Award-winning trans jazz vocalist returns to New York to debut her acclaimed one woman show.
Saturday, January 11 at Laurie Beechman Theatre
After more than a decade, acclaimed jazz vocalist STEPHANIE CRAWFORD will present the New York debut of her one-woman show THE EXTRAORDINARY STEPHANIE CRAWFORD at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Saturday, January 11. Showtime is 7 PM. Tickets are $22, with a $35 VIP ticket including a meet and greet available, at www.SpinCycleNYC.com. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42 Street, just west of Ninth Avenue. There is a full dinner menu and bar available, and there is a $20 food/drink minimum.
STEPHANIE CRAWFORD is an internationally acclaimed singer, and that rare bird: a black trans vocal musician in the exceedingly straight jazz world. Having studied with the renowned bop pianist Barry Harris in New York, she migrated to Paris where she remained for several years, performing and teaching at prestigious schools of music, various festivals, and venues such as The Duc des Lombards, The Sunset, New Morning, and a host of other establishments. She is also the winner of the prestigious Django D’Or Award for Best International Jazz Vocalist.
In New York, Crawford has performed in such famed venues as Wigstock, The Pyramid, Sweet Basil, The Blue Note, Jazzmania, and Barry Harris Jazz Cultural Theatre, among others. The septuagenarian is a sublime interpreter of the American and Brazilian songbook, performed in the classic jazz vocal tradition of Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Betty Carter.
"I have never been openly trans. Nor performed as such," notes Crawford. "Of course there have always been people who knew or guessed or intuited or clocked me. For a man in a dress. Or transvestite. Or just queer. I’ve been subjected to such a dazzling array of calumny and ignorance and prejudice for so long -- whether for my race, or class, or gender -- that finally I’ve concluded it really doesn’t matter at all what people think of me. It’s been such a long harrowing journey working under the radar for so long. And I think I’m ready for my closeup."
Stephanie Crawford's work will also be included in a new art exhibition opening in January in Manhattan, Souls Grown Diaspora curated by Sam Gordon at apexart (291 Church Street). The exhibition opens January 10, 6-8pm, and runs through March 7, 2020. Special thanks to Gordon Robichaux, NY and Lady Bunny for their support. Details on that show are available HERE.