Stephanie Chou is an American composer, saxophonist, singer, and bandleader based in NYC. She blends Chinese musical influences with Western jazz and pop to create a unique and vibrant musical world. Chou has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, B.B. King's, Joe's Pub, Miller Theater, at music festivals in Vermont (Discover Jazz), Pennsylvania (Musikfest), NY (Lake George Jazz Festival), Canada, Asia, and Europe. Her music creates immediate cross-cultural connections.
She was mentored by legendary songwriter/musician Allen Toussaint, who encouraged her to develop her artistic voice. She later founded the Stephanie Chou Quintet, a chamber quintet that combines saxophone and vocals with Chinese violin(erhu), viola, and a jazz rhythm section. Her debut album Prime Knot featured GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter Marcus Printup (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra). C for G is her ballet commissioned and choreographed by former American Ballet Theatre principal ballerina Susan Jaffe. Her second album, Asymptote, focused on jazz reinventions of classic Chinese folk songs and featured jazz musicians Kenny Wollesen and John Escreet, and erhu virtuoso Andy Lin.
Chou has also shared the stage/recorded with Bobby Watson, Kevin Hays, and Curtis Fuller, and more. Producer/mixer/engineer Roy Hendrickson produces her studio recordings, including.
Chou believes in the power of music to create social change. Comfort Girl, her 80-minute song cycle exploring the lives of Chinese “comfort women” abducted into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during WWII, is not only a groundbreaking fusion of East-West musical traditions, but has also sparked public dialogue on a formerly taboo subject that still resonates globally for women today. DownBeat called it, "A stunning work that…shines light on a dark chapter of history." Comfort Girl was commissioned by the American Composers Forum and premiered at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater. This project saw the addition of Broadway singer Orville Mendoza (Heart of Rock and Roll, Pacific Overtures) to her band. Roy Hendrickson is producing a studio recording of Comfort Girl.
She’s received grants and commissions from: Jerome Foundation, American Composers Forum, OPERA America, New York State Council on the Arts, MAP Fund, Chamber Music America, and more.
“One of New York’s most socially relevant and ambitious jazz talents”
“A Mighty, Harrowing New Suite...a phanstasmagorical song cycle”
- NewYork Music Daily
Learn More: http://www.stephaniechoumusic.com