Kidd Jordan
Kidd Jordan | |
---|---|
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Died | April 7, 2023 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | (aged 87)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Saxophonist, music educator |
Instrument(s) | Saxophone |
Years active | 1950s–2023 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Kidd_Jordan_DSC0081_2.jpg/259px-Kidd_Jordan_DSC0081_2.jpg)
Edward "Kidd" Jordan (Crowley, May 5, 1935 – April 7, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at Southern University at New Orleans from 1974 to 2006.
Biography
Jordan was born in Crowley, Louisiana,[1] and was raised during the time when rice farming was the predominant economic activity in the area.[2] Jordan has noted that the music in southwestern Louisiana was "strictly Zydeco and Blues from way around, and that's what I came up listening to."[2] Zydeco musician Clifton Chenier hailed from the same area, as did tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet (whose music teacher also instructed Jordan).[2][3]
Jordan's first instruments were
Jordan majored in
Jordan performed on tenor, baritone,
In his performances and recordings, his music was entirely improvised: "Everything you hear on my albums is improvised." he explained. "It's collective improvisation, but there are no tunes. I tried writing down ideas a long time ago but I don't do that anymore.".[5]
The French Ministry of Culture recognized Jordan as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1985. The French government bestowed him with their highest artistic award for his impetus as a visionary educator and performer.
Jordan taught Donald Harrison and Branford Marsalis while the two were teenagers, and was an instructor at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).[2] As an instructor of jazz studies at Southern University at New Orleans, Jordan encouraged his students to pursue new approaches to traditional musical forms. One of Jordan's students was trombonist Charles Joseph, who would go on to co-found the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Jordan composed "Kidd Jordan's Second Line" for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band prior to their first European appearance in 1982, and has also performed with the band.
In 2006, Jordan lost his home and most of his possessions during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.[3] A few weeks after the hurricane, he recorded the album Palm of Soul in Brooklyn with William Parker and Hamid Drake.[6] Jordan later returned to Orleans.[3]
In 2007,[7] Kidd Jordan went west with Alvin Fielder and William Parker to play with Prince Lasha and John Handy in The Eddie Gale All Star band for the San Jose Jazz Festival.
On November 7, 2010, Jordan was Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in an event at Montrele's Bistro in New Orleans.
In 2011, the television series Treme featured a track from Palm of Soul, "Last of the Chicken Wings."[3][8] Jordan later made a brief appearance in Treme.[3]
Jordan died on April 7, 2023, at the age of 87.[9][10] He had seven children, all of whom he taught music to.[10] His son Kent Jordan is a jazz flautist and another son, Marlon Jordan, is a jazz trumpeter. His daughter Stephanie Jordan is a jazz vocalist and another, Rachel Jordan, is a classical violinist.
Discography
As leader or co-leader
- New Orleans Festival Suite (Silkheart, 1999)
- Kidd' Stuff (Danjor)
- The All-Star Game (Eremite, 2003)
- Live at the Tampere Jazz Happening 2000 (Charles Lester, 2004)
- Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity, 2006)
- On Fire (Engine, 2011)
- On Fire Volume 2 (Engine, 2012)
- A Night in November (Valid, 2013)
- Trio and Duo in New Orleans (NoBusiness, 2013)
- Last Trane to New Orleans (2020)
As sideman
with Larry Williams:
- Bad Boy (Specialty)
with Professor Longhair:
- Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge (Rhino)
with The Improvisational Arts Quintet:
- No Compromise! (Prescription)
with Hamiet Bluiett:
- The Clarinet Family (Black Saint)
with Johnny Adams:
- Good Morning Heartache (Rounder)
with Joel Futterman:
- Revelation (Kali)
- New Orleans Rising (Konnex Records)
- The Joel Futterman / 'Kidd' Jordan Trio with Alvin Fielder-Southern Extreme (Drimala Records)
with William Parker
- Essence of Ellington (Centering, 2012)
with Alan Silva:
- Emancipation Suite (Boxholder, 2002)
- Alan Silva & the Sound Visions Orchestra (Eremite, 2001)
- H.Con.Res.57/Treasure Box (Eremite, 2003)
with
- Warner Bros. Records)
with Fred Anderson
- 2 Days in April (Eremite, 2000)
- 21st Century Chase (Delmark, 2009)
- Yes We Can(Jazzwerkstatt, 2010)
References
- AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
- ^ ISSN 0162-6973.
- ^ ISSN 0162-6973.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (June 13, 2008). "A Sax Man of Distinction and That Vision Thing". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- Gambit Weekly. Archived from the originalon January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- ^ "KIDD JORDAN - PALM OF SOUL". AUM Fidelity. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
- ^ "San Jose Jazz Festival". Thejazzcat.net. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ "Do Whatcha Wanna". Treme. Season 2. Episode 21. HBO. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
- ^ "Saxophone master and music educator Edward "Kidd" Jordan dies at 87". WGNO. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Edward 'Kidd' Jordan, Jazz Saxophonist and Teacher, Dies at 87". Billboard.com. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Kidd Jordan at All About Jazz
- Kidd Jordan: Honoring a Jazz Patriarch from All Things Considered
- Kidd Jordan discography at Discogs
- Kidd Jordan at IMDb
- Kidd Jordan at IMDb