Past members:
Carey Nava - supporting vocals
Kevin Louis - trumpet/flugelhorn
Kevin Raczka - drums
Jahmal Nichols - bass
Jeremy "Bean" Clemons - drums
Jesse Fischer - keys
Josh David - bass
Steve Jenkins - bass
V. Jeffrey Smith - saxes & flute
"What If" Super8 Footage from @ The Blue Note, NYC (filmed & edited by Tyler Durrance Gamble)
"Tellin You Right Now" THE RELEASE PARTY @ The Cutting Room, NYC
"Fire" THE RELEASE PARTY @ The Cutting Room, NYC
"Sellin Ya Soul" THE RELEASE PARTY @ The Cutting Room, NYC
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN...
P.S. I did not say what he said I said at the end of the clip. He made that up. ;')
Influences
Erykah Badu Patty Griffin Eva Cassidy Common Mos Def Billie Joni Mitchell Fiona Apple old-school Janet Jean Grae TreZure Taylor OutKast Rebirth Brass Band Sibongile Khumalo Ani Difranco ODB Erin McKeown Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire digable planets Seth Garrison Whitney Sarah McLachlin Lauryn Hill Anthony Hamilton Cee-Lo Dionne Farris Hollie Smith Rene Marie Roy Hargrove Mavis Staples Che Fu Charles Mingus Chris Thile D'Angelo Morphine Blackstar Tribe Called Quest Nas The Roots Katchafire Alice Smith
Stephanie Rooker is working on making people listen, on calling us to take a moment to recognize what we have, and what we have to give…and this is what her debut recording project, Tellin You Right Now, is all about.
Drawing from her broad range of musical influences: from singer-songwriter folk of her native Appalachia to her immersion in traditional folk music of Ghana, from her distinctive grasp of the cultural evolution of American gospel--blues--jazz--soul--hip-hop to her passion for the conscious vibes of '70s soul and reggae music, her sound is fresh and cultivated. Rooker sings with the careful phrasing of a soulful Eva Cassidy, the wailing of a young, blues-steeped Bonnie Raitt, and the self-affirmative slant of Stevie Wonder.
Rooker has been performing with her band in New York City and beyond for the past 3 years. In March 2008, she released her first recording project, Tellin You Right Now, to a packed house at the Cutting Room. Since then, Rooker has been scaling the music-scene ladder quickly. Less than a year after her CD release, Rooker made her debut performance NYC’s legendary Blue Note in the venue’s popular Late Night Groove Series. She has graced the stages of numerous other NYC venues, including Southpaw, Shrine, Nublu, Sugar Bar, Rose Live Music, 55 Bar, Bowery Poetry Club, and has been featured for the past 2 years in the Clinton Concert Series. With her increasing notoriety, Rooker has also been booking high-profile venues outside of New York City, including Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. and the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, VA.
Her music, reflecting a life filled with love & growth, pain & healing, and the beauty of hope, is supported by a 6-piece band of young, inspired musicians--all mavericks on the New York scene--from specialized backgrounds in jazz, reggae, gospel, and hip-hop. Rooker’s songs are ripe with innovation and rounded by expertise. In Tellin You Right Now, Rooker harnesses this musical diversity, seamlessly blending colors and textures to make each track a unique combination of groove, heart, and light.
Rooker attended historically progressive Oberlin College, where her coursework could reflect her broadminded values and support her musical ambitions. There, she designed an independent major in Ethnomusicology with an emphasis on West Africa and the Diaspora. This gave Rooker the opportunity to study for 4 months in Ghana, during which time she conducted field research and recordings and produced a CD of the traditional music of the Ashanti, Dagomba, and Ga people of Ghana. It was also during this time that she began composing her own music and booked her first tour as an acoustic duo with bluegrass guitarist Chris Eldridge (of Chris Thile's "Punch Brothers").
After graduating from Oberlin, Rooker settled in Brooklyn, NY, where she began pursuing opportunities to hone her musical abilities and immerse herself in the New York music scene. She began studying with jazz pianist Charles Sibirsky, under whose tutelage she recorded her first demo, was introduced to players, and began booking gigs around the city that opened the doors to a promising career.
The release of Tellin You Right Now marks the culmination of a journey for Stephanie Rooker. She has produced a collection of her own words and music to speak the truth as she lives it. This music is brimming with hope. It’s not a saccharine or unsubstantiated hope, but a wide-awake, insistent kind of hope...the kind that unites us, that reflects on our separations with wisdom and understanding, and reminds us to keep on lovin’ and doing good for one another.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
PURCHASE TELLIN YOU RIGHT NOW
from CD BABY:
OR iTunes:
WHAT PEOPLE SAY:
"Listeners should expect the unexpected from Stephanie Rooker...Tellin You Right Now is an excellent effort...a fine album that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking to mix it up musically." – Katie Frection,Hot Indie News.com
"Very much an individualist…a very, very fine vocalist…this gal really does lend a personal side to everything that she does."
– Charlie Perkinson of NPR’s “Jazz Tonight”
[WVTF 89.1FM Virginia Tech]
“Don't try to pigeonhole Stephanie Rooker into a particular style of music. The Radford native will disappoint you…Rooker has a really nice record, Tellin You Right Now, which you should hear...she pulls it off live, and travels with a band of monster players. Her sister, Jen, did backing vocals, and they had the sisterly blend thing happening…By the way, she’s real good." – Tad Dickens, The Roanoke Times
“A lush six-piece band backs this soul- and blues-crooning wonder.”
– C-Ville: Charlottesville News & Arts
“Don't be fooled by the release of this album being independent. The quality is nothing short of major and the content, songwriting and musicians are exceptionally great. Having been to several live shows, I recommend the full 360 experience for a complete comprehension of Stephanie Rooker.” – Spiritchild of Mental Notes
Fan Quotes:
“This album brings calmness to the soul in times of struggle and movement and introduces moments of reflection and rejoice. Won't Go Away is by far the best jazzy/soulful song of the year. I recommend playing this tune on repeat while kissing the sky.”
“Soul inspirational...from the heart to the soul!”
“This album is a very nice fusion of what to me is Jazz, R&B, and Reggae. It’s got a nice laid back vibe to it and just makes you smile and feel good.”
“[‘Won’t Go Away’] brings my soul to a place of peace and healing.”
“Ordered this after hearing it on our local public radio jazz night. Have listened to it over and over. Steph is outstanding...words have such meaning and her vocals are terrific.”
Stephanie, I have to work in N.C. this weekend so I will not be able to see you. However, you blow them away as you always do everywhere else. I got a chance to read the article about you in The Roanoke Times and it was great! Smiles and I will eventually catch-up to you...Bev
Rock on S-Rooks. Hope to catch you before Floyd, either at Gravity, Clementine, or in NYC. By the way, Stevie Wonder is my biggest musical hero, so your bio best not be talking junk...just kidding.
Hi Stephanie, Jacob and Jasons grandmother said to tell you hello! I had told her how awesome you have become with your music and she thought that was so neat and she said you always had a fantastic voice (smile)! I hope all is going great your way and like I said hopefully we will catch your opening in March! Bev B Studio 325
Stephanie, it is good to see you on here and your music is fantastic. I am not sure if you remember me I am Jacob and Jason's cousin! Anyways Bravo to you and keep on making your dream come true! Bev Bishop
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