Although he would continue journeyman work with many other musicians, Jordan established himself as the leader of a piano trio in 1954. It was with that trio that he wrote and performed "Jor-Du," a jazz classic that has since had treatments by such titans as Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Stan Getz. (Even Chet Atkins took a stab at it on his classic country guitar album Progressive Pickin'.)
Over the next fifty years he would form a number of trios, quartets, and quintets, frequently with baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne, but would spend most of the late '50s and '60s as a sought-after sideman. His most visible (but still quite obscure) projects during the period were as an accompanist for his then-wife, the vocalist Sheila Jordan, and scoring the 1962 French film version of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Lost in the shuffle was one genuine masterpiece for Blue Note, a quintet session entitled Flight to Jordan.
In 1973, however, Jordan began what would be a long association with SteepleChase, the legendary Danish jazz label, with the excellent albums Flight to Denmark and Two Loves. His resurgence finally made Jordan a star and a beloved jazz icon in Scandinavia, France, Japan ... almost everywhere except, of course, his home in the United States, a country that often seems to call jazz a National Treasure so it'll go up on the Ivory Tower and out of earshot. Jordan seemed to agree: in 1978, disgusted with the lack of audience in the US, he moved to Copenhagen and had crowds lined up to see him for the rest of his life.
While researching and writing this obituary, I have combed the Internet looking for reports of Jordan's death. Thus far I have found one blog — by a jazz writer and musician — and a Danish news report. For all of our steady rhetoric about how jazz is a great legacy, America's classical music, and how its great practitioners should get our highest honors (ha!), Blogcritics may now be the first U.S. news outlet to report on the death of a major stylist and member of one of the most important and groundbreaking ensembles in post-World War II music.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
Thank you, Erin. May I inquire as to why the bold tags got removed? Not particularly concerned about it, just curious.
2 - Jobi
Curious: jamaicaobserver.com
Crossing Jordans
Jazz Notes by Michael 'Jazzofonik' Edwards
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Seems reports speaking of the demise of piano great Duke Jordan were greatly exaggerated. Inital reports suggested that Jordan, 84, had died at his home, but these were later refuted.
3 - Michael J. West
Thanks Jobi. Can anyone provide confirmation of this? The NYT ran an obituary the same day I published this, saying that his death had been confirmed by officials at the US embassy in Denmark. But as of yet I've seen no retraction. I'd like to see an official confirmation before I issue one.
4 - Alan Lyne
Michael-
Hi! I live near London (England!) and heard a fantastic report on Duke Jordan on one of the BBC's arts and entertainment programmes. It was a great tribute which lasted a good fifteen minutes, including many clips, and really summed up what a treasure this man was. Weren't we lucky he had such a long and fruitful life? Incidentally, the prog. said that he was 're-discovered driving a Yellow Cab in New York. It was to learn more about this episode that I googled his name and came up with your contact.
Thanks for a fine article. I have a feeling that the BBC will shortly be putting out another tribute ot two as they give good jazz coverage on the Radio 3 Network. Their website is well worth a visit
Regards-
Al
5 - Michael J. West
Thank you Alan! I do want to hear that BBC tribute. If it's on their site I will find it.
By the way: I've been readng a lot lately, in belated tributes/obituaries, that Duke Jordan's style was "a cross between Art Tatum and Bud Powell." And those are certainly influences, but Duke was MUCH, MUCH lighter-touch than those two thunderers. I'd get rid of Art Tatum, put the emphasis on Teddy Wilson, and make Bud the second.
6 - Jay Littman
Duke was my "Uncle". Im American married to a Dane. He lived in Valby, Denmark with my wife's Aunt for the last 30 years. We visited them several times a year for the last 14 years. He was a bit intimidating at first but we became friends. We enjoyed hearing him play piano, which he didnt do too often in the later years. We also enjoyed helping him by fixing things around the house and running erends. He died the day we came home and we were sad that were'nt able to go to the funeral. We will miss him.
7 - Michael J. West
A lovely and heartfelt tribute, Jay. Thank you.
8 - andrew powsey
I am in the process of transferring my vinyl collection onto cd. I have "flight into jordan" and decided to "google" for Duke as I was interested to find out if he was still with us..sadly not. Thanks so much for a very interesting article