Where The Joy Is

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Where The Joy Is is a 2026 vocal jazz album by Canadian pianist, composer, and educator Amanda Tosoff, released as the third and final installment of her art-song–inspired Words Pr oject. The record runs just over half an hour across six pieces, performed by a core ensemble that includes Tosoff on piano, Emilie‑Claire Barlow on vocals, Alex Goodman on guitar, Jon Maharaj on bass, Morgan Childs on drums, and alto saxophonist Allison Au. As with the earlier Words and Earth Voices releases, the project treats songs as vessels for poetry and reflective text, but here the emphasis shifts toward a more concise, intimate exploration of joy, gratitude, and emotional resilience.Musically, Where The Joy Is blends contemporary jazz harmony with art‑song clarity and subtle indie-pop inflections, using carefully arranged textures rather than extended improvisation to carry the emotional narrative. The title track features wordless vocals from Barlow intertwined with rich alto sax lines, creating a dreamy, floating atmosphere, while other songs foreground her lyrical delivery against warm rhythm-section grooves and Tosoff’s harmonically nuanced piano writing. Reviews and artist statements highlight the album as a culmination of Tosoff’s long-running effort to bridge poetry and jazz composition: a focused, small-ensemble setting in which detailed writing, empathetic ensemble playing, and expressive vocals work together to trace where, and how, joy can be found amid complexity and change. Show more