Stephanie Jordan headlines Urban League New Orleans Annual Gala

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The Stephanie Jordan Big Band is the headline performer at the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Annual Gala on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans beginning at 8 p.m. Individual tickets are $250. This cosmopolitan event, which is the League's signature fundraising event, directly supports programs each year that assist over 10, 000 individuals and families in the areas of education & youth development, community & economic development and public policy & social justice advocacy.

Tables may be purchased at the following levels: $2500, $5000, $7500, $10, 000 and $25, 000. Tickets and tables are available for purchase online by visiting the Urban League's website, www.urbanleagueneworleans.org.

Stephanie Jordan is sure to fill the Hyatt's Celestine Ballroom with her signature Big Band sound as she continues her signature trademark of singing jazz standards. It includes highlights from her self-produced debut CD; "Stephanie Jordan Sings A Tribute to the Fabulous Lena Horne; Yesterday When I Was Young" which honors the legendary Grammy Award winner. Jordan whose musical career began in the DC area and not New Orleans has performed on such stellar stages as the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the NBA All-Star Game, Chicago's Harris Theater, the Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland, the inaugural International Jazz Day which was celebrated by millions worldwide during an all-star sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square that included jazz luminaries Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, and others. This performance is destined to be another sensation.

Following her 2012 Jazz Fest performance, USA Today wrote "Stephanie Jordan transported audience members to a bygone era with a big-band tribute to Lena Horne, … She unspooled standards such as Let's Fly Away and Stormy Weather before launching into a throaty, melancholic version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, … leaving spectators entranced. The Times-Picayune's headline review read "Stephanie Jordan lights a fire in the Jazz tent at the New Orleans Jazz Fest".

Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes Magazine writes of her Jazz at Lincoln Center appearance; "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 . . ."

As a late minute replacement for Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi led Chicago Tribune's leading art critic Howard Reich to proclaim, "The woman can sing … 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." Music critic James Walker added, "Stephanie Jordan . . . stepped in and simply mesmerized the near capacity Harris Theater crowd with a sparkling performance."

Jordan has performed on such stellar stages as the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the NBA All-Star Game, Chicago's Harris Theater, the Marians Jazzroom in Bern, Switzerland, the inaugural International Jazz Day which was celebrated by millions worldwide during an all-star sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square that included jazz luminaries Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, and others.

Stephanie Jordan had the honor of performing as featured singer during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Gala which included the presence of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama; she has sang before Vice President Joe Biden, as well as being selected to sing to Stevie Wonder during the National Urban League's 2012 National Conference. Jordan also sang at the private celebration 'Oprah Winfrey and Friends of Susan Taylor' at New York City's ESPACE in honor of Susan Taylor's years of service to Essence magazine. Jordan has served as US Jazz Ambassadors' on a European Tour to Bucharest, Germany, Lithuania and Ukraine on behalf of the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

A member of New Orleans' renowned Jordan Family of Jazz whose father is Kidd Jordan; and siblings Kent, Marlon and Rachel, Stephanie Jordan is consistently praised for her poise, elegance, and soulful articulation. She draws frequent comparisons to her mentor-the legendary jazz chanteuse Shirley Horn-as well as Abbey Lincoln, and Carmen McRae. Critics have also likened Ms. Jordan to jazz stars Diana Krall and Nancy Wilson.

Jordan appears in Lee Daniels' production of "The Paperboy" singing a featured tune, the movie co-stars Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, and John Cusack among others. Jordan also recorded a tune for the 2013 remake of the film "Heat" which stars Jason Statham and Sofia Vergara. In 1995 Stephanie Jordan performed the title soundtrack "Season's Start" in the Tribecca Film release of Café Society staring Lara Flynn Boyle and Peter Gallagher.

Recognized internationally, the Sud Ouest French publication calls her "unbelievably superb." The Washingtonian Magazine labeled her "JAZZHOT."

This year's Urban League Gala theme, "Brilliance on the Basics, " will celebrate being brilliant in the basics of workforce development and honor the stellar career of global executive Warner Williams, retired Vice President of Chevron's Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. Jamie Schlottman, CEO & Plan President of Louisiana Healthcare Connections, will serve as the 2014 Annual Gala Chairperson.

Erika McConduit-Diggs, Urban League of Greater New Orleans President and CEO, says "For over 75 years, the Urban League has encouraged and empowered African Americans and other communities in the pursuit of economic self-reliance, parity and civil rights. This year's highly-anticipated gala is a rededication to workforce development and how our youth must be brilliant in education and workforce fundamentals."

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