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, Cameo, Glen Fry, Michael McDonald 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.”
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. The Stephanie Porter Quartet is Stephanie Porter (vocals), Steve Yusen (drums), Craig Hoyer (piano) and Dan O'Brien (bass).
Call Morso for tickets at 253-530-3463
