Samara Joy is back on the GRAMMY block once again, this time landing a nomination for Best Jazz Performance at the 2024 ceremony. That’s not the only time her name has been mentioned on the nominee’s list. Her take on the revered jazz standard “Lush Life” also landed a nomination for her arranger Kendric McCallister for Best Arrangement, Instrument and Vocals. To mark the occasion, she’s released a video for the track showcasing the in-studio creation of the song.
The video shows the artist at work with a few of her regulars — including McCallister on sax, bassist Mike Migliore, drummer Evan Sherman, pianist Luther Allison and others. They create the magical moment with a beautiful arrangement that gives space for the instruments to shine alongside Samara’s timeless vocal.
The charm here isn’t just this beautiful take on the song. It’s also that they invite us into such an intimate session. None of the artists are donning their finery. Instead, they’re dressed down and letting the music work through them as they give us the fly-on-the-wall experience of what it’s like to make a jazz gem.
If the voters have any sense, then both Samara Joy and Kendric McCallister will be walking away GRAMMY gold on February 4th. While that remains to be seen, you can watch them create magic with “Lush Life” below.
