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Stanley Jordan: Friends

By Larry Taylor
September 7, 2011
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In a successful career of over 25 years, guitarist Stanley Jordan has always displayed his versatility—equally adept at blues, straight-ahead jazz and ever inventive with classical masterpieces. His virtuosity and improvisational prowess are a given, and on Friends, he also shows his skill on piano on two numbers. Primarily, he brings in old pals from various backgrounds and delivers terrific arrangements, ranging across the jazz spectrum, mixing in originals with swing, post bop, samba, blues, pop and a couple from Bart��k and Chopin. Jordan makes roughly two appearances with each main guest, with all the pairings in different styles; all are great.

The opener, Jordan's "Circle J," features impressive solos by

Kenny Garrett

saxophone, alto
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Garrett on soprano sax and

Nicholas Payton

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Payton on trumpet. Jordan shines, comping behind the two. The horns appear again in another Jordan original, "Bathed in Light." It starts with a mellow blend from Garrett and Payton, who then contribute solos. Jordan follows suit, gently accentuating the romantic, meditative mood.

A real treat comes when he pairs up with guitarist

Bucky Pizzarelli

guitar
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Bucky Pizzarelli on

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti's

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie classic, "Li'l Darlin,'" hearkening back several decades with this honey-coated ballad. The two then go back even further to the swing era, coming up with

Charlie Christian

guitar, electric
1916 - 1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Christian's "Seven come Eleven," made famous by

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Goodman as a showcase for the guitarist and also featuring peerless guitarist

Russell Malone

guitar
1963 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Russell Malone. Pizzarelli has a rousing solo, followed by a hip, three-way guitar duel at the song's end.

Things go in a different direction with violinist

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter onboard, as Jordan explores Bart��k's "Concerto for Orchestra" in a sensitive, shimmering, hauntingly beautiful arrangement. On Jordan's "Samba Delight," Carter follows

Ronnie Laws

saxophone
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Ronnie Laws on soprano, interjecting a tropical touch with her violin.

For Jordan's "Walkin' the Dog," guitarist

Charlie Hunter

guitar
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Hunter appears and the two guitarists become like peas in a pod, picked from

B.B. King

guitar, electric
1925 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">B.B. King's field. They mesh beautifully again in Jordan's reworking of Katy Perry's pop tune "I Kissed A Girl," giving it a delightfully bluesy.

In a press release, Jordan says that this collection truly speaks to his belief that ..."when you integrate styles, you combine them into something new while still remaining true to the original sources." His best argument is this recording.

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Track Listing

Capital J; Walkin' the Dog; Lil' Darlin'; Giant Steps; I Kissed A Girl; Seven Come Eleven; Samba Delight; Bathed in Light; Romantic Intermezzo From Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra; Reverie; One For Milton.

Personnel

Stanley Jordan

guitar, electric

Stanley Jordan: guitar, piano (5, 9); Bucky Pizzarelli: guitar (3, 6); Mike Stern: guitar (4); Russell Malone: guitar (6, 11); Charlie Hunter: guitar (2, 5); Regina Carter: violin (7, 9); Kenny Garrett: soprano sax (1, 8); Ronnie Laws: soprano sax (7); Nicholas Payton: trumpet (1, 8); Christian McBride: bass (1, 8); Charnett Moffett: bass (5, 6, 10); Kenwood Dennard: drums (1-8, 10, 11).

Album information

Title: Friends | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Mack Avenue Records

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