Search - Clifford Jordan :: Live at Ethell's

We blew it on this one.

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 08/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's just a tenor plus rhythm section working out on some familiar standards and three originals during a live set in Baltimore. Right? Right. What's not right is "just." The presence of Clifford Jordan elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary. He's to the tenor saxophone what Billie Holiday was to jazz singing. Moreover, he was the Lester Young of the Trane and post-Trane years of the 'late 60s, '70s and '80s, his quiet, unassuming, effortless voice virtually unheard during much of the sound and fury of the modal, disco, fusion, Sanborn "smooth jazz" years.



Listen carefully to this guy and you'll hear a player in complete command of his instrument--including the whole altissimo series--but with no need to prove a thing. And there's a bit of Dexter in him when he removes the clip-on mic from his horn and sings "Lush Life." The bass is overly "hot" in the mix, and Fournier's occasional explosions on the tom and snare seem a bit overdone, but it's the unruffled, unhurried, uncommon playing of Jordan that commands the listener's respect throughout. Timeless jazz, and played by someone who, if he wasn't the main man after Coltrane, was certainly of no less stature than Shorter or Brecker."

A superb album by a master who was consistently inspired

C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 11/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And inspiring.This was one of my "Trust builders" with new customers when I sold jazz at a shop for half a dozen years.Clifford Jordan almost never made a less than excellent LP and who's work as a sideman was coveted by his peers.This CD put out by Mapleshade (primarily an audiophile wire/tweak company) produced a CD here of such stunning sound quality that you can hear the breath taken in,hands gliding on instruments,and the room itself.They went back to old days of live to two track positioning everybody with mike rings before set,used thier own modified mikes and went directly to two track tape.This means no engineer as "fifth Beatle" adding EQ,filtering,re-verb,compression etc.The results are stunning in my mind only exceeded by the great Venus label.



But it would be for nought if the music wasn't relaxed yet swinging.Joining Jordan are: Kevin O'Connel piano.Ed Howard Bass and long time collaborator from Chicago Vernell Fournier on drums.They play

1)Cal Massey-Cowell

2)Summer Serenade- Carter 1:07

3)Lush Life- Strayhorn 9:20

4)'Round Midnight-Hanighen, Monk, Williams 8:56

5)Blues in Advance- Jordan 6:50

6)Little Boy for So Long-C.Jordan 10:07

7)Arapaho-Harris, Jordan-9:50

8)Don't Get Around Much Anymore Ellington, Russell 7:10

All are great tunes some better known war horses mixed with some great tunes penned by Jordan.The Standout as noted is one of the great renditions of "Lush Life" (IMHO) of all time.It is relaxed and mixes humor and pathos beautifully.Overall this is a nice night out where you stay home and just close your eyes and your there.If you want another great Jordan CD and there are so many the Crisscross CD "Two Tenor Winner" with fellow Tenor great Junior Cook "The Cupbearers" by Tom Mcintosh where Jordan and Cook weave arround in each other in such a beautiful and intimate way giving each other the space yet combine to make one of the great tenor duo tracks of all time.It's another 5 star.But this "Live At Ethell's" is a relaxed yet swinging masterpiece well worth acquiring.It only makes me sad that I never got to see him perform myself.

Peace

Chazz

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Superb sonics

Christopher R. Thornton | Indiana | 09/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great recording of a live, upbeat jazz gig ala Mapleshade. Upfront sound, very open and spacious. Highly recommend for those who like jazz with lots of sax and lifelike presentation."