Stephanie Jordan performs for SUNO 50th year celebration

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Southern University at New Orleans will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its opening at BASH IV on Friday, September 18, 2009 at the Hilton Riverside from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. This year's BASH will feature performances by jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan, and the soulful group BRW. Stephanie Jordan's vocal style has been described as having "impeccable diction, dead-center pitch, and a personal point of view . . . while drawing independent conclusions about tempo, phrasing, and dynamics." The Stephanie Jordan Big Band will open the night as she continues her signature trademark of singing jazz standards.

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. JazzTimes Magazine states "Stephanie Jordan, a standout here, was the real discovery of the evening. Her haunting rendition of (Here's to Life) 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 clarity of diction that recalled Nat "King" Cole . . ."

Stephanie was recently inducted into New Orleans Magazine Jazz All-Stars. She 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 classical violinist Rachel Jordan.

Southern University at New Orleans was founded as a branch unit of Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Southern University) in Baton Rouge by Act 28 of the Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature of September 4, 1956. On September 21, 1959 SUNO opened its doors on a 17- acre site located in historic Pontchartrain Park.

Established as an open community of learners, classes began with 158 freshmen, one building and a motivated faculty of fifteen. The university offered ten courses in four academic disciplines, including Humanities, Science, Social Science and Commerce. Now SUNO serves more than 3, 000 undergraduate and graduate students with 21 programs on two campuses-the Park Campus (the original site) and the Lake Campus (the site north of the original site, adjacent to Lake Pontchartrain).

The BASH started in 2004 as a signature fundraising event named for SUNO's Chancellor Emeritus and first Chancellor, Dr. Emmett W. Bashful, who was the event's first honoree. In 2005 the event honored the University's first dean of its highly regarded School of Social Work, Millie McClelland Charles. Last year's honoree was retired musical instructor Sir Edward "Kidd" Jordan.

The event will include delicious food and first-class entertainment. Tickets are available at the SUNO Office of Community Outreach/University Advancement at 6400 Press Drive in the Administration Building, room 312. For ticket information call (504) 286-5341. Interview opportunities with representatives of the BASH IV committee are available.

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