Jordan will be joined on stage by collaborators from throughout his career, including Fred Anderson, Billy Bang, Hamiet Bluiett, Dave Burrell, Hamid Drake, Alvin Fielder, Joel Futterman, Clyde Kerr and William Parker. Two of his five musician children, sons Kent and Marlon, will be part of a group called New Orleans Pay Tribute to Kidd Jordan, featuring such former students as Donald Harrison, Jr., celebrating his importance to the city's jazz heritage.
The evening will also feature spoken word by poet, author, teacher and NOMMO Literary Society founder, Kalamu Ya Salaam, and images from photographer Michael Wilderman, documenting Jordan's work over the past 10 years. The night will begin with a panel discussion on the role of art in the healing of New Orleans. Jordan is one of many New Orleans residents still unable to move back into their homes three years after Hurricane Katrina.
“To know and work with Kidd Jordan is an honor," explains Vision Festival founder and organizer, Patricia Nicholson-Parker. “He is not only one of the very best musicians I know, he is also one of the finest human beings I know. His dedication to children and community, and his simple kindness, is an inspiration to all of us. He has withstood the personal struggle and lack of acknowledgment that is too often a part of being a great avantjazz artist. It is our privilege to acknowledge his great genius and numerous accomplishments."
This night-long tribute to Jordan on June 11th will take place on the second of six days of events at this year's Vision Festival, which runs from Tuesday, June 10th through Sunday, June 15th at Manhattan's Clemente Solo Velez Cultural Center. The Vision Festival is a presentation of Arts for Art, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to building awareness and understanding of avantjazz and related expressive movements while encouraging a sense of community amongst artists and their audiences. An annual event since 1996, the festival has grown to become New York's premier artist-run, multi-disciplinary celebration of creative improvised music and the culture that surrounds it, drawing both concertgoers and performers from all around the world.
Performances scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th:
5:30 p.m. [Free Admission]
Panel: The Role of Art in the Healing of New Orleans
7:00 p.m.
Jordan/Bluiett/Burrell
Kidd Jordan - tenor saxophone
Hamiet Bluiett - baritone saxophone
Dave Burrell - piano
7:30 p.m.
Projection of photos of Kidd Jordan by Michael Wilderman
7:45 p.m.
Bang/Jordan/Parker/Drake
Billy Bang - violin
Kidd Jordan - tenor saxophone
William Parker - bass
Hamid Drake - drums
8:15 p.m.
Spoken word by Kalamu Ya Salaam
8:30 p.m.
Jordan/Fielder Ensemble
Kidd Jordan - tenor saxophone
Alvin Fielder - drums
Clyde Kerr - trumpet
Joel Futterman - piano
William Parker - bass
9:15 p.m.
New Orleans Pays Tribute to Kidd Jordan
Kent Jordan - flute
Marlon Jordan - trumpet
Donald Harrison - alto saxophone
Darrell Lavigne - piano
Brian Quezergue - bass
Alvin Fielder - drums
Maynard Chatters - piano, strings
10:00 p.m.
Projection of photos of Kidd Jordan by Michael Wilderman
10:15 p.m.
Anderson/Jordan/Parker/Drake
Fred Anderson - tenor saxophone
Kidd Jordan - tenor saxophone
William Parker - bass
Hamid Drake - drums
For more information contact Improvised Communications.
