Stephanie Jordan performs with Clark Knighten

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New Orleans' jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan is featured this week at the "Summer Smooth Jazz Sundays" series at the Clarion Hotel, 100 Westbank Expressway in Gretna Louisiana. The series, produced by Clark Knighten Black Cat Productions begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, 2010. This show will showcase Jordan's versatility in the smooth jazz arena, featuring popular hits made famous by Anita Baker, Michael Jackson, Phyllis Hyman, Bobby Caldwell, and others. Jordan said, "I am comfortable doing this show which is much different from my usual jazz standards and classic big band sound primarily because of Clark Knighten. For more than thirty years, Clark Knighten has displayed a mastery of the smooth jazz sound. In addition, I finally get a chance to perform with Snap Anderson."

Jordan's performance is the first of 4-part series hosted by the Clark Knighten Band made up of Knighten on keyboard, Snap Anderson on bass, Anthony Brown on guitar, and Earl Smith on drums. Kermit Ruffins is also on the opening set. The series continues on April 11 with Emile Hall & Naydja CoJoe; May 9 with Gina Brown featuring Michael & Shaun Ward; and concluding on June 20 with Tonia Powell & Lance Ellis.

Admission is only $25 and includes complementary buffet with a cash bar. For tickets and other information, please call 504-481-9014 or 504-957-7077, or email: clark@bcpnola.com.

Stephanie, 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. Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes Magazine writes "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 a clarity of diction that recalled Nat "King" Cole . . ."

Selected for the cover of the World's Who's Who in Jazz; "SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS, BEST SINGERS, ENTERTAINERS AND MUSICIANS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT, " the London Monthly Herald declares, "Ms. Stephanie Jordan ... reminds me of the flashy dashy days of Josephine Baker at the Lido in Paris, the author referred to her as "The classy lady of modern Jazz!"

The Washington Post boasts of her Kennedy Center performance, "Contributing intimate and thoroughly enjoyable interludes were . . . A poised, soulfully articulate vocalist, Jordan turned in a performance that warmly evoked the influence of Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae and other jazz greats."

Stephanie Jordan 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.

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