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“‘Swing’ is an adjective or a verb , not a noun. All jazz musicians should swing. There is no such thing as a ’swing band’ in music.” - Artie Shaw |
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 Thursday, 08 January 2009 |
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The 2006 Jazzfest Heritage Music Weekend Connects with Families |
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Written by Delmarie Cobb
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Wednesday, 26 July 2006 |
Chicago is the African American family reunion capital of the
world. So, it is no surprise that one of the most popular
events to have a family reunion is at the annual JazzFest Heritage
Music Weekend, which takes place August 4-6 at the South Shore Cultural
Center, 7059 South Shore Drive.
 Andy Bey
This year’s 25th Anniversary theme is “Connecting Family
Ties.” And what better way to emphasize family than to
bring some of Chicago’s and New Orleans’ jazz families together to
perform at this free, two-day annual event. Throughout the
weekend, almost every performer has either a musical family or New
Orleans connection—starting with Darius de Haas, who will kick-off the
weekend at the “We Love You Madly” Awards Gala on Friday, August
4. On Saturday, the son of bassist Eddie de Haas and Jazz Unites’
founder, Geraldine de Haas, will join his Grammy nominated uncle Andy
Bey on stage to perform.
On Sunday, another talented family, the Jordans, will grace the
stage. The extraordinary New Orleans siblings are helping to keep
the tradition of great musical families from the Crescent City
alive. Led by Marlon Jordan on trumpet, Rachel Jordan on violin,
and Kent Jordan on flute, the group is rounded out by the vocals of
Stephanie Jordan—who critics are calling one of the next great jazz
singers.
 Henry Johnson © Andrea Canter
The love of the music is what keeps the Jordan family together.
Like so many others, they are rebounding from Katrina's destruction.
"In our immediate family alone, seven dwellings were lost," explained
Stephanie Jordan, whose lyrical styling is being compared to Nancy
Wilson and Shirley Horn. "I had eight feet of water in my house,
and lost everything—pianos, sheet music, my entire wardrobe, a singer's
wardrobe."
"Everybody is trying to get back to what we were doing before—our
livelihood," said trumpeter Marlon Jordan, the youngest New Orleans
bandleader to ever sign with a major record label. He and his
girlfriend camped out on the roof of his New Orleans home for five days
before their rescue by helicopter. He discovered he suffered two
fractured ankles earlier from kicking mailboxes while swimming through
floodwaters.
Violinist Rachel Jordan injured her shoulder and an arm in an accident
on her way to view the damage done to her home. “I'm in a certain
amount of pain, and it's still not 100 percent," said Rachel, a
professor of violin/viola at Jackson State University in
Mississippi. "I played my first chamber music concert recently,
and it felt better. They taped me up like a football
player." A violinist since age 7, Rachel regrets that Katrina
claimed two prized violins, several bows and
“ a lifetime of music."
Rachel, Marlon, Stephanie and their brother, flutist Kent Jordan, are
all children of saxophonist Edward "Kidd" Jordan, whom the French
government recognized with a knighthood for his contribution to the
European performing arts. "My father lost 50 or 60 saxophones,"
Marlon said. "He's been playing since he was 20 years old."
Soon after the hurricane, Stephanie and her siblings performed during
Jazz at Lincoln Center's Higher Ground Hurricane Relief benefit
broadcast. This fall, she and Marlon are touring Europe as part
of the U.S. State Department's Higher Ground relief effort.
Last October, Jazz Unites began deducting $5 from each new membership
to donate to the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund. The
relief-fund drive will end next month following the jazz festival.
The Saturday, August 5, line-up for the 2006 JazzFest includes the
Henry Johnson Quartet, Andy Bey Quartet, vocalist Tammy McCann,
George Freeman’s Quartet, and blues group Mike & Company.
Sunday, August 6, features Marlena Shaw, Willie and Bethany Pickens,
the Jordans, Tito Carrillo, vocalist Roderick Harper, and the South
Shore Youth Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Ron Carter.
For more information about the JazzFest Heritage Music Weekend, please
call Jazz Unites at 773-734-2000 or visit
www.jazzunitesinc.org.
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