Jazz at Lincoln Center notes, "every so often a new voice stands up and proclaims itself, but few do so with such supreme depth and understated soul." Stephanie Jordan's current show continues her signature trademark of singing jazz standards from the Big Band era. It includes highlights from her self-produced debut CD; “Stephanie Jordan Sings a Tribute to Lena Horne” which honors the legendary Gr
ammy Award winner who starred in many films. Jazz critic Ted Panken writes, “Great lyrics permeate this beautifully rendered homage, and Jordan has the skill sets to do them justice—a voice that projects from a whisper to a scream, fluid phrasing…. She finds fresh, unfailingly swinging approaches to this well-traveled repertoire, melding into a personal argot elements garnered from such distinguished mentors as Shirley Horn, Abbey Lincoln, Nancy Wilson—and Lena Horne herself—while sounding like no one other than Stephanie Jordan… Jordan’s sodium pentothal treatment—the truth WILL be told—is evocative of the magical phrasing of Shirley Horn.”
Stephanie Jordan, whom critics have placed in the company of Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves, began to receive noted prominence following the national televised Jazz at Lincoln Center Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina. “On that memorable night; none sang with greater authority or emotional resonance than Stephanie Jordan, who enthralled the packed house and a national PBS NPR audience of millions with an ascendant reading of “Here’s to Life.” Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes Magazine writes “Stephanie Jordan, a standout here, was the real discovery of the evening. Her haunting rendition of this bittersweet ode associated with Shirley Horn was delivered with uncanny poise and a depth of understated soul that mesmerized the crowd and registered to the back rows. Singing with a clarity of diction that recalled Nat “King” Cole . . .”
Jordan brought the concert to its climax with impeccable diction, dead-center pitch, and a personal point of view, acknowledging Horn’s antecedent version while drawing independent conclusions about tempo, phrasing, and dynamics. In the process, Jordan… revealed a fully evolved tonal personality, one that can be mentioned in a conversation about such distinguished mentors and influences as Horn, Abbey Lincoln, and Nancy Wilson.”
Just as she had ten years ago at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Stephanie Jordan Big helped frame the moment of the evening at "The Power of Community: Katrina 10 Commemoration" on August 29, 2015 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. That performance aired live nationally on C-Span (59:00 minute mark). Jordan said "I am honored to have been asked by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to sing the classic tune "Home" from the Broadway musical "The Wiz" during the commemoration. I hope I conveyed the spirit and steadfast faith of the people of New Orleans through my music and in particular the message of that song." Jordan’s concert with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble at the Harris Theater led Chicago Tribune’s leading art critic Howard Reich to proclaim, “The woman can sing and indisputably knows how to reach out across the footlights . . . Jordan showed ample voice, bringing heft to music of the Gershwins and Cole Porter without pushing volume levels. Clearly she values plush sound and knows how to produce it.”
On her performance at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game with Branford Marsalis, columnist Chris Rose wrote, "Local chanteuse Stephanie Jordan set the anthem on a slow burn Sunday night, delivering the most smoldering rendition of the song since Marvin Gaye performed it at another NBA All-Star Game more than 20 years ago... Another blazing light in our constellation”
Stephanie Jordan performed as the featured singer during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Gala which included the presence of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama; she was selected to sing to Stevie Wonder during the National Urban League’s 2012 National Conference, and also performed at the private celebration ‘Oprah Winfrey and Friends of Susan Taylor’ in honor of Susan Taylor's years of service to Essence magazine. Jordan appeared in and performed in Lee Daniels’ “The Paperboy” which co-stars Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, and John Cusack. Jordan sang at the inaugural International Jazz Day presented by UNESCO in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which was celebrated by millions worldwide on April 30, 2012 during an all-star sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square that included jazz luminaries Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, and others. Stephanie has shared billings with Norman Connors, NaJee, Roy Ayres, Wess Anderson, and Howard Hewitt and has been featured with the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra during Jazzmobile’s “Great Jazz on the Great Hill” in Central Park, the Lionel Hampton Big Band Official Centennial Birthday Celebration, and others. Jordan has appears live on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, the Kennedy Center, Jazz Standard, Club Dizzy’s, Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland, St. Croix Blue Bay Jazz Fest, The Setai - South Beach Miami, Manship Theatre, Takoma Station, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Duke Ellington Festival, Chicago JazzFest Heritage, Glenwood Springs, Co., Adagio's Jazz Club, Hayti Heritage Center, Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club and is a regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Jordan is a member of the New Orleans Magazine’s Jazz All-Stars. Recognized internationally, the Sud Ouest French publication calls her “unbelievably superb.” The Washingtonian Magazine labeled her “JAZZHOT.”
All About Jazz adds, “Her tone is crisp, perfect, but not in that polished way that sounds like an opera singer attempting jazz…” Jazz critic Sandy Ingram writes “a singer with poise and pizzazz, with a voice and an appealing look that bring to mind Carmen McRae and Lena Horn.”
Audix Microphones has dubbed her "Lady Jazz!"
