In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, acclaimed Harlem-based vocalist Candice Hoyes returns with a powerful new single, “Far Away Star,” a genre-defying tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington. Set for release on April 15, the track reimagines a Swedish traditional song that Ellington recorded with vocalist Alice Babs in 1978, now reinterpreted by Hoyes through a contemporary lens rooted in history, justice, and cosmic aspiration.
Teaming up with GRAMMY-winning arranger Ted Nash, Hoyes’s version features her crystalline soprano soaring over lush, soulful New Orleans-style horns. The jazz octet arrangement brings modern dynamism while honoring the elegance of classic vocal jazz. Her performance evokes comparisons to rising stars like Samara Joy and Veronica Swift, while channeling the spirit and social consciousness of Nina Simone.
“‘Far Away Star’ is a tribute to Ellington, and it is a tribute to free expression and justice that is as eternal as the North Star,” says Hoyes, who also penned new lyrics for the track, reflecting on Black ancestral history and the legacy of global Black artistry.
Hoyes, a 2025 Du Bois Fellow, continues to bridge the past and future of jazz with a scholarly yet deeply emotional approach. Her work draws inspiration from iconic figures such as Josephine Baker, Abbey Lincoln, and Lena Horne. “Far Away Star” is part of a broader body of research and musical expression that Hoyes is building through her solo work and with her avant-garde all-female jazz trio, Nite Bjuti—a group handpicked by Wayne Shorter for his Palladium tribute project.
Candice Hoyes’s impact is being felt across continents. Her past performances include Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and venues in Paris, London, and Chicago. She’s been praised by outlets like NPR, Vogue, Jazz Times, and BBC 6, with Gilles Peterson calling her upcoming album “brilliant.”
With “Far Away Star,” Hoyes offers more than a song—she offers a declaration of freedom, a preservation of legacy, and a radiant step forward for vocal jazz.
Listen to “Far Away Star” – Out April 15
