Stephanie Jordan performs with Chesapeake Orchestra for July 4 River Concert Series

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Jazz vocalist Stephanie Jordan is scheduled to perform with the Chesapeake Orchestra at St. Mary's College of Maryland, Leonardtown, Maryland on Friday, July 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM. Part of a concert series at the Townhouse Greens, this show; 'A Swingin' Fourth!' pays tribute to the Big Bands with Stephanie Jordan and the Chesapeake Orchestra performing the music of Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and others. Also featured will be Victor Dvoskin on jazz bass and drummer Adolph Wright, who has performed with Aretha Franklin.

The performance is open to the public and culminates with a fireworks show.

Since 1995, the Chesapeake Orchestra, under the direction of Jeffrey Silberschlag, has provided world-class professional music to over 400, 000 appreciative people in Southern Maryland. In 1999, the Chesapeake Orchestra took up residency at St. Mary's College of Maryland at the River Concert Series. Over the past 13 years, the River Concert Series has become the cultural and tourist destination for Southern Maryland, winning the Governor's Tourism Impact Award.

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.

Following her 2012 New Orleans 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, with her sister Rachel Jordan playing the violin, 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 Leis led Chicago Tribune's leading art critic Howard Reich to proclaim, "The woman can sing … bringing heft to music of the Gershwin's 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."

When not making guest appearance with orchestras, Jordan's Big Band sound 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 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.

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.

The "Christmas with the New Orleans Ladies of Jazz" CD produced by her sister Rachel Jordan features New Orleans' renowned jazz divas; Germaine Bazzle, Leah Chase, and Stephanie Jordan performing their favorite holiday tunes with the Music Alive Ensemble. Stephanie's silky vocals are also featured on Marlon Jordan's "You Don't Know What Love Is" album and Kent Jordan's "Out of This World" CD.

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

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