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and just three years later she earned her first Grammy Awards - for the album Linger Awhile, and for Best New Artist.

'A classic jazz singer for a new generation.'

NPR

In her more recent work, she has moved toward more complex projects. Her album Portrait, recorded with her octet, earned her another Grammy and is built on a more collective approach, with the voice intended not to dominate, but rather to function as one of several instruments within a rich musical texture. Sometimes labelled 'the first jazz star of Generation Z,' Samara Joy is one of very few artists to bring jazz back into the cultural zeitgeist. Her Prague Sounds concert is a chance to witness a one-off talent at the apex of her meteoric rise – it promises to be an exceptional night.