Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American jazz pianist.
Biography Jordan was born in New York and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School.Randy Weston and Willard Jenkins, African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston, Durham, N.C., Duke University Press, 2010, p. 25. An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regular member of Charlie Parker's quintet during 1947–48, which also featured Miles Davis. He participated in Parker's Dial sessions in late 1947 that produced "Dewey Square", "Bongo Bop", "Bird of Paradise", and the ballad "Embraceable You". These performances are featured on Charlie Parker on Dial.
Jordan had a long solo career from the mid-1950s onwards, although for a period in the mid-1960s he drove a taxi in New York. After periods accompanying Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz, he performed and recorded in the trio format. His composition "Jordu" became a jazz standard when trumpeter Clifford Brown adopted it into his repertoire. Another of his compositions, "No Problem", has been recorded several times, notably by Art Blakey, under the title "No Hay Problema", and Chet Baker as well as others.
Beginning in 1978, he lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, having recorded an extensive sequence of albums for the SteepleChase label; his first record date for the company was in 1973. In the view of some listeners his style did not change over the course of his career.
From 1952 to 1962, he was married to the jazz singer Sheila Jordan. Their union produced a daughter, Tracey J. Jordan. He died in Valby, Copenhagen.
Discography As leader/co-leader Year recorded Title Label Year released Notes 1954 Jordu Prestige 1971 Trio, with Gene Ramey (bass), Lee Abrams (drums); includes two 1949 tracks led by Don Lanphere (tenor sax) 1955 Jazz Laboratory Series, Vol. 1 Signal 1955 Some tracks trio, with Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums); some tracks with Gigi Gryce (alto sax) overdubbed 1955 Duke Jordan Trio and Quintet Signal 1955 Some tracks trio, with Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums); one track quartet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax) added; some tracks quintet, with Eddie Bert (trombone) added; reissued by Savoy as Flight to Jordan, but this is different from the 1960 Blue Note album 1959? Les Liaisons Dangereuses Charlie Parker 1962 Music from the original soundtrack From the motion picture. One track trio, with Eddie Khan (bass), Art Taylor (drums); most tracks quintet, with Sonny Cohn (trumpet), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax) added 1960 Flight to Jordan Blue Note 1960 Quintet, with Dizzy Reece (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Reggie Workman (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1962 East and West of Jazz Charlie Parker 1962 One track quartet, with Johnny Coles (trumpet), Wendell Marshall (bass) Walter Bolden (drums); most tracks quintet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax) added; album shared with Sadik Hakim 1973 Brooklyn Brothers Muse 1973 Quartet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax, flute), Sam Jones (bass), Al Foster (drums) 1973 The Murray Hill Caper Spotlite 1973 Quartet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax), David Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums) 1973 Flight to Denmark SteepleChase 1974 Trio, with Mads Vinding (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) 1973 Two Loves SteepleChase 1974 Trio, with Mads Vinding (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) 1973 Montmartre ´73 featuring Bent Jædig SteepleChase 2022 Quartet, with Bent Jædig (tenor sax), Allan Gregersen, Johnny Dyani, Eddie Gomez (bass), Jørn Elniff (drums) 1975 Truth SteepleChase 1983 Trio, with Mads Vinding (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) 1975 Misty Thursday SteepleChase 1976 Quartet, with Chuck Wayne (guitar), Sam Jones (bass), Roy Haynes (drums) 1975 Duke's Delight SteepleChase 1976 One track solo; most tracks quintet, with Richard Williams (trumpet), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Sam Jones (bass), Al Foster (drums) added 1975 Lover Man SteepleChase 1979 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Al Foster (drums) 1976 Live in Japan SteepleChase 1977 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Roy Haynes (drums); in concert 1976 Osaka Concert Vol. 1 SteepleChase 1990 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Roy Haynes (drums); in concert 1976 Osaka Concert Vol. 2 SteepleChase 1990 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Roy Haynes (drums); in concert 1976 Flight to Japan SteepleChase 1978 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Roy Haynes (drums) 1978 Duke's Artistry SteepleChase 1978 Quartet, with Art Farmer (flugelhorn), David Friesen (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) 1978 The Great Session SteepleChase 1981 Trio, with David Friesen (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) 1978 Flight to Norway SteepleChase 2003 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums); in concert 1978 Tivoli One SteepleChase 1984 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums); in concert 1978 Tivoli Two SteepleChase 1984 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums); in concert 1978 Wait and See SteepleChase 1985 Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums); in concert 1979 Solo Masterpieces Vol. 1 SteepleChase 1992 Solo piano 1979 Midnight Moonlight SteepleChase 1980 Solo piano 1979 Change a Pace SteepleChase 1980 Trio, with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Billy Hart (drums) 1978–1979 Thinking of You SteepleChase 1982 One track solo piano; most tracks trio, with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Billy Hart (drums) 1979 Solo Masterpieces Vol. 2 SteepleChase 1992 Solo piano 1981 Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981 Galaxy 1996 Quartet, with Art Pepper (alto sax, clarinet), David Williams (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert 1982 So Nice Duke Three Blind Mice 1982 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums); in concert 1983 Blue Duke Baystate (JP) 1983 Trio, with Harry Emmery (bass), James Martin (drums) 1983 Jealousy Marshmallow 1984 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums); plus Kristian Jørgensen (violin) 1983 Plays Standards Marshmallow 1984 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums) 1985 Time on My Hands SteepleChase 1988 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Billy Hart (drums) 1985 As Time Goes By SteepleChase 1989 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Billy Hart (drums) 1987 Acoustic Live at 3361 Black 3361 Black (JP) 1987 Trio, with Major Holley (bass), Jake Hanna (drums); in concert 1987 Live Live Live 3361 Black (JP) 1987 Trio, with Major Holley (bass), Jake Hanna (drums); in concert 1989 Kiss of Spain 3361 Black (JP) 1989 Trio, with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Masahiko Togashi (drums) 1990 Always Marshmallow 1992 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Ange Tanggaard (drums) 1991 White Key 3361 Black (JP) 1991 Quartet, with Yuka Kido (flute), Chikuhoh (shakuhachi), Hiroshi Yoshino (bass) 1991 Black Key 3361 Black (JP) 1991 Quartet, with Yuka Kido (flute), Chikuhoh (shakuhachi), Hiroshi Yoshino (bass) 1993 One for the Library Storyville 1994 Solo piano 1994 Live in Paris Marshmallow 2001 Trio, with Luigi Trussardi (bass), Al Levitt (drums); in concert 1995 Beauty of Scandinavia Key'stone (JP) 2000 Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) Compilations When You're Smiling (Steeple Chase, 1996) – combined Time on My Hands (1988) and As Time Goes By (1989) plus ten bonus tracks Double Duke (Steeple Chase, 1997) – combined Change a Pace (1980) and Thinking of You (1982) plus five bonus tracks Source:
As sideman With Gene Ammons The Happy Blues (Prestige, 1956) All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1956) – rec. 1950–1955 Blues Up and Down, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1970) – rec. 1950
With Eddie Bert Eddie Bert (Discovery, 1952)[10"] Eddie Bert Quintet (Discovery, 1953)[10"]
With Kenny Burrell Blue Lights Vols. 1 & 2 (Blue Note, 1958) Swingin' (Blue Note (JP), 1980) – rec. 1958 only
With Stan Getz Duke Ellington 25th Anniversary Concert (FDC (It) 1005) Getz Age (Roost RLP 2258) Hooray for Stan Getz (Session Disc 108) Move! (Natasha Imports 4005) Sweetie Pie (Philology (It) W 40-2) The Complete Roost Recordings (Roost CDP 7243 8 59622-2) Stan Getz Plays (Norgran, 1952) Stan Getz Quartet (Queen Disc (It) Q 013) Live at Carnegie Hall (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1003) Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 1 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1014) Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 2 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1015) That Top Tenor Technician Stan Getz (Alto AL 704)
With Cecil Payne Patterns of Jazz (Savoy, 1956) Cecil Payne Quartet and Quintet (Signal, 1957) Shaw 'Nuff (Charlie Parker, 1961) Cecil Payne Performing Charlie Parker Music (Charlie Parker, 1961) The Connection (Charlie Parker, 1962) Bird Gets The Worm (Muse, 1976)
With Sonny Stitt Stitt's Bits (Prestige, 1958) – rec. 1950 Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass (Atlantic, 1963) – rec. 1962 The Champ (Muse, 1974) – rec. 1973
With Barney Wilen Un Témoin Dans La Ville (Fontana (FR), 1959) – soundtrack for Witness in the City Barney (RCA (FR), 1960) – live rec. 1959
With The Birdlanders The Birdlanders, Vol. 1 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954 The Birdlanders, Vol. 2 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954 The Birdlanders, Vol. 3 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954
With others Ernestine Anderson, It's Time for Ernestine (Metronome (SE), 1958) Chet Baker, No Problem (SteepleChase, 1980) – rec. 1979 Paul Bascomb, Bad Bascomb (Delmark, 1976) – rec. 1952 Art Blakey, Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (Fontana, 1960) – rec. 1959. Original Soundtrack with Barney Wilen. Tina Brooks, True Blue (Blue Note, 1960) Joe Carroll, "Joe Carroll" (Charlie Parker, 1962)[7"] Teddy Edwards, The Inimitable Teddy Edwards (Xanadu, 1976) Rolf Ericson, Rolf Ericson and his American All Stars (Metronome (SE) JMLP 2–105, EmArcy MG 36106) Art Farmer, Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige, 1956) – rec. 1955 Gigi Gryce, Doin' the Gigi (Uptown, 2011) – compilation Coleman Hawkins, Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra (Crown, 1960) Joe Holiday, Holiday for Jazz (Decca DL 8487) Howard McGhee, The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem, 1956) – rec. 1955 Charles McPherson, Beautiful! (Xanadu 115) Barry Miles, Miles of Genius (Charlie Parker PLP 804) Sam Most, Mostly Flute (Xanadu 133) Charlie Parker, Complete Charlie Parker on Dial, Charlie Parker on Dial (Jazz Classics, Spotlite) Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Pettiford (Bethlehem, 1954) Doug Raney, Introducing Doug Raney (SteepleChase, 1978) – rec. 1977 Dizzy Reece, Comin' On! (Blue Note, 1999) – rec. 1960 Louis Smith, Here Comes Louis Smith (Blue Note, 1958) Clark Terry, Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival (Vanguard 1974, VSD 79355) Doug Watkins, Watkins at Large (Transition TRLP 20) Julius Watkins, Julius Watkins Sextet (Blue Note, 1995) – rec. 1954–1955 Teddy Williams, Touch of the Blues c/w Dumb Woman Blues (Prestige 715)
Various Artists Birds Night: A Night at the Five Spot (Signal S 1204) Savoy (1958) (Savoy Jazz 2 LPs Celebration of Music of Charlie Parker) International Jam Sessions (Xanadu 122) Lestorian Mode (Savoy MG 12105) The Piano Players (Xanadu 171) Birdology vols. 1&2 (Birdology, Verve 1990 CDs)
References