Press Release An Evening with Samara Joy - Five-time Grammy winner and jazz's brightest new voice makes her Arsht debut
February 12, 2026
AN EVENING WITH SAMARA JOY
Five-time Grammy winner and jazz’s brightest new voice brings her signature sound to Miami for her Arsht debut
“A classic jazz singer from a new generation” - NPR
February 12, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $53-$152*
Knight Concert Hall
Miami, FL – January 8, 2026 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to present five-time Grammy winner SAMARA JOY (@samarajoysings) as part of the critically-acclaimed Jazz Roots series on February 12, 2026. Joy has captivated audiences worldwide with her rich, velvety voice and soulful interpretations, which have drawn comparisons to legends such as Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. The NAACP Image Award winner will perform a mix of jazz favorites alongside selections from her newly Grammy-nominated album, Portrait, for an unforgettable evening of jazz that bridges timeless standards with fresh artistic vision.
PHOTOS AND BROLL AVAILABLE HERE.
Tickets to An Evening with Samara Joy are $53-$152* and may be purchased now at ArshtCenter.org or at the Arsht box office by calling (305) 949-6722.
For guests with accessibility needs, the Arsht provides accessible seating and complimentary assistive listening devices for all performances, along with sign language interpretation, open captioning, and audio description at select shows to ensure an inclusive experience for all guests.
An Evening with Samara Joy is part of the 2025-26 Jazz Roots season and is made possible with generous support from Baldwin Richardson Foods, Steinway & Sons, Lexus and Alan & Diane Lieberman. WLRN and WDNA are media sponsors.
Jazz Roots Sound Check
A part of the Jazz Roots series from its inception in 2008, Jazz Roots Sound Check welcomes high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools to the Knight Concert Hall for free sound checks, lectures and, on occasion, opportunities to perform with headline artists from the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Jazz Roots concert series.
Jazz Roots Sound Check is presented by Baldwin Richardson Foods and made possible in part by Hazel Rosen, Melanie & Martin Kirschner and Melvin Kirk.
About the Artist
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 DownBeat 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 won two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” feat. Sullivan Fortner).
Her latest 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. 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.
*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Tickets shown include taxes and fees. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, and the state of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.
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About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Since opening in 2006 in the heart of downtown, the Arsht proudly serves as the cultural pulse of Miami – the heart of magical live arts experiences that spark the imagination and connect people to one another. Whether on our stages or in your neighborhood, the Arsht is alive year-round with international artists, innovative programming from resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and more than 100 culturally diverse and impactful learning experiences for 80,000 children every year.
The Arsht, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been recognized as a leader in the Miami’s cultural transformation, producing more than 400 annual events that generate 11,500 local jobs and $125 million in economic impact. The Arsht is home to a robust series of touring Broadway musicals, star-studded jazz and classical music concerts curated for South Florida, an award-winning Miami-based theater program and numerous historic and televised events. Free annual Arsht events, such as Gospel Fest Miami, Art + Mind Day, Heritage Fest and our LGBTQ+ Pride celebration bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit ArshtCenter.org.
Click here for hi-res photos and b-roll
MEDIA CONTACTS
Alexandra Medina
786-468-2234
Suzette Espinosa Fuentes
786-468-2221