Stephanie Jordan honored as Jazz All-Stars 2008

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On the heals of a stunning rendition of the national anthem performed during the 57th NBA All-Star Game with Grammy Award-winning jazz and classical saxophonist Branford Marsalis and internationally acclaimed guitarist Jonathan Dubose, jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan has been selected for recognition to New Orleans Magazine Jazz All-Stars for 2008. Critic Chris Rose proclaimed "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."

For 18 years New Orleans Magazine has attention to musicians who live and work in New Orleans. "In its 18th year the list is more important than ever since, because of the evil winds of August 2005… we applaud the members of this year's class. They could have voted with the feet. To our benefit they decided to stay" writes Gerald Wyckoff in the April 2008 edition of New Orleans Magazine. In addition to a featured story on Jordan and 15 other inductees, the group will be honored at a private party on Tuesday, April 8.

Jordan, whom critics have placed in the company of Nancy Wilson and Diana Krall, began to receive national recognition following her stunning performance during the nationally televised Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Jordan told New Orleans Magazine, "I think history itself is worth preserving and jazz music is a part of our history. Jazz should continue to mean something to the African-American community and to the greater community at large.

Music is the one savior I have right now. I thank God every day… Jazz feeds the spirit. The more you give, the more you receive back."

Jordan will be a featured performer at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell on Saturday, May 3rd at 1:00 pm in the WWOZ Jazz Tent. The Stephanie Jordan Large Band will fill the tent with a Big Band sound as she continues her signature trademark of singing jazz standards.

Like other Katrina victims, Jordan is still rebounding from her loses, " I had eight feet of water in my house, and lost everything — pianos, sheet music, my entire wardrobe, a singer's wardrobe." Shortly thereafter, she and her brother Marlon embark during the fall of 2005 as 'Jazz Ambassadors' on a European Tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center to thank the people of Europe for their support of New Orleans and the Gulf Region following Hurricane Katrina.

Jordan is the fifth performer to emerge from a family of New Orleans bred musicians. As the daughter of saxophonist Edward "Kidd" Jordan, Stephanie's musical roots run deep. Her siblings include flutist Kent, trumpeter Marlon, and violinist Rachel Jordan.

Past inductees to the Jazz All-Stars list include her father Edward "Kidd" Jordan, brother Kent Jordan, uncles Alvin Batiste and Maynard Chatters, Clyde Kerr, Jr., Ellis Marsalis, Pete Fountain, Harold Battiste, Gregory Davis, Juanita Brooks, Topsy Chapman, Donald Harrison and Warren Bell, Sr. among others.

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