Where To Next With "Kidd" Jordan?

rene · January-9th-2006, 04:22 AM

I'm still awestruck by kidd jordan's playing on his New Orleans Festival Suite cd which i recently acquired. His playing is of high intensity, unforced yet powerful enough to hold his own againts much younger cohorts like William Parker and Joel Futterman.

However, i couldn't find much on him as leader. I got the All Star Game on Eremite (with Marshall Allen, Hamid, Parker and Alan Silva) and Fred Anderson's 2 Days In April (Fred and Kidd complement each other), well because Kidd plays on them.

where's a good place to continue...?

John B · January-9th-2006, 08:19 AM

Dennis Gonzalez - Debenge-Debenge, on Silkheart

Personnel:
Dennis Gonzalez trumpet, C trumpet, pocket trumpet
Marlon Jordan trumpet
Charles Brackeen tenor sax
"Kidd" Jordan sopranino, alto sax, bass clarinet
Malachi Favors bass
Henry Franklin bass
Alvin Fielder drums
W. A. Richardson drums

Kidd's tune Zydeco Red kills here.

amfortas · January-9th-2006, 01:05 PM

I would highly recommend:
2 days in april
Eremite mte-023/24
Kidd Jordan,Fred Anderson, Hamid Drake,William Parker

wire magazine records of the year 2000, jazz
cadence magazine reviewers' choice, top ten recordings 2000
magnet magazine top 10 free/jazz recordings 2000
coda magazine writers choice top ten recordings 2000

Steve Reynolds · January-9th-2006, 01:44 PM

I have loved 2 days in april since it came out - was my personal record of the year - but it wasn't due to Kidd

more Hamid and Fred - who are at the top of their games on that disc - one of the first times the quartet played together - and the freshness is there - despit it being a very trad like free jazz recording (or concerts)

a couple of years later I saw the band - and they were stunning great despite a hideous tenor duo encore where Kidd tried to take things too long and too far

a few of us were begging for the excess to stop - a few thought it almost ruined the 80-90 minute set that preceded it.

rene · January-9th-2006, 06:55 PM

Oh, i didn't know that Kidd was on Dennis' Debenge2. would definitely check this out. steve r., i definitely would agree, '2 days' is a stunning record, and i'm at the edge of my rocker whenever fred and kidd pour out those blasts, alternating solos after solos which they feed off on each other.

Anfortas, agree with the top choice given to these albums... i have it btw as posted in my orig thread. thanks.

Captain Hate · January-9th-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John B

Kidd's tune Zydeco Red kills here.

Once you hear Zydeco Red, it will never go out of your head. It's been years since I last heard it and I still whistle it.

Dennis Gonzalez · January-9th-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

Once you hear Zydeco Red, it will never go out of your head. It's been years since I last heard it and I still whistle it.

My brass group Pirate Radio (Andrew Lamb, Steve Swell, Mark Taylor, Joe Daley, Mike Thompson, Matt Lavelle, and me) played Zydeco Red at our Festival of New Trumpet Music performance at the Jazz Standard in August of this past year. Infectious shit! Kicked ass!

John B · January-9th-2006, 08:41 PM

Dennis - Please tell me this was recorded and is scheduled for release.

Captain Hate · January-9th-2006, 08:43 PM

Yes Dennis; teasing us like this is *not* cool!!!

Dick Bowman · January-10th-2006, 03:07 AM

I find that the frequent presence of Joel Futterman is an obstacle to really enjoying many of Kidd Jordan's recordings - I just don't get on with his piano playing. Given that bias, I'd certainly go for (much of) Two Days In April, and Emancipation Suite (on Boxholder).

CYMBALHOLIC · January-11th-2006, 10:19 AM

My absolute favorite was always the early release from the Improvisational Arts Quintet called "No Compromise"

Kidd Jordan - alto, c-melody & tenor saxophones
Alvin Fielder - drums & percussion
Clyde Kerr, Jr. - trumpet
Kent Jordan - flute
Elton Heron - electric bass
+ London Branch - acoustic bass
+ Alvin Thomas - tenor saxophone
+ Ramsey McLean - cello

It was finally re-issued short run on CD a couple years ago. I had the original on vinyl and was so glad they were able to put this out on CD. I have no idea where you can get it. I obtained my copy from Alvin Fielder directly.

There is also a series of tunes recorded by a variation of this group on one of the rounder records New New Orleans music series releases from a while back. I'll have to look it up again. My copy is on vinyl as well, but I know it was on CD. I believe these few tracks are available on iTunes, actually...I think listed under "Improvisational Arts Quartet" (it'll pull up this rounder recording and you'll see several tracks by the New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble...the last three tracks are from the Improvisational Arts Quartet which features Kidd, ALvin, Clyde, Elton and others)

Also there is a recording featuring Kidd, Alvin Fielder, Joel Futterman, Elton Heron on the Konnex label called "New Orleans Rising" from back in 1998 if I recall correctly.

Also on Silkheart label is "Nickelsdorf Konfrontation" which features Kidd Jordan with Alvin Fielder and Joel Futterman plus Mats Gustafsson and Barry Guy! whew!

Then there's always "Southern Extreme" which was Drimala Records' first release from that label. That's with Kidd/Alvin/Joel trio.

There's more out there, but this is what I can think of off the top of my head.

rene · January-11th-2006, 06:55 PM

thanks cymbalholic! there's so much out there but i wager they'll be difficult to find unless you score them online, i suppose. Nickelsdorf Confrontation seems to be very inviting, what with Mats and Guy gracing this occasion