Marlon Jordan
The New Orleans-born Trumpeter Marlon Jordan was one of the "Young Jazz Lions" who were signed, recorded and promoted on major record labels in the 1980s. He recorded three impressive LPs for Columbia from 1998 to 1992, For You Only, Learson's Return, and The Undaunted, and one for the Arabesque label entitled Marlon's Mode in 1997. His latest album, Marlon Jordan featuring Stephanie Jordan, You Don't Know What Love Is announces the return of an exceptional trumpeter. It also heralds the recording debut of a new singer, his sister Stephanie and showcases an incredibly talented musical family. This dancing and delicious document reveal a mature artist who sounds like himself. You can hear Jordan's clean, boppish lines laced with power, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the entire jazz trumpet tradition, signed in own unique sonic signature. The setting for this session finds its precedent in the immortal jazz albums, Clifford Brown with Strings, and Bird with Strings. But what makes this CD different is that it features the Jordan family. Stephanie's tone and diction combine Nancy Wilson's razor-sharp diction and phrasing with Shirley Horn's economy. Saxophonist Edward "Kidd" Jordan, a pioneer artist and educator, was instrumental in forming The World Saxophone Quartet is the patriarch. Marlon's older brother, Flutist Kent, also recorded a number of well-crafted recordings on Columbia from 1984 to 1988. The Peabody-trained violinist Rachel is a former member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and a music teacher at Dillard University and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and she now teaches at Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi. With a Crescent City rhythm section consisting of drummer Troy Davis, bassist David Pulphus, and pianist Darrell Lavigne, who also wrote the string arrangements, Stephanie and Marlon deliver a number of standards in the classic moods and grooves full of the Negroidal rhythmic gravity we call swing. "My Favorite Things," get things rolling, with Marlon's full-bodied clarion calls beautifully counterpointed by his father's torrid, "sheets of sound" solo. "I wanted to come up with a tune that my father can be included on, and be himself, Marlon said. "Coltrane made "My Favorite Things" famous, and my dad is dealing with [Coltrane's] Live in Seattle and beyond." Uncle Alvin Batiste's pithy clarinet highlights the waltzy modal "All Blues," from the Miles Davis masterpiece Kind of Blue. "I opened for Miles," Marlon proudly proclaimed, "and I wanted people to know that I can play in that vein." Marlon's Latin lilt on "Flamingo" follows Wynton's recording of it on his Standard Time Vol. 4 and features cousin Jonathan Bloom on percussion. Another uncle, trombonist Maynard Chatters, and his son, trumpeter Mark, round out this exceptional ensemble. This recording can be summed up with a riff on an old saying: The family that swings together, stays together . . . He and his siblings' rendition of Here's To Life from their live televised performance during the Jazz at Lincoln Center Higher Ground Benefit Concert appears on the recent release by Blue Note Records. Marlon and Stephanie embark on European Tour as part of the Higher Ground Relief effort sponsored by the US States Department. The countries included Bucharest, Germany, Lithuania and Ukraine. Marlon looks to his music for a sense of normalcy after nearly losing his life to hurricane Katrina. Trapped on his roof for five days, a long-line helicopter rescue mission pulled Marlon and his girlfriend to safety. But not before he himself rescued two neighbors who were trapped in a burning house, fracturing both his ankles in the process.
Bill Summers of Headhunters
A highly accomplished musician, percussionist, and ethnomusicologist, Bill Summers has performed and recorded with Joe Zawinul, Dianne Reeves, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, and George Benson, in addition to his various solo projects. He maintains a deep commitment to world music through his personal study with ethnic masters, as demonstrated through his deft ability on a variety of instruments. Summers' awareness of African heritage is evident in his work with Quincy Jones on the musical score for Roots and the soundtrack for The Color Purple. He formed the fantastic Latin/jazz hybrid Los Hombres Calientes in 1998, co-founded with trumpet prodigy Irvin Mayfield in New Orleans. Los Hombres have recorded three albums, toured the world, and have been nominated for a Grammy.
David, Ryan, Jamal & Damon Batiste
David Russell Batiste, Jr. is a drummer based in New Orleans. Brought up in a musical family, Batiste started playing drums at the age of four. He also learned to play keyboards, saxophone, guitar and bass, and started to play in the family band when he was seven.
Damon Batiste is a producer and musician.
Jamal Batiste tours with Los Ombres Caliente.
Ryan Batiste is a student at NOCCA.
Berthena
Berthena is an R&B singer that just loves all types of music and that loves to dance. She has been in dancing for 9 yrs doing ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe, and she has been singing since she was 3 yrs old. She is a 17 year old that attends East Jefferson High School where she takes up vocal, piano, and show choir classes. She also attends NOCCA/Riverfront which stands for “The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts” where she takes up Opera, Jazz, Theory, Piano, Acting, and Italian/French Diction. Her main art is R&B, but some of her other arts include: Gospel, Hip Hop, Opera, Jazz, Pop, etc. She writes all of her own lyrics. She is also with the Tipitina’s Interns; her teacher Mr. Donald Harrison Jr., who is well known for playing the Saxophone and many other instruments all over the world. The Tipitina’s interns deal with jazz instrumentalists and vocalists. She works a lot of jazz gigs in and around the city of New Orleans. This inspiring singer has performed at many events in New Orleans including some of the Biggest events which includes: Hip Hop Summit, the Hot 104.5 block party, the Jazz Fest, almost all of Q 93.3 events, etc. She also went with the Tipitina’s foundation to do a jazz performance at six flags in Atlanta. Being so excited to get the opportunity to perform in Atlanta, she was ready to hit up another spot called “Cheesecake Bistro,” where people came to hear live music being played outside. She thought that it would be the perfect place to jam with the band and to get great exposure.
Berthena is in pursuit of a recording deal to further her career in music. She wants to learn from more experience artists, hopefully get to open up for them and then one day using that experience to launch some major concerts on her way of becoming the most successful artist in time. She believes that all the hard work that she is doing now will pay off later.
