Biography

Jazz singer Suzi Stern is based in Austin, Texas where she performs regularly in addition to appearances across the U.S. and Europe. She has won acclaim for her emotional clear voice and for her own creative compositions and original arrangements. Journalist Brad Buchholtz of The Austin American Statesman says of Stern "Jazz singer Suzi Stern has learned the great secret that transcends art - that the voice from the heart is at the center of all virtuosity."

Born in Buffalo, N.Y. to professional musicians (her father was a jazz violinist and her mother a jazz singer) Stern's jazz indoctrination started at a very young age.

Ms. Stern initially trained as a classical ballet dancer,studying in NYC at American Ballet Theater, The Joffrey Ballet and Harkness Ballet, but it was inevitable that she would return to her original passion and lifelong companion...jazz.

Stern studied classical voice for ten years in N.Y. and later in Austin at the University of Texas, and learned jazz theory from her studies with jazz horn players making her approach more instrumental than vocal at times, with a strong foundation in improvisation. Her opportunity to study with vocal wizard Bobby McFerrin was without question one of her most inspirational learning experiences.

A published poet as well as an accomplished lyricist, Suzi has written words to numerous contemporary and classic jazz compositions such as Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now", Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" and Joshua Redman's "Hide and Seek" which have been recorded by artists worldwide.

Through her inventive, original lyrics written over jazz classics not typically performed by singers, Suzi expresses a relevant and deeply personal perception of life as a modern woman.

From collaborations with famed bassist David Friesen, her lyrics to several of his compositions appear in Friesen's transcription book "Years Through Time", a Hal Leonard publication. Most recently her words set to several Bill Evans tunes have been published in another Hal Leonard compilation of Evans compositions.

Suzi's vocal work on a Jeffrey Kauffman composition for the jazz group Aqabala was winner of Jazziz Magazine's International Vocals on Fire Competition and one of only 14 winners deemed "Voices of the New Jazz Culture".

Among Stern's musical colleagues and collaborators of note are Denny Zeitlin, David Friesen, Jerry Hahn, Leroy Vinegar, Jesseca Williams, Shiela Jordan, Randy Porter, John Stowell, Arjen Gorter, Bobby Militello, Jeff Johnson and in the recent past the late great Joe Henderson, Mal Waldron, Doug Hall and her dear friend and musical tour de force the late Tina Marsh. She has shared the stage with Bill Watrous, Bud Shank, Rick Margitza, Bill Mays, Terry Clark, Cyro Baptista, Nancy King to name a few.

Stern is also a respected jazz educator. She was on the faculty of Marylherst College in Oregon teaching jazz vocals and improvisation, and presently teaches for Austin Live Music Academy through the University of Texas at Austin as well as teaching ongoing jazz clinics at Universities and institutes throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Suzi regularly performs for Symphony of Soul, a non-profit organization that is devoted to bringing music to those who are confined to institutions such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation, convalescent homes, and shelters for women, children and the homeless.

www.symphonyofsoul.org