Stephanie Nakasian
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Nakasian is an American jazz vocalist and voice teacher.
, where she received her BA and MBA. She subsequently worked as a financial consultant to major banks in NY and Chicago until 1981, when she began working as a musician full time.
and Company. Since then, she has toured and recorded as a leader and with pianist Hod O'Brien, her partner since 1980.
She has appeared frequently as a guest artist with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band
on their internationally syndicated public radio show, Riverwalk Jazz
, to portray a variety of jazz singers. More recently, Stephanie portrayed herself on the show with Dick Hyman
for tributes to composers Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Donaldson. She continues to appear at several international festivals and national music education conferences including the MENC
, MTNA, and IAJE nationals. She has appeared in concerts as a featured performer alongside important figures in jazz, including Urbie Green
, Pat Metheny
, Clark Terry
, Scott Hamilton
, Hank Jones
, Roy Haynes
, Philly Joe Jones
, and Annie Ross
. She also tours regularly.
in Charlottesville, Virginia and the College of William and Mary
in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has directed vocal jazz ensembles and gives numerous workshops each year to schools and conventions (including the Virginia Music Educators annual convention and at Virginia Commonwealth University
in Richmond) on "Teaching Jazz Voice," "Coaching Jazz and Show Choirs on Jazz," and "How to Sing what's NOT on the Page."
Stephanie is also the author of the vocal jazz instruction manual, "It's Not on the Page! How to Integrate Jazz and Jazz Rhythm into Choral and Solo Repertoire," which was published in 2001.
Early life
Born in Washington, D.C., Stephanie grew up in Bronxville, NY. She studied classical piano, violin, sang in choirs, and studied voice. She majored in economics at Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where she received her BA and MBA. She subsequently worked as a financial consultant to major banks in NY and Chicago until 1981, when she began working as a musician full time.
Musical career
Stephanie first came to international attention when she sang and toured 1983-1984 with Jon HendricksJon Hendricks
Jon Hendricks is an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is considered one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists...
and Company. Since then, she has toured and recorded as a leader and with pianist Hod O'Brien, her partner since 1980.
She has appeared frequently as a guest artist with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band
Jim Cullum Jazz Band
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is an acoustic seven-piece traditional jazz ensemble led by cornetist Jim Cullum, Jr.. Since 1989, the band has been featured nationally on their own weekly public radio series Riverwalk Jazz...
on their internationally syndicated public radio show, Riverwalk Jazz
Riverwalk jazz
Riverwalk Jazz is a popular weekly public radio series distributed by Public Radio International.- History :The series began broadcasting in 1989 and is produced by PVPMedia. The principal performing band on Riverwalk Jazz is the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. The series co-hosts are bandleader Jim Cullum,...
, to portray a variety of jazz singers. More recently, Stephanie portrayed herself on the show with Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman
Richard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
for tributes to composers Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Donaldson. She continues to appear at several international festivals and national music education conferences including the MENC
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
, MTNA, and IAJE nationals. She has appeared in concerts as a featured performer alongside important figures in jazz, including Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
, Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
, Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton (musician)
Scott Hamilton is a jazz tenor saxophonist, born in 1954 and associated with swing and mainstream jazz.-Biography:He emerged in the 1970s and at the time he was considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of...
, Hank Jones
Hank Jones
Henry "Hank" Jones was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters Award...
, Roy Haynes
Roy Haynes
Roy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
, Philly Joe Jones
Philly Joe Jones
Joseph Rudolph Jones was a Philadelphia-born United States jazz drummer, known as the drummer for the Miles Davis Quintet.Philly Joe Jones was often confused with another influential jazz drummer, Jo Jones...
, and Annie Ross
Annie Ross
Annie Ross is an English jazz singer, and actress, best known as a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross.-Early years:...
. She also tours regularly.
Teaching
Stephanie currently teaches voice at the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in Charlottesville, Virginia and the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has directed vocal jazz ensembles and gives numerous workshops each year to schools and conventions (including the Virginia Music Educators annual convention and at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
in Richmond) on "Teaching Jazz Voice," "Coaching Jazz and Show Choirs on Jazz," and "How to Sing what's NOT on the Page."
Stephanie is also the author of the vocal jazz instruction manual, "It's Not on the Page! How to Integrate Jazz and Jazz Rhythm into Choral and Solo Repertoire," which was published in 2001.
Personal life
Nakasian is married to her pianist, Hod O'Brien. Together with their daughter, Veronica, a budding jazz vocalist with two CDs, they make their home in Charlottesville, Virginia.As Leader
- 2009: Billie Remembered: The Classic Songs of Billie Holiday
- 2009: Dedicated to Lee WileyDedicated to Lee WileyDedicated to Lee Wiley is Stephanie Nakasian's eighth album as leader. It was released in 2009. The album consists of Nakasian's tribute to songs recorded by jazz vocalist Lee Wiley.-Track listing:# Sweet & Lowdown# Stars Fell on Alabama...
- 2006: I Love YouI Love You (Stephanie Nakasian album)I Love You is Stephanie Nakasian's seventh album as leader. It was released in Japan in 2006.-Track listing:# The Gypsy in My Soul# I Don't Mind# I Love You# Serenade in Blue# All the Things You Are# Blue Moon# So Many Stars...
- 2006: Thrush Hour: A Study of the Great Ladies of JazzThrush Hour: A Study of the Great Ladies of JazzThrush Hour: A Study of the Great Ladies of Jazz is Stephanie Nakasian's sixth album as leader. It was released in 2006.The album features Nakasian paying tribute to twenty of jazz's great female singers...
- 2002: Lullaby in Rhythm: In Tribute to June ChristyLullaby in Rhythm: In Tribute to June ChristyLullaby in Rhythm: A Tribute to June Christy is Stephanie Nakasian's fifth album as leader. It was released in 2002.Nakasian was inspired to record a tribute to jazz vocalist June Christy following her appearance singing Christy's songs alongside Pete Rugolo at the Jazz West Coast Festival, which...
- 2001: Invitation to an EscapadeInvitation to an EscapadeInvitation to an Escapade is Stephanie Nakasian's fourth album as leader. It was released in 2001.All arrangements are by Stephanie Nakasian, Bob Hallahan, and Hod O'Brien.-Track listing:-Notes about the songs:...
- 1993: BitterSweetBitterSweet (Stephanie Nakasian album)-Track listing:# "Almost in Your Arms" – 3:53# "Too Many Tears" – 6:02# "I'm All Smiles" – 4:50# "When Your Lover Has Gone" -Track listing:# "Almost in Your Arms" (Redd Evans, Jay Livingston) – 3:53# "Too Many Tears" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 6:02# "I'm All Smiles" (Michael Leonard, Herbert...
- 1992: French Cookin'French Cookin'French Cookin' is Stephanie Nakasian's second album as leader. It was released in 1992.-Track listing:# "French Cookin'"# "The Best Thing for You"# "Peace/Picture a World"# "Nuages"# "When You Get There"# "Fascinating Rhythm"...
- 1989: Comin' AliveComin' AliveComin' Alive is Stephanie Nakasian's debut album as leader. It was released in 1989.-Track listing:# "Everything - Comin' Alive"# "My One and Only"# "You're Driving Me Crazy"# "Mystery Man"# "May I Come In"# "It Happened in Monterey"...
As Guest Artist
- 1993: To Be With You with leader Sal SoghoianSal SoghoianSal Soghoian is the AppleScript Product Manager at Apple Inc.. Sal was an advocate for AppleScript years before being employed by Apple. Soghoian's job includes making public appearances to demonstrate Apple technologies, including the 2004 WWDC, when he appeared on stage with Steve Jobs to...
- 1993: This is a Recording with leader Bob DoroughBob DoroughBob Dorough is an American bebop and cool jazz pianist, composer and vocalese singer.He worked with Miles Davis and Allen Ginsberg, and his adventurous style was an influence on Mose Allison, among other singers...
- 1985: Opalessence with leader Hod O'Brien