JORDAN Clifford 1987

Clifford JORDAN 1987

Clifford JORDAN ts, Kevin O'CONNELL p, Ed HOWARD b, Vernel FOURNIER dr,

The late tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan always had an original sound even if his style was not innovative in itself. An expert improviser capable of playing both inside and outside, Jordan’s authoritative tone was able to hold its own next to Eric Dolphy in the fiery sextet that Charles Mingus had in 1964 —no easy feat. Live at Ethell’s is one of Clifford Jordan’s finest recordings. On this quartet set from 1987, Jordan is in top form, taking lengthy improvisations on diverse material ranging from 'Round Midnight and a happy version of Don’t Get Around Much Anymore to three of his own originals and Benny Carter’s Summer Serenade. Jordan, who does not waste a note on this CD, surprised both the audience and the engineer by taking a credible vocal on Lush Life, the only time in his career that he sang on a record. But the focus throughout is on his distinctive tenor, and Clifford Jordan, who is both relaxed and driving on this set, is in prime form.

Young Clifford JORDAN with John NEELY in 1949