I am a big fan of Samara Joy, the vivacious young jazz singing sensation and five-time Grammy Award winner. She has released a new gift to us -- “Flor de Lis (Upside Down),” a song that was first introduced in 1975 by Djavan, the Brazilian singer-songwriter. Flor de Lis is translated as “Lily Flower.” Djavan released it in 1976, and it quickly became one of his signature pieces. Now, Samara has taken it to spread its joy (pun intended) to a much wider audience.

I have no shame, I quote directly from the press statement from Crossover Media, the music promotion group, which states Samara’s version is “a fresh take on the Brazilian classic originally written nearly 50 years ago and arranged by Samara’s drummer Evan Sherman, the track is a salute to Brazil’s enduring influence on jazz...”

Samara sings in the original Portuguese lyrics, which are a “poignant meditation on lost love and emotional vulnerability.” Starting with a mild twinkling from a piano, Samara glides into it with a sweet humming into this number, which has been part of her repertoire for the past couple of years. It is a fine piece that showcases her mature vocal range. Samara has introduced English lyrics into the song she had composed herself. This may be the reason why the song’s title has the additional appendage “Upside Down.”

“Because of you, my world is upside down / I love you anyhow, but this is much too much to bear…”

The “Flor de Lis (Upside Down)” cover artwork features a painting by Brazilian illustrator Anna Cunha. This single (available as an MP3 download) was released ahead of her Brazilian tour, which should have concluded on August 2nd. And she returns to begin a tour in the U.S.

An update on Samara Joy’s journey:

In February, she earned two more Grammys at the 67th Annual Awards, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance, bringing her total Grammy count to five. Shortly after, she was honored with her first NAACP Image Award, crowned Outstanding Jazz Album for Portrait, which she co-produced alongside Brian Lynch. This Spring, she was a featured guest on the new season of Sesame Street and was featured in ELLE Magazine’s Women in Music issue.

Samara’s Touring Schedule:

Sept. 26 - Beaverton, OR - Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Sept. 27 - Beaverton, OR - Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Sept. 29 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Oct. 1 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Nov. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Miller Theater
Nov. 14 - Carmel, IN - The Palladium
Nov. 15 - Madison, WI - Wisconsin Union Theater
Nov. 18 - Chesterfield, MO - The Factory
Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
Nov. 21 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitzgerald Theater
Nov. 22 - Kansas City, MO - Folly Theater