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Since the mid-1980s, Stephanie Nakasian has been a major jazz singer, one equally skilled at scatting and caressing ballads.
She picked up early experience singing in church and choirs in addition to taking piano lessons and studying violin for ten years. After earning an economic degree, a Masters in Finance and International Business and working on Wall Street, she met the great bop pianist Hod O'Brien in 1980. They married and Stephanie switched her career to being a jazz singer. She sang vocalese with Jon Hendricks and Company during 1983-84, shared stages with the who's who of straight ahead jazz (including Phil Woods who is on her recording debut, Bob Dorough, Dick Hyman and Jim Cullum), and worked and recorded with O'Brien. A major educator who has published a book on jazz singing (It's Not On The Page!), she has taught jazz voice at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville since 1994.
In addition, Stephanie Nakasian has successfully emulated June Christy at concerts, paid tribute (in their styles) to 20 top jazz singers on one recording and, on Billie Remembered (Inner City 1004), she sounds eerily like Billie Holiday circa 1935-36.
However on If I Ruled The World, Ms. Nakasian sounds very much like herself. She is joined by O'Brien, guitarist Vic Juris, Mark Kirk on alto and soprano, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin. Her extroverted style and beautiful sound are well displayed during a set full of chance taking music, adventure and spirit. Stephanie Nakasian is heard throughout in prime form. Highlights include turning the ballad “Almost In Your Arms” into a scat-filled romp, an emotional rendition of the ballad “Too Many Tears,” a slow version of “When Your Lover Has Gone,” a modernized “By Myself,” a soulful “You Ain't Had The Blues,” a duet with guitarist Juris on “A Second Chance” and a sly medley of “Blizzard Of Lies” and “Little White Lies.” “If I Ruled The World” is taken at a cooking tempo, “I'll String Along With You” is successfully revived and a rapid “Who Cares” has some heated scatting.
If I Ruled The World is a memorable outing, one of Stephanie Nakasian's best all-round recordings. (Scott Yanow)
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