Jazz artist Samara Joy headlines New Year's concert at Purchase College
npr.org —
The New Year's celebration, "Toast of the Nation 2025," features a concert by jazz artist Samara Joy at her alma mater, Purchase College. This marks her first homecoming concert since winning multiple Grammys in just three years. The event also highlights live recordings from New York City's Village Vanguard, showcasing performances by notable jazz musicians like the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and pianist Bill Charlap. These recordings capture the essence of live jazz from 2024. Additionally, the celebration includes an immersive concert by the Copenhagen group Hess Is More and performances on a Brazilian beach by fiddler Ricardo Herz and the band Samuca e a Selva, featuring vibrant Brazilian rhythms.