Born into a musical family in Buffalo, New York, Suzi Stern studied classical voice, piano, guitar, flute, and dance before moving to Austin, Texas, where she became a vital presence in the regional jazz community. 

Stern has released eight CDs under her own name and has contributed to numerous other artists’ projects. Her 2023 induction into the Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame recognized her many contributions to the Texas music scene. 

She is also a published poet and lyricist, with lyrics appearing in Hal Leonard publications and recordings by artists worldwide. As a producer, Stern has helped champion live jazz through Lulufest ATX, Lulu-fest Berkshires, and the Casa Karen concert series in Austin. She currently lives in Lenox, Massachusetts, with her husband, composer and pianist George Oldziey 

Presentation

Jazz by Jewish Composers  
Presented by: Jazz vocalist Suzi Stern and pianist George Oldziey  

Jazz is a universal language of creation, crossing racial, religious and cultural boundaries. How did Yiddish melodies make their way into pop music of the time? How did Benny Goodman’s band force a closer look at segregation; racial & religious? 

Through performance and discussion of works by Al Jolson, Benny Goodman, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Harold Arlen, Sammy Cahn, Mel Tormé, and Lee Konitz we’ll explore the musical and Jewish roots, influences, and cultural intersections that shaped America’s greatest jazz musicians from the early 20th century to today.

Testimonials

Stern’s work has drawn praise from JazzTimes for its “grace and elegance,” 

From DownBeat as “wonderful, soaring with jazzy lyricism,” 

and from All About Jazz as “poetic…masterful…poignant.” 

The Austin American-Statesman wrote that she has “learned the great secret that transcends art—that the voice from the heart is at the center of all virtuosity.”

Jazz pianist and Columbia Records recording artist Denny Zeitlin says, “It has been years since a singer has affected me so profoundly. Suzi has it all: a fantastic vocal instrument, effortless musicality, and a special way of working with the material and evoking deep emotion.”