Jazz Articles about Rodney Jordan

About Rodney Jordan

Album Review

On Memphis Blue, acclaimed bassist Rodney Jordan bows deeply to his Tennessee hometown via a series of charming and largely blues-tailored themes that are designed to trace the city's unique character and heritage. Jordan wrote four of them, including the album's title song and animated tributes to trumpeter Roy Hargrove and drummer Art Blakey. Jordan has the first two minutes, forty-five seconds of “Memphis Blue" to himself before pianist Louis Herivaux and drummer Quentin Baxter lend their ...

Album Review

Rodney Jordan: Conversations

Read "Conversations" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
October 2, 2021

Yes, Hildegard von Bingen is a thing, and for many musicians, especially singers, a serious icon. Yes, you can tune a bass to A=432hz. Until the mid-nineteenth century, standard tuning on a bass was 430-435. Verdi apparently loved 432 because he said it resonated within the golden ratio, or a professional bassist informs “something like that." It goes back to the whole music of the spheres, but Baroque groups and early music ensembles will play other composers, including Beethoven in ...

Album Review

Rodney Jordan and Christian Fabian: Conversations

Read "Conversations" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
September 5, 2021

An endorsement from Ron Carter is worthy of attention. Two upright bassists playing duets for sure gets your attention, if only for such a rarity. Then there are the twelve songs that grasp your attention. Bassists Rodney Jordan and Christian Fabian join forces for Conversations that have much to say and are spoken eloquently with vocabularies that are both diverse and connected. Both payers are adept soloists that conversely know how to leave space for each other, comp when necessary, ...