Stephanie McB Ensemble

Stephanie McBee Ensemble is a Jazz Band that plays American Standards, Latin & Swing tunes and Originals.

Since Jazz is improvised music I like to focus on the creativity of the moment, which means fashioning the song out my own inspiration and changing it to express what my personal thoughts are about the tune. In addition, my acting background ( see vitae below ) is a great advantage for me in terms of unfolding the story:
and more: I love to scat a lot, too.

The great genius of Sarah Vaughan, her divine sound and her mastery of improvisation in my greatest influence and guidance.
Also Ella with her breathtaking and extremely entertaining scat is what inspired me to do what I'm doing now.
Other influences are:
Cecil McBee, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn, Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Theloneous Monk, Roberta Gambarini, Jane Monheit, Billy Hart, Pheeroan akLaff, Phil Markowitz, Kirk Lightsey, George Cables.

Stephanie McBee- Vita

* born in Osnabrueck/ Germany

* learned piano playing at the Conservatory
Osnabrueck from age 7 on

* added flute age 14 & theatre class age 16/
Conservatory Osnabruck

* specialized in highschool on music class

* 1992 - 1997 University Osnabrueck
1st Examination for teaching
Music ( piano & flute ) and
German language

* 1997- 2000
Acting School ("Studio O33")
in
Hamburg/Germany -
- private vocal lessons
( belcanto ) w/ Geeske Hof Helmers,
Hamburg/Germany
& Margarete Adler,
Munich/Germany
* 2000-2006
Worked as a freelance singing actrice
( w / light opera Brecht / Weill songs )
under her MAIDEN / ARTIST NAME VERENA GEMSA !!!
in Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Wuerzburg, Brussles, Vienna,
Prisdina, NYC

* 2007 moved to NY
Jazz coaching
w/ Jazz Bassist, composer,
arranger & educator
Cecil McBee,
Jazz pianist Kayo Hiraki,
Jazz singer Elly Fordye

* 2008 started Jazz Education ( voice and piano )
w/ Jazz singer, pianist, arranger
& educator Nancy Marano

participated in Barry Harris class
&
Jazz mobile Workshop w/ Jazz singer Marion Cowings
2008/9 and 2009/10

* 2010 First Showcases in Jazz singer in NYC at

"Nirvana"/Lexington AVE, "5c"/ East Village.