Biography
Marlon Jordan, whose father was the avant-garde saxophonist Kidd Jordan and whose older sibling is flutist Kent Jordan, drew widespread notice at the outset of his professional path by leading a Columbia session at age 19, prior to forging a personal style. He first took up the trumpet in fourth grade, having already formed childhood acquaintanceships with Wynton Marsalis, later a primary influence, and with Terence Blanchard. At 15 he appeared as featured soloist alongside the New Orleans Symphony, later enrolling at the now-legendary New Orleans Center for Creative Arts; sideman credits followed with his brother Kent in 1987 and with Dennis Gonzalez in 1988. Three leader dates for Columbia came next, along with a 1991 stint in Jazz Futures that placed him beside Roy Hargrove, all of which underscored his promise. Whether he will ultimately rank among jazz’s major figures remains uncertain, yet his technical command is unquestioned even if a distinctive musical identity has yet to emerge.
Albums
