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News 12 Staff

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My guest is violinist Kirsten Stevens of Tex. She has a new album Out Queen Rising is produced by and features performances by Christian mcbride, international jazz bassist. Here they are on stage at City Winery in New York City. Oh, Kirsten, I love the way you own that stage. Where does that come from? That challenge? OK. Well, God, right. First of all, I didn't put it in me. I don't know where it came from. People often ask me, how did you start playing the violin? And I just, I remember being young, very young. I remember a, um a cereal box taped with a ruler taped to it and another ruler that I used just to figure out, you know, because you're three years old so you can drop that. That's, you can drop that. So I remember that that was a kinder rhythms class. And then I just kept playing and I don't know from where most of it comes from. I know it's certainly informed and enthused and given by God and then the rest seems to just happen. Um And it's a lot of information flowing out of my brain at one time and So I've learned not to say it all at once, just kind of ride the wave if you will as it, as it comes through. And I think all musicians can probably relate to that because you have, there's an unlimited amount of ideas and creativity that you work with. And then when you're on stage with all of those folks, my mom was sitting right there like looking at me like you're critiquing everything you just learn to kind of just execute and just send it on out and hope and pray that it lands in the hearts and spirits of the audience the way that you wanted to do. You have musical influences in your family? I do, I do. So my dad was in a band um growing up um and he sang and also played the saxophone and I actually ended up playing the saxophone in grade school. I just, it wasn't, it wasn't for me. So violin was for me. Saxophone, not so much uh shout out to all the saxophone players out there, right? But um uh so that was on that side, the Steven side of my family has musicians and singers. Um It was my uncle who taught me how to play all of the hymns on the violin. So The Amazing Grace, how great thou art great is thy faithfulness. And the more I learned how to play all those songs that was really how I got into jazz. That was my pathway. So as I played more gospel and needed to solo, I started to learn jazz. And so it was that side of the family that pushed me in that direction. But it was my mother's side of the family who positioned me right. So made sure I knew what to wear and made sure I had an amp and found the violins and so everyone conspired together. So if you will in a positive way, I love it. She has the most adorable laugh Kirsten also performed at the Apollo Theater in New York. Check her out on stage at noon.

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Apollo. Give it up for Miss Kirsten Stevens. Yes, I have got to see her live on stage. Kirsten Stevens of Teck performing in 2003 in New York City. She's a six time winner of the historic Amateur night and showtime at the Apollo. Girl. You are good. Thank you. Did you sell that violin? You told me I did, I did, I sold it on ebay. Why I needed a new one. Well, it served its purpose. It served its purpose. Yeah. So someone's out there playing a violin that played on the Apollo stage. I hope they know that. I hope they know it too. They might know it now. Like, oh, that violin I bought eight years ago on ebay. That's where it came from. Lucky you. Right. Send it back to me. I'll sign it. What was it like? It was magical. It's a tough crowd, but it's a, it's a more inspiring stage. So, as intimidated as you might be stepping onto the stage, you feel the spirits of all the legends who've come before and they almost just usher you through the performance, right? And so, and you carry that. That's why there's so many magical performances that have happened on that stage and then have then, and then all those artists have gone off to become so major because you kind of walk off that stage kind of imbued with all of the magic and then you go off and give it to the rest of the world. It's a really, it's a really important space in stage to come through as an artist. I recommend it to every single artist I meet who's never been there before. You have performed with a lot of greats. I took the pictures you sent me, go ahead and tell me about that. Yeah. Um So I had the opportunity to perform um for Denzel Washington for Barack Obama. Yes, for Janie um for uh Kim Burrell. Regina Carter is a jazz violinist who's one of my mentors. I think it is. That's Regina Carter and Ray Charles in the pictures and Ray Charles. Yes. And the cool thing about those Ray Charles moments is that he did feel my wrist that time. I was not aware of what that was until the film came out and I was 18 years old, right? So there's a lot I didn't know. And so getting to meet Ray Charles was actually one of the more special memories I have. Yeah, just because I mean, it was my first profession, major professional performance opening for Ray Charles in Stanford, Connecticut. And I was still in high school. School. Right. So this is many, many years ago and, and having done the Apollo, having um having done the Hal Jackson talented teens, I've done some things, but that was my first major foray in standing out as a solo artist and I got to do it while he was still living. And so it was even more special. And tomorrow at 6 a.m. Kirsten talks all about her roots and family in Stratford, Connecticut.

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This is Kirsten Stevens violinist, a ranger producer, multi talented woman. She lives in Teaneck, but she is a native of Stratford, Connecticut. Tell me about that. Yeah. Um I mean, I grew up in Stratford and it was a perfect place to be because of its uh because of its proximity to New York City and its proximity to Yale University. So studying as a young violinist, I was able to find teachers, find violins, right in Connecticut. Um But I was able to get to New York West Chester County for all of my performances. And so I was well positioned to find everybody I need to find between jazz and classical picture. Tell me about that. Yeah. So I studied at um at the time it was called the Beth Wood Suzuki School. And every year we had recitals and it was about the recitals. But for me, it was also about the clothes. Do you still have that dress? My mom still has that dress. I'm almost certain she still has that lovely Laura Ashley dress and it was my favorite dress, you know, and I, and so the iridescence of it, you know, so in any event. Um I performed a lot in Connecticut and, and all the between churches and classical and then jazz in the city. I was well positioned um to grow up in Connecticut and a little bit older. This next picture we have of you, you were a teenager, I believe you're with the one and only who Hal Jackson. Wow. H Jackson. That was really incredible. I had the opportunity to compete in the Connecticut. Hal Jackson talented teens and that's an international competition. So I won Miss Connecticut then. Yeah, thank you. And then I went on to compete in the international competition and I was the first runner up. And the cool thing about that was not only just the experience of working with the Jacksons, Hal Jackson and Debbie Jackson. Um but also the, the queens that won that year. They were all really fantastic. I ended up going to college with one of them. She became a dear friend of mine. She passed a few years. So uh a few years ago, Ayesha Fain. Um but she became my dear friend. Um and then the queen that won that year, Nicole Nicholas was the granddaughter of the Nicholas brothers and we also became friends and so I made friends, I, you know, got to perform. That was one of my first time being in the audience at the Apollo. They took us just to visit. Um So it's another one of my Apollo stories was being there with the Hal Jackson crew. Uh So it was amazing. Now, along with being a musician, your dad is a superior court judge. He is. Yeah. Yeah. So my dad was sworn in as a superior court judge when in 1996 at the time, he was the first black judge um in Connecticut. Yeah. Yeah. And I didn't fully, I was, you know, in sixth grade, I didn't fully appreciate it. Um, but it was a really, really big moment at the time. Um, he was appointed by who is now Senator Blumenthal. Uh, and, and he's been a judge. He's now a senior judge. He's supposed to be retired, but he's there every day. He loves what he does, he loves what he does and he's very, um, and he, and he's very respected for the work that he's done and he must be so proud of you. Yes. He's also very humble. He would never tell you that he was a judge if you met him on the street. My man. Yes. Right. Right. Right. So, yeah, he's really cool. And coming up at nine Kirsten talks about plans for her new tour and what concert goers can expect.

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Jazz violinist, Kirsten Stevens of Teaneck has a new album out called Queen Rising. It features her new song release, The Grace. It showcases the talents of Christian mcbride of Montclair. He's an eight time Grammy winner here. They are at City Winery in New York City. Mhm uh Yes. Don't you just love this music so soulful, Christian just s plays like you. How did you two get together? Yeah. So I was working uh well, we met at uh backstage at uh Jazz Lincoln Center. Uh and then a few years later and I remember I introduced myself and he was in between sets, you know, so it was a very brief passing. Um And then we met later at NJ pack uh while I was working at the NJ Moody, the titty moody Jazz fest. Um And then we just started to talk about me as a violinist. He said, you know, I want to hear what some of the stuff you've done. And as soon as I sent it to him, he said, you know, all of that's really fantastic. But I think, you know, with the right project I could really, you know, help and I said, OK, that's cool. And I just remembered that and he said that two years before I managed to work up the courage to ask him to produce the album. He knew, he knew and he was willing to help, you know, help me shine. And he did it with a certain grace where I was very comfortable in, in, in just going into the studio, laying down the tracks and just being who I am all perform along with City Winery. Yeah. So I'm setting up a tour right now. Yes. And I would love for everyone who's interested to go to my website, which is www dot Kirsten stevens.com or they can follow me on Instagram um at Kirsten Stevens. There's only es in that name. Uh So K er, Stenstevens, um, we'll be posting all the information as it comes out because we've got a lot of places to share this music and to uh get on the road, time to get on the road. What can people expect when they come to your concerts? Yeah, they can expect to feel emotions that they didn't know they could feel they're going to. Yeah, they can expect. I mean, you could, as long as you come with a ready heart and you know, an inquisitive spirit, you're gonna come out of that show thinking that you've seen something you've never seen before, you know, because there's a lot, there's a lot of great music out there in the world and I feel like live music in particular, uh, has ways of just moving you in ways that you didn't know you need and healing you in ways that you didn't know you needed. And so that's what's special about coming out to my show in particular. Um, because you will, you will leave changed. And that's what I hope otherwise I haven't done my job. You know, what's the point of just listening? Why not be moved? Exactly. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. And coming up at noon, Kirsten performs an original song right here at News 12 and Hilda. She is right. Why not be moved?

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Kersten Stevens, of Teaneck, is a violinist, producer and arranger who is working on and releasing some exciting projects. 

Spotlight New Jersey: Kersten Stevens

Kersten Stevens, of Teaneck, is a violinist, producer and arranger who is working on and releasing some exciting projects.

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