Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – The kids are alright: SAMARA JOY is smashing in her Carnegie Hall debut and DAVID MARINO croons to the heavens at Birdland

• By drediman
• May 1, 2025
• No Comments

This week, I had the opportunity to catch perform, in their respective one-night-only concerts, a pair of sensational young singers — one who’s fast on the rise, the other whose star has already ascended. As per usual, read on below for my thoughts on these extraordinary talents, both in the springtime of their youths. Ah, to be young again!

DAVID MARINO
Birdland Jazz Club

The first of these two immensely gifted singers I encountered was the young Montreal-based crooner David Marino, who returned to Birdland Jazz Club with a show entitled I Wish You Love that’s inspired by the French songbook (RECOMMENDED). At 26-years-old, the baby-faced Marino still has the outward look and energy of tender youth, complete with a charming gee wiz demeanor and a winning smile of the wholesome boy next door. But don’t let appearances fool you. Almost immediately you’ll notice that he carries himself with the confident but easy going suaveness of an old school entertainer (think Frank Sinatra) — and possesses a voice to match. Indeed, Marino oozes vocal style and considerable technique, at times even opting to use a quasi-operatic approach that lets the beguiling purity of his tone send songs soaring gloriously upwards and out. In terms of styling a song, the French Canadian jazz singer is developing into a versatile performer, occasionally showing off his jazz chops, and at other times putting across disarmingly straightforward song interpretations. Still on a high from a recent visit to Paris, Marino has put together a show that’s accessible to newcomers to the French songbook — in most cases, he comfortably sings both French and English versions of lyrics — as well as caters to audiences already familiar with the well-trodden material. On Monday, he gave the sold out audience what they came for via standards like Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en rose”, Charles Trenet’s “La Mer” (made famous stateside by Bobby Darin as “Beyond the Sea”), Jacques Brel’s “If We Only Have Love”, and of course Marlena Dietrich’s “I Wish You Love”. At an hour long, my only complaint is that the concert was a tad on the shorter side. I’d also like to see him eventually start to venture into more adult, emotionally murky territory, as well as indulge in material that’s more off the beaten path. That will surely come with time, as he himself acknowledged. Throughout, Marino was accompanied handily by a terrific four-piece band, music directed on keys by the great Billy Stritch.

SAMARA JOY
Carnegie Hall

Then last night, the 25-year-old jazz sensation Samara Joy made her Carnegie Hall debut (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). The whole affair was, well, a pure joy (pun obviously intended), and she brought the house down with a confidently performed nearly two hour set that found the Grammy-winner from the Bronx truly coming into her own. For those of you unfamiliar with her singing, Joy’s is a voice for the ages. Trained in a variety of styles, her instrument is capable of a powerful belt that’s pliable enough to gorgeously melt upwards to a soaring soprano with thrilling force and exuberance. That being said, she’s also able (and more than willing) to recede to a softness that instinctually weaves in and out of the playing of her ensemble, allowing her bandmates — most of them have been together since their college days at SUNY Purchase — to take the spotlight. Indeed, there’s a real sense of collaboration amongst them, and it’s clear that they champion collective growth. Suffice to say, as music-makers, they’re reaching a new level of maturity and have developed a distinctive style marked by ambitious, rhythmically complex arrangements (the handiwork of several of the band members). For their first outing at the Hall, Joy and her ensemble played a few freshly arranged standards from the likes of masters such as Duke Ellington, as well as a number of songs from their latest album Portrait. Some highlights from the latter included a deliciously souped up “You Stepped Out of a Dream” and an inspirational rendition “Dreams Come True/Peace of Mind”. Over the course of the celebratory evening, Joy radiated appreciation for her success and the support she’s received, as well as genuine love of her craft. Indeed, she made sure to give heartfelt shout outs to her numerous teachers and mentors over the years, many them present in the audience. Overall, her banter was infused with wisdom and grace that belies her years. Still, however, she continued to bear the unphased optimism of youth proudly on her sleeve.