Jodie Christian


Jodie Christian was an American jazz pianist, noted for bebop and free jazz.

Early life

Christian was born in Chicago, Illinois. His "father was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, into a share-cropper's family. Realizing the futility of that life, Christian's grandfather sold his livestock and sent his family to Chicago, where Christian was born in 1932 on 44th Street and Prairie Avenue." Christian's mother, a church pianist, helped him with music. When she became director of the church choir, he took over on the piano; sometimes they played organ–piano duets in the church. His father "also sang and played the blues on piano in speakeasies and rent parties, but ultimately stopped performing and followed his wife into the church".
Christian attended Wendell Phillips High in Chicago.

Later life and career

Christian was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians with pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran. He and Abrams were also part of the Experimental Band. Christian worked at the Jazz Showcase club in Chicago and performed with Eddie Harris, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Roscoe Mitchell, Buddy Montgomery, Judy Roberts, and John Klemmer. Christian led a group on albums. He died on February 13, 2012, aged 80, in Chicago.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

Experience Rain or Shine Blues Holiday The Very Thought of You with Louis SmithFront Line Soul Fountain

As sideman

With Gene AmmonsThe Chase! with Dexter GordonChicago Concert with James Moody
With Von FreemanNever Let Me Go Lester Leaps In Dedicated to You
With Brad GoodeShock of the New Toy Trumpet
With Lin HallidayDelayed Exposure East of the Sun Where or When with Ira SullivanAiregin
With Eddie HarrisThe Electrifying Eddie Harris Pourquoi L'Amérique Plug Me In Silver Cycles High Voltage Free Speech Live at Newport Excursions
With John KlemmerInvolvement: The John Klemmer Quartets And We Were Lovers
With Roscoe MitchellThe Flow of Things Hey Donald In Walked Buckner
With Ira SullivanThe Ira Sullivan Quintet reissued in 1988 as Blue StrollBird Lives! Nicky's Tune Ira Sullivan reissued in 2014 as Circumstantial
With others