Duke Jordan, 84, jazz pianist who helped build bebop

I'm coming to the news late. I've never really examined his solo output and as much as I hate to be reminded in this context, now's as good a time as ever.

I have volumes and volumes of his work as a sideman, though. The bebop sides he played on had a huge effect on my listening growing up.

Now Playing: "Rough Gem" Island Return to the Sea

I'm sorry to read about this. He's been an ex-pat for years and I never did get a chance to hear him play. One of the last of the links to the original boppers, Jordan actually played with Charlie Parker.

Jordan is well-documented on CD, with literally dozens recorded for the Danish Steeplechase label.

Jordan is one of a handful of musicians I've never seen live. That list would include another aging, long-time ex-pat pianist, Horace Parlan, pianist Mickey Tucker, in Australia, multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan (coming to NYC this fall) and pianist Freddie Redd, coming to NYC this winter.

Both Horace Parland and Duke Jordan have been living over here the past 20+ years. Jordan didn't perform for a long time though, but Parland occasionally plays at the annual Copenhagen Jazz Festival.