New Orleans-rooted jazz singer Stephanie Jordan will be part of an impressive double bill in Washington, D.C. this weekend, opening for a guy named Barack Obama. (While we’re not sure of the president’s jazz credentials, anyone who hangs out with Stevie Wonder is OK with us). The occasion will be the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 43rd Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner, highlighting a four-day conference focusing on public policy impacting black communities in America and abroad. The president will be the keynote speaker at the dinner, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this Saturday.

Stephanie Jordan

Daughter of legendary saxophonist Kidd Jordan, Stephanie is lately based in D.C. and earned raves for a show at the Kennedy Center in 2008, where a reviewer from a London newspaper proclaimed her “the classy lady of modern jazz.” She previously performed at the conference following Hurricane Katrina, and this weekend she’ll salute earlier singers who were active in the civil rights movement. As she explains, “Lena Horne was very involved in the movement and 1963 March on Washington and spoke alongside Medgar Evers shortly before his murder in Mississippi; Mahalia Jackson has been credited with encouraging Dr. Mr. Luther King to improvise on his famous “I have a dream” speech by crying out “Tell them about dream, Martin!” during his address; Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” became a rallying call for the Civil Rights Movement; and Harry Belafonte’s role as a social activist is well documented and continues today.  As performers it is imperative that we recognize our role and responsibility to help shape society and affect public policy.”

She’ll be accompanied on Saturday by her brother, trumpeter Marlon Jordan. Mr. Obama, we’re told, will perform a cappella.