[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17314-17315]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A SALUTE TO MARLON JORDAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, as Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, 
and Chairman of the Jazz Forum and Concert that occurs during the 
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, 
I rise to salute the achievements of trumpeter Marlon Jordan, a rising 
star in the field of jazz. The following biography is found on Marlon 
Jordan's own web site. It chronicles a career of accomplishment already 
deserving of high recognition, and of this body's thoughtful attention 
and respect.
       Marlon Jordan is the youngest of seven children of 
     musician-educator Edward Jordan and Edvidge Jordan, a 
     classical pianist. ``I started out playing saxophone, violin 
     and drums,'' says Marlon, ``but the trumpet was the 
     instrument that stuck with me.'' Marlon recalls his father 
     literally taking him on the bandstand ``even before I really 
     knew how to play. He'd introduce me to all the musicians, and 
     they'd call me up on the stand. They'd say, `Come on. That's 
     Kidd's son. Let him play.'''
       As he continued his musical studies he had the day to day 
     inspiration of Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and many 
     others to draw on. The young musicians often hung out at the 
     Jordan household where they would practice music with Kent 
     Jordan and take lessons from Edward Jordan. Marlon graduated 
     from the famed NOCCA (New Orleans Center for the Creative 
     Arts).
       An accomplished classical musician as well, Marlon has 
     performed solo with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. But 
     his true joy is his constant performance in the streets and 
     nightclubs of New Orleans and Brazil.
       His debut album ``For You Only,'' released by Columbia 
     Records was the source of unanimous praise from the press. It 
     was named ``one of the best debut albums of the year'' by the 
     Washington Post. Following the debut album's release, Marlon 
     took his quintet on the road. They joined Wynton Marsalis, 
     Miles Davis and George Benson as a headlining act in a series 
     of JVC Festival dates (produced by George Wein) in Atlanta, 
     Dallas and other cities. They also played in some of the 
     country's top jazz clubs, including the Blue Note and the 
     Ritz, as well as in concerts ranging from New York's Avery 
     Fisher Hall to Binghamton University.
       Marlon understood that his continued growth as a musician 
     depended on his ability to stake out his own musical ground, 
     and not just to play standards. Following up on his own 
     ideas, he wrote five of the tunes on his second Columbia 
     release ``Learson's Return'' (April 1991). Following a series 
     of quintet dates immediately following the album's release in 
     the spring of '91 (highlighted by a run at the Village 
     Vanguard), Marlon joined up with ``Jazz Futures''--George 
     Wein's brilliantly-conceived ``supergroup'' of ``Young 
     Lions''--virtually playing every major jazz festival and 
     outdoor ``shed'' on the circuit.

  Mr. Speaker, latest release, ``You Don't Know What Love Is,'' 
features his sister, vocalist Stephanie Jordan. Marlon, Stephanie and 
another sister, violinist Rachel Jordan, will be performing together on 
September 7, 2006, at the Jazz Forum and Concert that I will host

[[Page 17315]]

during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 36th Annual 
Legislative Conference. I urge all of you, and those who love real jazz 
to attend.

                          ____________________