Stephanie Jordan Big Band at 2015 New Orleans Jazz Fest

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The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell today announced that the Stephanie Jordan Big Band will appear on Thursday, April 30, 2015 in the Zatarain's/WWOZ Jazz Tent as part of the musical lineup for the 2015 Festival which is scheduled for April 24 - 26 and April 30 - May 3.

Stephanie Jordan is sure to once again fill the Jazz Tent with her signature Big Band sound as she continues her signature trademark of singing jazz standards along the lines her self-produced CD; "Stephanie Jordan Sings A Tribute to the Fabulous Lena Horne; Yesterday When I Was Young" which honors the legendary Grammy Award winner.

Following one of her previous Jazz Fest performances 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".

Stephanie Jordan is consistently praised for her poise, elegance and soulful articulation. She draws frequent comparisons to her inspirations, the legendary jazz singers Shirley Horn, Abbey Lincoln, Lena Horne and Carmen McRae. Critics have also likened Ms. Jordan to jazz stars Diana Krall and Nancy Wilson.

Jordan has performed in the presence of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama; done a select performance in honor of Stevie Wonder; been featured at the private celebration of 'Oprah Winfrey and Friends of Susan Taylor, ' and she sang the National Anthem for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.

As a late minute replacement for Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi, Chicago Tribune's leading art critic Howard Reich to proclaimed, "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 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. Jordan 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.

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. 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.

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

Stephanie is a member of New Orleans' renowned Jordan Family of Jazz whose father is Kidd Jordan; and siblings Kent, Marlon and Rachel. The Jordan Family recently opened the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center in New Orleans.

Quint Davis, Producer/Director of the Festival, said, "To the whole world we say, 'Welcome to the 2015 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell.' With today's announcement of the daily list of performers, we proclaim once again that New Orleans is the Soul of American culture, and the Festival that carries its name is the Soul of New Orleans. This year's listing of over 500 bands marks an unprecedented musical gathering, even by Jazz Fest standards. Happiest of Fests to everyone; away we go!"

Others scheduled to appear includes her brother Kent Jordan, Elton John, The Who, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, No Doubt, Keith Urban, Pitbull, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, T.I., Chicago, Trombone Shorty, James Andrews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ryan Adams, Steve Winwood, Wilco, The Meters, Jimmy Cliff, Buddy Guy, Allen Toussaint, Kenny Garrett, Cassandra Wilson, Deacon John, and more.

Started in 1970, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival continues to showcase the most important names in music history alongside many of Louisiana's favorite entertainers. Advanced single-day tickets for Jazz Fest are $58. The gate price ticket will be $70. Children's tickets (ages 2 - 10) are still only $5 and are available at the gate only. Single-day tickets to Jazz Fest are on sale by specific weekend, with each ticket valid for a single day's attendance. Tickets are available at www.nojazzfest.com and www.ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (800) 745-3000.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a co-production of Festival Productions Louisiana, LLC. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans) and AEG Louisiana Production, LLC. (a subsidiary of AEG Live).

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