Five-time Grammy Award winner Samara Joy has released a stunning new single, “Flor de Lis (Upside Down),” offering a fresh, heartfelt take on the Brazilian classic originally written by Djavan nearly 50 years ago. Sung entirely in Portuguese and arranged by Joy’s longtime drummer Evan Sherman, the track honors Brazil’s timeless contribution to jazz and arrives just ahead of her tour dates across South America, running July 27 through August 2.
The single’s artwork features an original painting by acclaimed Brazilian illustrator Anna Cunha, perfectly capturing the emotional depth of the song.
“Although it’s a heartbreaking story, the poetic lyrics and beautiful melody resonated with me immediately,” Joy shared. “I got the chance to sing ‘Flor de Lis’ in Rio during my first trip there over a year ago. Hearing the audience join in harmony only cemented how important this song is to the fabric of Brazilian music and culture. In this new arrangement by Evan Sherman—with a beautiful painting by Anna Cunha—we hope to show our appreciation for the impact Brazilian music has on our artistry and the world.”
A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy continues to captivate global audiences with her rich vocals, magnetic stage presence, and reverence for jazz traditions. She recently made history by winning two more Grammy Awards at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards—for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance—bringing her career total to five Grammys. Shortly after, she earned her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album for Portrait, her most recent studio release, which she co-produced with jazz legend Brian Lynch.
This year, Joy has also been featured in Sesame Street, ELLE Magazine’s Women in Music issue, and EBONY’s STAMPED: The Headliners list, which celebrates Black artists shaping modern culture. EBONY described her voice as “echoing legends yet entirely her own.”
Joy’s global tour follows her acclaimed sold-out Carnegie Hall debut in NYC, and her momentum only continues to build. Her South American leg kicks off July 27 in Santiago, Chile, with stops in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. She’ll continue touring across North America through the fall, including dates in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Diego, and Kansas City, before heading to the Cayman Islands and New York’s Geffen Hall in 2026.
Upcoming Tour Highlights:
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June 28 – Montreal Jazz Festival
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July 7 – Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
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July 12 – North Sea Jazz Festival, Netherlands
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July 27–Aug 2 – Chile, Argentina, Brazil
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Nov 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Miller Theater
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Nov 19 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
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Jan 24, 2026 – Grand Cayman – McBride’s World at Sea
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May 16, 2026 – New York, NY – Geffen Hall
Samara Joy emerged as one of jazz’s most important young voices after winning the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Influenced by greats like Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Abbey Lincoln, her sound blends vintage jazz soulfulness with a modern, globally aware perspective. Her self-titled debut in 2021 introduced her as a force to watch, and her follow-up Linger Awhile on Verve solidified her place in jazz history, earning her a Best New Artist Grammy, a rare feat for a jazz vocalist.
With her latest album Portrait, Joy showcases not only her singular voice but also her growing prowess as a lyricist and bandleader. The album features reinterpretations of works by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra, and her late mentor Barry Harris—a testament to her deep roots and bold vision.
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