Ms. Nakasian has made numberous recordings as a leader. Her debut CD Comin' Alive (V.S.O.P.) features legendary saxophonist Phil Woods and received four stars from critic Leonard Feather. French Cookin' (V.S.O.P.) spotlights the unusual and beautiful combination of Stephanie's voice with virtuoso French hornist Bobby Routch. Her Bitter Sweet CD (JazzMania) was also very well received and includes Vic Juris on guitar. Her latest recording Invitation to an Escapade (CMG) has been hailed as having "almost seamless charm" with "straight from the heart singing" ... a "heartfelt and lyrical recording."
There are many jazz singers on the scene now. Jon Hendricks chose Stephanie because of her hip, swinging rhythm. She has appeared frequently as a guest artist with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band on their internationally syndicated (200 stations) Public Radio show Riverwalk to portray Lee Wiley, Peggy Lee, Helen Ward, Helen Humes, 20's singers, and blues singers. Their reason - her swing and authenticity. Most recently Stephanie portrayed herself on the show with Dick Hyman on two tributes (to composers Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Donaldson). The Richmond Times-Dispatch "compared (her) to Ella...and (she) deserves it." In Europe they have heard similarities to Sarah Vaughan. In New York, they heard early Margaret Whiting. Stephanie's clean, clear, lovely tone is another reason for her popularity.
Her original concert revuessuch as "The Great Ladies of American Song" and various composer and singer tributes have been favorites with schools and universities and concert goers. Her "Great Ladies" revue, which traces the development of jazz singing from Bessie Smith and the Blues through Mildred Bailey, Billie Holiday, and the Band singers to Broadway, Bebop and Beyond, is offered as an academic course at the University of Virginia where she also teaches private voice. In addition, Ms. Nakasian teaches jazz voice and vocal jazz improvisation at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She has directed vocal jazz ensembles and gives numerous workshops each year to schools and conventions (including the Virginia Music Educators annual convention and 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 Nakasian has appeared on television and radio in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and the Caribbean. National Public Radio featured her on a one-hour concert on "Jazz Set" hosted by Branford Marsalis. Her many festival appearances include the Northsea Jazz Festival (Holland), the Kool Jazz Festival (NYC), S.C. Jazz Festival, N.C. Jazz Festival, Main Street Jazz Festival (Columbia, SC), the Big Gig (Richmond, VA), the Bethlehem Musikfest (PA), Pensicola Jazz Festival, numerous appearances at the Delaware Water Gap Jazz Festival (PA) and a Public Television special featuring two duets with trumpet legend Clark Terry. She was also featured on a tribute to Kenton singer June Christy with the Pete Rugolo Orchestra at the West Coast Jazz Festival in Newport Beach, CA, and headlined at Bud Shank's, Port Townsend Jazz Festival.
Concert appearances as a featured performer include performances with Urbie Green, Pat Metheny, Milt Hinton, Clark Terry, J.R. Monterose, Joe Temperly, Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen, Sheila Jordan, Bob Dorough, Valery Ponomarev, and (with Jon Hendricks) Red Mitchell, Hank Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, and Annie Ross, to name a few.
The final element which makes all this so exciting is Stephanie Nakasian's electric and personal stage persona - fun to watch and exciting to be part of "the experiment" and the spontaneous creativity of her art.
SWING ... AUTHENTICITY ... BEAUTIFUL SOUND ... FRESH and INNOVATIVE IMPROVISATIONS ... and a GREAT, PERSONAL SHOW!
"One of the top storytellers on the contemporary scene"