May 5, 1935 – April 7, 2023

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Tenor-saxophonist Kidd Jordan passed away on April 7, 2023, at the age of 87.

Edward “Kidd” Jordan was born on May 5, 1935, in Crowley, Louisiana.

He started playing music on the C-melody and alto saxophones and was originally influenced by Charlie Parker.

Jordan majored in music education at Southern University, moved to New Orleans in 1955, and worked with various r&b bands including those led by Guitar Slim, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, and Big Maybelle.

Ornette Coleman became an influence and while Jordan switched his focus to tenor, he also played baritone, soprano, sopranino, and bass clarinet, focusing on free improvisations.

Although he recorded two songs on baritone with r&b singer Earl King in 1960, Jordan made no other recordings until a 1978 session with the Improvisational Arts Quintet.

He led his first album in 1984, was part of Hamiet Bluiett’s Clarinet Family (playing contrabass clarinet), and recorded with pianist Joel Futterman, trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez, fellow tenor Fred Anderson, altoist Marshall Royal, bassist William Parker, and occasionally as a leader.

An instructor at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, his students included Branford Marsalis, altoist Donald Harrison, trombonist Charles Joseph (who co-founded the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), and his seven children which included trumpeter Marlon Jordan and flutist Kent Jordan.

From Dec. 15, 2014, at the first concert at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Center, the 79-year-old Jordan is joined for a “family jam” by his son trumpeter Marlon Jordan, his daughter violinist Rachel Jordan, pianist Joel Futterman, bassist William Parker, and drummer Alvin Fielder.

-Scott Yanow

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