Duke Jordan - Les Liaisons Dangereuses / East and West Of Jazz (2012) [Charlie Parker Records]

Duke Jordan ‎– Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1962)
Duke Jordan's music was used in the soundtrack to Roger Vadim's controversial film Les Liaisons Dangereuses, but at times his compositions were retitled and credited to others. This soundtrack LP, issued by the Charlie Parker label, helped to set the record straight. The pianist is joined by tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, trumpeter Sonny Cohn, bassist Eddie Kahn, and drummer Art Taylor, playing four hard bop originals, some with more than one variation. Surprisingly, Jordan's solos are rather subdued, as he evidently preferred to focus on others and the ensembles. Even though none of the material left much of a lasting impression, the music is enjoyable. While this disc has been reissued on occasion, it still remains one of the more obscure discs in Duke Jordan's extensive discography.

Duke Jordan – East And West Of Jazz (1962)
This LP from the long-defunct Charlie Parker label features two unrelated sessions cut on the same day. Pianist Duke Jordan teams up in a quintet with trumpeter Johnny Coles, baritonist Cecil Payne, bassist Wendell Marshall and drummer Walter Bolden for Parker's "Dexterity," a couple of real obscurities, and originals by Payne and Jordan; the latter's "Tall Grass" shows the influence of folk music. The other set showcases pianist Sadik Hakim on five of his compositions (two of which were greatly influenced by his interest in the music of the Near East) in a quartet with guitarist Eddie Wright, bassist Lloyd Buchanan and drummer Kalil Madi. An interesting (if not all that significant) release that promises to be difficult to find.


Tracks:

Duke Jordan ‎– Les Liaisons Dangereuses
01 - No Problem (No. 1)
02 - No Problem (No. 2)
03 - No Problem (No. 3)
04 - Jazz Vendor
05 - Subway Inn
06 - The Feeling Of Love (No. 1)
07 - The Feeling Of Love (No. 2)

Bass – Eddie Kahn
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Duke Jordan
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse
Trumpet – Sonny Cohn


Duke Jordan – East And West Of Jazz
08 - Impulse
09 - Gabriel
10 - Buch's Blues
11 - Goodies For The Goodies
12 - Little Lou
13 - Yes, He's Gone
14 - Dexterity
15 - I'm Gonna Learn You Style
16 - Like Church
17 - Tall Grass

Cecil Payne (tracks: B1 to B5) – baritone saxophone
Lloyd Buchann (tracks: A1 to A5), Wendell Marshall (tracks: B1 to B5) – bass
Kalil Madi (tracks: A1 to A5), Walter Bolden (tracks: B1 to B5) – drums
Eddie Wright (tracks: A1 to A5) – guitar
Duke Jordan (tracks: B1 to B5), Sadik Hakim (tracks: A1 to A5) – piano
Johnny Coles (tracks: B1 to B5) – trumpet