Saturday, 3 January 2009

How Duke Jordan Changed the World - performed to Jordu

When Jordan penned this number it was new
and few had tried to do what he could do.
He'd played with all the best
that was Jordu
You know the rest
Parker's inspiration caught Duke's ear
but he missed the chance to dance in France
Instead, he worked with Getz
and gigged some more
That was Jordu

Bebop plays it hard in all the uptown clubs
The scene in 41 was just fermenting
By 54 the scene had crystallized
The music Duke played, it really jumped
The first to lay it down for all to hear
was Clifford Roach with Brown,
they played it clear,
but as the good in jazz - they all die young.
Brown bought the farm.

I know you want to hear the rest of the story
and I'm going to oblige.
Just you settle now and listen
to the way in which the music goes on and on and...
Inside the rhythm it gives a little bit
and we hear the way in which
the given notes inform the melody,
though improvising was the order of the day.
And I don't have to tell you all
how hard it is to tell the folks
all listening to the beat,
'cos you're listening now,
in tandem with the souls who've gone before.
Best beloved we sit with them now,
and the world can't hear them
though they hold them dear.
Reign in your emotions for a while.
Hear what I say...

(solos)

When Jordan penned this number it was new
and few had tried to do what he could do.
He'd played with all the best
that was Jordu
You know the rest
Parker's inspiration caught Duke's ear
but he missed the chance to dance in France
Instead, he worked with Getz
and gigged some more
That was Jordu

Bebop plays it hard in all the uptown clubs
The scene in 41 was just fermenting
By 54 the scene had crystallized
The music Duke played, it really jumped
The first to lay it down for all to hear
was Clifford Roach with Brown,
they played it clear,
but as the good in jazz - they all die young.
Brown bought the farm.
That was Jordu
That was Jordu

2 comments:

Doug said...

Wonderful piece, but:
"Clifford Roach with Brown"?

*Max* Roach was the drummer, Clifford Brown the too-soon-departed trumpet player.

Angela J Elliott said...

Yep, should have read

"the first to lay it down for all to hear, was Clifford Brown with Roach, they played it clear"

Apologies. fingers....
Angela