Kidd Jordan

Edward "Kidd" Jordan (Crowley, May 5, 1935 – April 7, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at Southern University at New Orleans from 1974 to 2006.

Biography Jordan was born in Crowley, Louisiana, and was raised during the time when rice farming was the predominant economic activity in the area. Jordan has noted that the music in southwestern Louisiana was "strictly Zydeco and Blues from way around, and that's what I came up listening to."

Jordan's first instruments were C-melody and alto saxophones.

In his performances and recordings, his music was entirely improvised: "Everything you hear on my albums is improvised." he explained. "It's collective improvisation, but there are no tunes. I tried writing down ideas a long time ago but I don't do that anymore.".

The French Ministry of Culture recognized Jordan as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1985. The French government bestowed him with their highest artistic award for his impetus as a visionary educator and performer.

Jordan taught Donald Harrison and Branford Marsalis while the two were teenagers, and was an instructor at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Jordan later returned to Orleans. Kidd Jordan went west with Alvin Fielder and William Parker to play with Prince Lasha and John Handy in The Eddie Gale All Star band for the San Jose Jazz Festival.

On November 7, 2010, Jordan was Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in an event at Montrele's Bistro in New Orleans.

In 2011, the television series Treme featured a track from Palm of Soul, "Last of the Chicken Wings." Jordan later made a brief appearance in Treme. He had seven children, all of whom he taught music to. His son Kent Jordan is a jazz flautist and another son, Marlon Jordan, is a jazz trumpeter. His daughter Stephanie Jordan is a jazz vocalist and another, Rachel Jordan, is a classical violinist.

Discography As leader or co-leader New Orleans Festival Suite (Silkheart, 1999) Kidd' Stuff (Danjor, 2001) The All-Star Game (Eremite, 2003) Live at the Tampere Jazz Happening 2000 (Charles Lester, 2004) Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity, 2006) On Fire (Engine, 2011) On Fire Volume 2 (Engine, 2012) A Night in November (Valid, 2013) Trio and Duo in New Orleans (NoBusiness, 2013) Live in New Orleans (No Business, 2013) Last Trane to New Orleans (2020)

As sideman with Larry Williams: Bad Boy (Specialty) with Professor Longhair: Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge (Rhino) with The Improvisational Arts Quintet: No Compromise! (Prescription) with Hamiet Bluiett: The Clarinet Family (Black Saint) with Johnny Adams: Good Morning Heartache (Rounder) with Joel Futterman: Revelation (Kali) New Orleans Rising (Konnex Records) The Joel Futterman / 'Kidd' Jordan Trio with Alvin Fielder-Southern Extreme (Drimala Records) with William Parker Essence of Ellington (Centering, 2012) with Alan Silva: Emancipation Suite (Boxholder, 2002) Alan Silva & the Sound Visions Orchestra (Eremite, 2001) H.Con.Res.57/Treasure Box (Eremite, 2003) with R.E.M.: Out of Time (Warner Bros. Records) with Fred Anderson 2 Days in April (Eremite, 2000) 21st Century Chase (Delmark, 2009) with World Saxophone Quartet Yes We Can (Jazzwerkstatt, 2010)