Track Listings (10) - Disc #1| All Artists: Clifford Jordan Title: These Are My Roots: Clifford Jordan Plays Leadbelly Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: Koch Records Release Date: 1/19/1999 Genres: Jazz, Pop Styles: Modern Postbebop, Bebop Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 099923852223 |
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Search - Clifford Jordan :: These Are My Roots: Clifford Jordan Plays Leadbelly
 | Clifford Jordan These Are My Roots: Clifford Jordan Plays Leadbelly Genres: Jazz, Pop
With all the attention accorded the great Huddie Ledbetter (a.k.a. Leadbelly) since the mid-'80s, how could a recording like this 1965-66 tribute from underaccorded tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan have stayed in the vaul... more » |
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Amazon.com With all the attention accorded the great Huddie Ledbetter (a.k.a. Leadbelly) since the mid-'80s, how could a recording like this 1965-66 tribute from underaccorded tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan have stayed in the vaults? Jordan unfolds nine Leadbelly tunes, all of them richly arranged for jazz rhythm section (sometimes with pianist Cedar Walton, sometimes with banjoist Chuck Wayne) and a strong frontline of trombonist Julian Priester, trumpeter Roy Burrowes, and Jordan. "Take This Hammer" is played as a sultry swing powerhouse, sung by Sandra Douglass and riffed to the hilt by the brass players. Similarly, "De Gray Goose," made into magic by Sweet Honey in the Rock on the Folkways: A Vision Shared tribute to Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie, is a minor-key hard-bop gem--powered by the banjo, almost nonexistent in mid-'60s jazz. All the bluesiness of Leadbelly's originals is maintained, with horn solos that easily square with the best Jazz Messengers frontlines of the day. And to hear Sandra Douglass sing "Black Girl," made attractive in the early '90s by Nirvana on their Unplugged in New York, is to hear the best in folk-blues execution, a true display of genius. Shame on all interested parties for not reissuing this stunner while Clifford Jordan was alive, for it shows what his big band CD hinted: he was a top-notch genius. --Andrew Bartlett Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsGreat playing pushes this well beyond the level of a curious Peter E. Johansen | 04/10/2006 (4 out of 5 stars) "I was initially attracted to this album since I am fan of both Leadbelly and Clifford Jordan. But after spending some time with this, I'm not exactly how sure how much this has to do with Leadbelly specifically, although some of his melodies transfer fluently into a jazz setting. Instead this seems to be an excuse for Clifford Jordan to really get into the blues, which he does very well. His huge tenor tone consistently sounds uplifting and enjoyable on these 10 tracks, and he is backed by a superb rhythm section, which includes Richard Davis, Al Heath, and Cedar Walton. Roy Burrowes (who played with Ellington) on trumpet and Julian Priester (who played with just about everyone) on trombone, give many of the choruses a tonal complexity that sometimes made me feel I was listening to a much larger big band outing. But then what really sets this recording apart is the vocals (unfortanetely on only two tracks) by a singer named Sandra Douglass. I can find no information on this evocative singer on Allmusic or elsewhere, but honestly if Clifford Jordan had gotten Etta James or Dinah Washington to sing instead, I'm not sure if this these tracks could have been improved. She puts a ton of emotion into these tunes and I hope that her singing is digitally preserved elsewhere.
These musicians - certainly some of the greatest jazz musicians ever - push this CD beyond the level of a gimmick or curiousity. I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in soulful hard bop, especially if they appreciate Leadbelly, one of the greatest blues singers and songwriters." |
