Samara Joy — "Tight"
2023 Best New Artist Grammy winner — Sarah Vaughan's range with Carmen McRae's swing instincts. Her album Linger Awhile is the perfect work soundtrack; bright tempos, real jazz vocabulary, never lapses into background mush. Seeds into Cécile McLorin Salvant, Veronica Swift.
Veronica Swift — "We've Only Just Begun"
Bebop-trained vocalist with a brighter, sharper attack than Salvant — more in the Annie Ross / Lambert-Hendricks-Ross tradition. The album This Bitter Earth sits comfortably while you work; the title track is the slow ballad, the cover of Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" is the upbeat seed.
Nikki Yanofsky — "I Believe"
Canadian vocalist — Ella Fitzgerald-influenced with a contemporary R&B underbody. Bright, functional, never drags. Album Little Secret radios well into Diana Krall's uptempo work and Jamie Cullum.
Lake Street Dive — "Bad Self Portraits"
Boston-formed jazz-soul band — upright bass, trumpet, Rachael Price's powerhouse vocals. Brighter and more rhythmic than pure jazz, but the harmonic sense is jazz-trained. Excellent work-along music; doesn't ask too much of attention but rewards it when you tune in.