Duke Jordan
Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan was an American jazz pianist.
Biography
Jordan was born in New York and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School. 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. He was reported not to have changed his style 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
CompilationsWhen You're Smiling – combined Time on My Hands and As Time Goes By plus ten bonus tracksDouble Duke – combined Change a Pace and Thinking of You plus five bonus tracksSource:
As sideman
With Gene AmmonsThe Happy Blues All Star Sessions – rec. 1950–1955Blues Up and Down, Vol. 1 – rec. 1950With Eddie BertEddie Bert Eddie Bert Quintet
With Kenny BurrellBlue Lights Vols. 1 & 2 Swingin' – rec. 1958 only
With Stan GetzDuke Ellington 25th Anniversary Concert Getz Age Hooray for Stan Getz Move! Sweetie Pie The Complete Roost Recordings Stan Getz Plays Stan Getz Quartet Live at Carnegie Hall Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 1 Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 2 That Top Tenor Technician Stan Getz
With Cecil PaynePatterns of Jazz Cecil Payne Quartet and Quintet Shaw 'Nuff Cecil Payne Performing Charlie Parker Music The Connection Bird Gets The Worm
With Sonny StittStitt's Bits – rec. 1950Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass – rec. 1962The Champ – rec. 1973
With Barney WilenUn Témoin Dans La Ville – soundtrackBarney – live rec. 1959
With The BirdlandersThe Birdlanders, Vol. 1 – rec. 1954The Birdlanders, Vol. 2 – rec. 1954The Birdlanders, Vol. 3 – rec. 1954
With others
- Ernestine Anderson, It's Time for Ernestine
- Chet Baker, No Problem – rec. 1979
- Paul Bascomb, Bad Bascomb – rec. 1952
- Art Blakey, Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 – rec. 1959. Original Soundtrack with Barney Wilen.
- Tina Brooks, True Blue
- Joe Carroll, "Joe Carroll"
- Teddy Edwards, The Inimitable Teddy Edwards
- Rolf Ericson, Rolf Ericson and his American All Stars
- Art Farmer, Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce – rec. 1955
- Gigi Gryce, Doin' the Gigi – compilation
- Coleman Hawkins, Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
- Joe Holiday, Holiday for Jazz
- Howard McGhee, The Return of Howard McGhee – rec. 1955
- Charles McPherson, Beautiful!
- Barry Miles, Miles of Genius
- Sam Most, Mostly Flute
- Charlie Parker, Complete Charlie Parker on Dial, Charlie Parker on Dial
- Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Pettiford
- Doug Raney, Introducing Doug Raney – rec. 1977
- Dizzy Reece, Comin' On! – rec. 1960
- Louis Smith, Here Comes Louis Smith
- Clark Terry, Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival
- Doug Watkins, Watkins at Large
- Julius Watkins, Julius Watkins Sextet – rec. 1954–1955
- Teddy Williams, Touch of the Blues c/w Dumb Woman Blues
- ''Birdology vols. 1&2''