Leon Jordan's Group @ Cheltenham Center For The Arts!

Appearing at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, 439 Ashbourne Road in Cheltenham, PA on October 3rd, will be the talented, versatile, creative, soulful, and ever-swinging jazz drummer Leon Jordan, Jr. and his group, featuring his son trumpeter Leon Jordan, Jr., bassist Nimrod Speaks, and pianist Luke Carlos O'Reilly. One Show: 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $5 for students and are available at the door only. For info: 610-745-3011.

Jazz Bridge, a 501C public charity that helps local jazz and blues musicians in crisis, is sponsoring this event, the Jazz in Cheltenham! season opener.

As a relative youngster, Jordan studied drums with three certifiable legends: The father of modern jazz drumming, Max Roach; Duke Ellington and Count Basie’s drummer Butch Ballard; and Philly Joe Jones, best known for his work with the famed Miles Davis group of 1955 – 1958.

Jordan learned his lessons well, eventually backing the likes of jazz players like George Benson, Benny Golson and Grover Washington, Jr.; and soul artists such as the Stylistics and Chaka Kahn. He also played in the orchestra for the touring companies of shows such as “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Purlie,” and spent three years as a performer and contractor for Philadelphia’s Prince Music Theater.