These Are My Roots: Clifford Jordan Plays Leadbelly

Clifford Jordan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00000G4SF
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,687 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dick's Holler

2. Silver City Bound

3. Take This Hammer

4. Black Betty

5. The Highest Mountain

6. Goodnight Irene

7. De Gray Goose

8. Black Girl

9. Jolly O The Ransom

10. Yellow Gal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great playing pushes this well beyond the level of a curiousity, April 10, 2006

By 

Peter E. Johansen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: These Are My Roots: Clifford Jordan Plays Leadbelly (Audio CD)

I was initially attracted to this album since I am fan of both Leadbelly and Clifford Jordan. But after spending some time with this, I'm not exactly how sure how much this has to do with Leadbelly specifically, although some of his melodies transfer fluently into a jazz setting. Instead this seems to be an excuse for Clifford Jordan to really get into the blues, which he does very well. His huge tenor tone consistently sounds uplifting and enjoyable on these 10 tracks, and he is backed by a superb rhythm section, which includes Richard Davis, Al Heath, and Cedar Walton. Roy Burrowes (who played with Ellington) on trumpet and Julian Priester (who played with just about everyone) on trombone, give many of the choruses a tonal complexity that sometimes made me feel I was listening to a much larger big band outing. But then what really sets this recording apart is the vocals (unfortanetely on only two tracks) by a singer named Sandra Douglass. I can find no information on this evocative singer on Allmusic or elsewhere, but honestly if Clifford Jordan had gotten Etta James or Dinah Washington to sing instead, I'm not sure if this these tracks could have been improved. She puts a ton of emotion into these tunes and I hope that her singing is digitally preserved elsewhere.

These musicians - certainly some of the greatest jazz musicians ever - push this CD beyond the level of a gimmick or curiousity. I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in soulful hard bop, especially if they appreciate Leadbelly, one of the greatest blues singers and songwriters.