Stephanie Porter
Seattle, Washington, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Stephanie Porter was born to sing Jazz. That much is evident from the opening of "Love For Sale" an excellent cut from her album How Deep Is The Ocean? Porter's vocals on the track are stunning as is the offbeat drumming. The song has a very open sound, at times just her voice and drums, though acoustic bass and piano are also utilized.
Porter can sing like no tomorrow to be blunt. She has stunning depth and range and never overdoes it or overstays her welcome. Her smoky vocals on "Love Me Or Leave Me" are haunting and totally geared for the song. It's quite easy to picture a 1930's Jazz Club covered in cigarette smoke with a bunch of gentlemen hoping to be lonely no more. I think I also picture Jessica Rabbit.
"How Deep Is The Ocean?" has a bit of swing and swagger to it with excellent piano and acoustic bass work even including a bass solo. Again, Porter's vocals are great and the musical arrangements are first class. It is truly a pleasure to listen to a nod to the distant past of American music that sounds genuine and sincere. And, what a voice to do it with. Truly outstanding - Indi Music.com
Discography
Personal Releases:
2010 - "How Deep is the Ocean"
2003 - "Mood Swings"
Featured Guest Vocals:
2010 - Ryan Shea Smith "Stay Awhile"
1997 - Pearl Django "New Metropolitan Swing"
1998 - Lance Buller & The Monarchs "It's Party Time"
2000 - Lance Buller & The Monarchs "Hipster's Paradise"
2006 - Alone/Together
Photos
Bio
Seattle native Stephanie Porter, a naturally-gifted vocalist, has had a passion for music her whole life. Porter was brought up in a house rich with music. Her family, filled with musicians – from vocalists to pianists to horn players, would often host jam sessions that she would sing in. At the young age of 19, she began sitting in local jazz clubs. Porter quickly grew as an artist, opening for a multitude of national acts (including Chaka Khan, Living Colour and Kansas), as a member of the popular disco group, “Hit Explosion” from 1996 to 2000. During this time, she also continued to perform jazz, her favorite medium, recording “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” which ascended to the top 100 of the Gavin Jazz Chart.
Harvey Siders (Emmy Award winning producer, composer, and jazz critic of Down Beat and Jazz Times) wrote about her critically-acclaimed album, Mood Swings, “Stephanie Porter is one of the most complex individuals and unpredictable singers I’ve ever met. But, to know her is to love her; she’s the paragon of honesty … Lord, how this lady sings.” National Public Radio station, KPLU (88.5 FM), still features a number of songs from this classic album nationwide. The album has been sold in over 25 countries.
A longtime figure in the Northwest jazz scene, Porter has worked with over 50 groups as a freelance vocalist and is often spotlighted as a featured or special guest artist. She has worked in some of the top venues in the region including Jazz Alley, the Triple Door, Tula’s and El Gaucho’s Pampas Room. She is an outstanding jazz vocalist with a clear, sultry tone and a bright and appealing stage presence.
Over the years, she has performed at numerous festivals and special events. She has also headlined at high-profile galas for such organizations as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition to the Northwest, she has performed in venues across the country, as well as Canada, France and England.
Her latest album, How Deep is the Ocean, is a brilliant showcase of her amazing talent as a vocalist. Porter delivers each note with purpose and honesty. Several of the album songs have been featured on radio stations across the US, Asia and Europe.
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