Samara Joy Headlines Ralph Pucci’s 10th Annual Jazz House Kids Benefit
The Grammy-winning vocalist led an intimate evening at the New York gallery to celebrate a decade of the Jazz Set fundraiser alongside host Christian McBride
On Wednesday, February 25, Ralph Pucci’s New York showroom took on the atmosphere of a jazz club for the 10th annual benefit concert supporting Jazz House Kids. The evening marked a decade of the Ralph Pucci Jazz Set and welcomed Samara Joy as the special guest performer, with hosting duties led by Grammy Award–winning bassist and composer Christian McBride.
Over the past ten years, Ralph Pucci has raised more than $3.2 million for Jazz House Kids, the New Jersey organization that expands access to high-level jazz education and live performance for young people regardless of financial circumstance. Past benefit guests have included Sting, Angélique Kidjo, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Esperanza Spalding, Laurie Anderson, Gregory Porter, and John Pizzarelli. The funds support scholarships and instruments, sustain a broad network of teaching artists, establish student ensembles across the region, and guide emerging musicians as they begin professional careers. Many alumni continue on to college and later return as educators and cultural leaders within their communities.
“This evening has always been one of the highlights of my year, a celebration of everything I love about music, creativity, and community,” Pucci says. “Partnering with Jazz House and supporting the extraordinary work of [founder] Melissa Walker and her team is deeply meaningful to me, because I see firsthand how transformational their mission truly is. It’s a privilege to welcome Samara Joy, an extraordinary artist whose voice carries both the legacy and the future of jazz, into our gallery and to share her brilliance with so many friends who have been part of this journey over the years.”
The program opened with student trombonist Lyla Baker performing “Mack the Knife,” followed by a vocal rendition of “Just the Two of Us.” Joy, fresh off receiving her sixth Grammy Award, then took the stage in front of two large-scale portraits of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald painted by Rebecca Moses. She performed alongside McBride on bass and Cameron Campbell at the piano, joined by the school’s Louis Armstrong Ensemble and Big Band. Joy and McBride revisited their recording of the jazz standard “Old Folks” and also performed classics including “Chelsea Bridge,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “Don’t Go to Strangers.”
Between sets, McBride and Joy spoke about her musical background. Joy’s grandparents led a Philadelphia gospel group, and she grew up in a musical household, with her songwriter father introducing her to classic R&B and encouraging her participation in her church’s gospel choir. Her connection to jazz took hold during her college years at SUNY Purchase.
“Samara is that once-in-a-generation kind of artist who reminds you why you fell in love with jazz in the first place,” McBride said. “Her voice carries the wisdom and raw emotion of some of the most iconic jazz voices in history, while unmistakably fresh with effortless swing. She’s not just special—she’s part of the lineage.” And her ties to Jazz House Kids extend well beyond the stage. In 2018, the Bronx native worked as a teaching assistant at the Jazz House Summer Workshop, supporting students in the vocal program. She returned last summer as a special guest at the student symposium, performing alongside McBride and NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart.
Music has long played a central role in Ralph Pucci’s identity, with live performances integrated into exhibition openings and alumni of Jazz House Kids frequently taking part. During the gallery’s exhibition at Château La Coste last year, a continuous jazz soundtrack paid tribute to artists such as Miles Davis and Chet Baker. Jazz also serves as the everyday soundtrack across all Ralph Pucci gallery locations.
New for 2026, Ralph Pucci and Jazz House Kids introduced a dedicated online auction, open through March 2, to extend fundraising beyond the event itself. The auction features a selection of experiences and design-focused offerings, with all proceeds benefiting the organization. Highlights include a two-night luxury stay at Château La Coste in Provence, live sculpting sessions with Ralph Pucci’s in-house plasterglass sculptor Michael Evert, and live portrait sittings with artists Ruben Toledo and Rebecca Moses.
“As a gallery, we have always strived to discover and nurture new talent and our collaboration with Jazz House Kids enables us to deepen this quest at a grassroots level,” Pucci says. “Music can transform lives and every young person should have access to it if they want to. We’re so grateful to Christian and Samara for helping us create a truly one-of-a-kind event that is intimate, unique, and incredibly important.”
The evening drew a mix of cultural and industry figures, including Jamie Drake, Lori Weitzner, Ruben Toledo, Sébastien Léon, Lester Holt, Gail LeBoff, Paul Mathieu, and more.