Stephanie Jordan Jazz Ensemble performs at NOLA Downtown Music & Arts Festival

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The 20th Annual Cutting Edge CE announces that Showcasing on Friday at 6:20pm in Lafayette Square is internationally acclaimed New Orleans jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan at the NOLA DOWNTOWN Music & Arts Festival which takes place in Lafayette Square at Historic Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Avenue in the heart of New Orleans' Downtown Development District on Friday from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm and Saturday from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, September 28 -29, 2012.

While Jordan has performed on stages such as the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the NBA All-Star Game, Chicago's Harris Theater, the Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland and even the big screen such as in Lee Daniels' upcoming October Release of The Paperboy; Jordan says that "there truly is no place like home."

Noted jazz critic Ted Panken writes in regards to her debut CD, Stephanie Jordan Sings A Tribute to the Fabulous Lena Horne, "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, impeccable diction, dead-center pitch, 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. As she aptly puts it, "it's a tribute, not a copy."

Jordan will take the Lafayette Square crowd back to the days of grandeur!

Other performers include Gerald French & The Original Tuxedo Band in a tribute to Bob French; rock & rollers The Breton Sound; the silky jazz vocals of New Orleans' Stephanie Jordan; Treme's James "Satchmo of the Ghetto" Andrews; Susan Cowsill whose music channels emotions of loss into her work; New Orleans' surf rock band, The Unnaturals; Big Easy and OffBeat Awards winner Egg Yolk Jubilee with their electrical musical palate; New Orleans' female fronted rock band, DiNOLA; and Jam-All Production headed by Jamal Batiste.

Also included in the list of activities is the New Orleans Film Society sponsored event on that Friday at 7:30 pm, New Music for an Old Movie; a fun project which musicians Ratty Scurvics, Evan Goodrow Band and Unpainted Souls perform LIVE as the silent film Tarzan of the Apes, runs on the big screen in Lafayette Square. The first in a long line of Tarzan movies, Tarzan of the Apes shot in Morgan City, Louisiana. This will be followed by The Way Road: All Good Things – a short film by Michael Hofstedt on musician John Petty's development as an artist.

Saturday's Festival schedule closes out with Africa Brass with the FiYaYa Mardi Gras Indians, The Free Agents Brass Band, and Treme's James Andrews. The party then continues at Live Jazz at the Hyatt hosted by Anais St. John, and performances the other music venues.

Some of the food vendors for Friday and Saturday's Festival include Lil Dizzy's Café, Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club, NOLA Foods, Sno Balls Baby, JuJu Bag Café and Cajun Moon Catering, and others. Arts & Crafts vendors will be on hand with their wares as well.

The full Conference which runs from September 26 – 30 include NewWorks Showcases by new and emerging artists seeking exposure to record executives, booking agents, managers and the media. From Larry g(EE) of Dallas, whose sound has been described as modern twist on Motown; to Austin's Hot Rails To Hell heavy breed of seventies hard rock, punk, and early heavy metal; New York's Jerrra Blues who has been described as a cross between Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Lauryn Hill; Atlanta's The Dojo Collective with its infusing sounds of hip hop, funk, rock and anything else that flows and anything else that flows; the soulful Tanya E. Boutte of the famed Boutte clan; the elegant vocals of New Orleans' Barbara Short; to Berthena Burks, a talented R&B/Pop singer & songwriter; and Marlon Jordan who possess' an encyclopedic knowledge of the entire jazz trumpet tradition; the 2012 Cutting Edge CE has something for all music genres.

In addition to day time exposure, showcases are arranged in the evening at area venues including Gallier Hall, Jazz Live at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Howlin Wolf, Irvin Mayfield I Club, Mike's on The Avenue, and Twist Cocktail Bar.

Cutting Edge CE brings together music industry personnel from across the country; including representatives from ASCAP, BMI, ReverbNation, Music Connection, eOne Music, and many others. This year's festival includes a new feature; the Cruisin' New Orleans Specialty Car Show; a celebration of antique, classic and hot rod vehicles showcased in the heart of New Orleans' Downtown Development District combined for a weekend of fun, music, food, and hot cars:

• NOLA Downtown Music & Arts Festival
• Cruisin' New Orleans Specialty Car Show
• Mardi Gras in September
• Cutting Edge Film Rodeo featuring new music performed to Tarzan of the Apes
• Popular musical acts from national and local artists

Started in 1993 as a conference dedicated to educating musicians and music professionals about the latest trends in the music industry, it has evolved into entertainment workshops covering Cutting Edge Business Sessions, Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar, and Cutting Edge Film Workshop. The seminar topics include new trends and hot topics in music, film and interactive contracts including; Publishing, Copyrights and Trademark Update and other visual medias (TV, Video games, Internet, Advertising, etc.).

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