Stephanie Laws didn’t start out as a jazz musician but jazz reached out and pulled her in here in the great city of Kansas City. Stephanie received her masters’ degree in voice performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. She began her career performing for private parties, singing musical theater and performing classically at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

The crossover opportunity to sing jazz began in 2004 when she started her relationship with Benton’s at the Westin Crown Center Hotel. She continues to make Benton’s her home singing every weekend with her quartet. Stephanie has developed a special guest series and has had the pleasure of playing with some of Kansas City’s greatest jazz talents.

Her musical style is a straightforward and honest approach to jazz standards that lend for her big range, clarity of tone and engaging and dynamic personality to shine.

The most recent addition to her quartet was the arrival of her Bösendorfer grand piano. After listening to the jazz great, Oscar Peterson play on his Bösendorfer, she was hooked. This led her to a very heart-felt and deliberate purchase that has proved to be extremely rewarding. The piano is but a vehicle for the personality of each pianist that plays it to be expressed.

For Stephanie, jazz is an art form – it deserves respect as a mainstream art. Kansas City has done just that for the jazz enthusiast and she is excited to be a part of the ever-growing musical landscape.

When Stephanie is not performing you will find her working on her debut album or spending time with her husband, Matt and her 1-year-old daughter, Olivia.