Cool Jazz
March 8, 1973
Featuring Mr. Louis Jordan and the Eisenhower High School Jazz Ensemble
(Karlton E. Hester, Director)
Program Notes by Karlton E. Hester
[This article is accompanied by photographs. A link to the Image Gallery is at the end of the article]
About Louis Jordan.....
Our featured guest, Mr. Louis Jordan, world renowned alto saxophonist, vocalist, and band leader, was born in Brinkley, Arkansas on July 8, 1908. He began his study of music with his father, beginning in 1915. His days as a professional began with Ruby Williams in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Later, a journey to Philadelphis brought him together with Charlie Gaines in 1930. In New York City he performed with Kaiser MArshall and Leory Smith before a two year spell with Chick Webb between 1936 and 1938. With Chick webb, Mr. Jordan was featured as both vocalist and on alto saxophone and gained prominence in the world of rhythm and blues.
In 1938, Mr. Jordan ventured out to form his own group playing and recording with many of the giants of music such as Bing Crosby (1944), Ella Fitzgerald (1945 and 1949), Louis Armstrong (1950), and various other artists. During these years his combo enjoyed a steady rise to national fame as Louis Jordan was featured more and more in vocal blues, rhythm-and-blues, and musical novelties. His combo, known as the Tympani Five, released many successful singles in the forties such as 'Knock Me a Kiss' and 'Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town' in 1941, 'Five Guys Named Moe in 1942,' and 'Choo Choo Ch' Boogie' in 1946, which sold over a million copies.
Mr. Jordan broke into the front lines of show business with his unique combination of visual showmanship, superb musicianship, and strong accent on humor, and a delightfully original and rhythmic vocal style. He organized a fully big band for a tour in the fall of 1951 and has occasionally augmented his combos for theatre dates, but Louis Jordan is primarly a small combo performer by preference.
In December of 1962, Mr. Jordan toured England, playing concerts with Chris Barber. He reorganized his old group with new instrumentation in 1963 and performed in leading night clubs, lounges, and service clubs throughout the United States. In 1964, he returned to records after a long absence, cutting many singles and an album for Ray Charles' company, Tangerine Records.
Though Louis Jordan and his combo stayed closer to jazz, he is generally considered to be the progenitor of the small group rhythm-and-blues idiom that lead to the rise of rock n' roll. It is a great pleasure and honor to have him as our guest tonight at Eisenhower.
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Living Encyclopedia
of Global African Music
Received August 1999
Posted August 19, 2002