Representative Albums: "Flight to Jordan," "Duke Jordan New York/Bud Powell Paris," "Two Loves"
Representative Songs: "Flight to Jordan," "Confirmation," "Minor Escamp (Jordu)"
Biography
Although he had a long career, Duke Jordan will always be best known for being pianist with Charlie Parker's classic 1947 quintet. A little earlier, he worked with the Savoy Sultans, Coleman Hawkins, and the Roy Eldridge big band (1946). After his year with Parker (his piano introductions to such songs as "Embraceable You" were classic), Jordan worked with the Sonny Stitt/Gene Ammons quintet (1950-1951) and Stan Getz (1949 and 1952-1953). He started recording as a leader in 1954, debuting his most famous composition, "Jor-Du," the following year. Although he worked steadily during the next few decades (writing part of the soundtrack for the French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Jordan was in obscurity until he began recording on a regular basis for Steeplechase in 1973. Duke Jordan, who was married for a time to the talented jazz singer Sheila Jordan, lived in Denmark from 1978 until his death on August 8, 2006. He recorded through the years for Prestige, Savoy, Blue Note, Charlie Parker Records, Muse, Spotlite, and Steeplechase. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
An imaginative and gifted pianist, he was also a regular member of Charlie Parker's so-called "classic quintet" (1947-48), featuring Miles Davis. For example he participated in the Parker Dial session that produced "Dewey Square", "Bongo Bop", "Bird of Paradise", and the ballad "Embraceable You". A number of these performances are featured on Charlie Parker on Dial.[2]
He had a long solo career from the mid-1950s onwards, after periods accompanying Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz, he performed and recorded in the trio format. His most notable composition, "Jordu", became a jazz standard when trumpeter Clifford Brown adopted it into his repertoire.
From 1978 he was resident in Copenhagen, Denmark, having begun recording an extensive sequence of albums for the Steeplechase label in 1973. Some of his best live recordings are available on the Steeplechase or the Japanese Marshmallow label.
From 1952-62 he was married to the Jazz singer Sheila Jordan.
Discography
As leader
Duke Jordan - Jor-du (Prestige PR 7849)
Duke Jordan - Jazz Laboratory Series: Do It Yourself Jazz, Vol. 1 (Signal S 101)
Duke Jordan Trio and Quintet (Signal S 1202)
Duke Jordan - Flight to Jordan (Blue Note CDP 7 46824-2)
Duke Jordan - Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Charlie Parker PLP 813)
Duke Jordan/Sadik Hakim - East and West of Jazz (Charlie Parker PLP 805)
Duke Jordan - The Murray Hill Caper (Spotlite (E) DJ 5)
Duke Jordan - Flight to Denmark (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1011)
Duke Jordan - Flight to Denmark (SteepleChase (D) SCCD 31011)
Duke Jordan - Two Loves (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1024)
Duke Jordan - Two Loves (SteepleChase (D) SCCD 31024)
Duke Jordan - Truth (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1175)
Duke Jordan - Misty Thursday (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1053)
Duke Jordan - Duke's Delight (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1046)
Duke Jordan - Lover Man (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1127)
Duke Jordan Live in Japan, Voll. 1-3 (SteepleChase (D) SCS 1063)
As sideman
Art Blakey - Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Fontana (F) 680 203)
Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige PRLP 7017)
Barney Wilen - Barney (RCA (F) 430053)
Barney Wilen - Un Temoin dans la Ville (Fontana (F) 660 226-MR)
Barry Miles - Miles of Genius (Charlie Parker PLP 804)
Cecil Payne - Bird Gets the Worm (Muse MR 5061)
Cecil Payne - Shaw 'Nuff (Charlie Parker PLP 506)
Cecil Payne - The Connection (Charlie Parker PLP 806)
Cecil Payne Performing Charlie Parker Music (Charlie Parker PLP 801)
Cecil Payne Quartet and Quintet (Signal S 1203)
Cecil Payne/Duke Jordan - Brooklyn Brothers (Muse MR 5015)
Charles McPherson - Beautiful! (Xanadu 115)
Clark Terry's Big-B-A-D-Band Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival (Vanguard VSD 79355)
