The title track of Samara Joy's breakthrough 2022 album, "Linger Awhile" is a vintage pop standard composed by Harry Owens and Vincent Rose that receives a breathtakingly fast treatment from Joy and her quartet. Performed in B-flat major with an AABA form at approximately 360 BPM, this is one of the most up-tempo recordings on the album, showcasing the group's ability to swing at high velocity without sacrificing musical clarity. Pasquale Grasso takes a one-chorus electric guitar solo that demonstrates his extraordinary technical command, threading nimble bebop lines through the 32-bar form at a pace that would challenge any instrumentalist. The choice of this largely forgotten 1920s tune as the album's title track speaks to Joy's interest in reviving obscure material from the pre-bebop era. Originally a hit during the dance band period, the song takes on new life in this modern jazz context. Joy's vocal performance on the head displays remarkable rhythmic precision at this tempo, and the arrangement strips the tune to its essential melodic core. The album, released on Verve Records and produced by Matt Pierson, went on to win the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album and helped establish Joy as a generational talent in jazz vocals.
