Clifford Jordan - Blowing in from Chicago (1957)

BLOWING IN FROM CHICAGO features tenor saxophonist John Gilmore as a co-leader. After this 1957 session, he spent the rest of his career in Sun Ra's band, hardly ever making any albums under his own name. This adversely affected Gilmore's legacy, since his name has largely been overlooked by younger jazz audiences. However, Gilmore's performance here is first-rate, and is matched by fellow tenor sax player Clifford Jordan. Throughout the record, it's apparent that this pairing of like minds is ideal.
Drummer Art Blakey also asserts himself on this album, especially on the highly rhythmic "Billie's Bounce," a Charlie Parker tune he popularized with the Jazz Messengers. The Latin-flavored Jordan original "Bo-Till" is one of BLOWING IN FROM CHICAGO'S highlights, as is his funky blues number "Evil Eye." This is classic hard bop played by some of its most skillful practitioners.
Clifford Jordan's first date as a leader actually found him sharing a heated jam session with fellow tenor John Gilmore. Backed by pianist Horace Silver, bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Art Blakey, the two saxophonists square off mostly on obscurities (other than Gigi Gryce's "Blue Lights" and "Billie's Bounce"). This was one of Gilmore's few sessions outside of Sun Ra's orbit and, if anything, he slightly overshadows the cooler-toned Jordan. Recommended.

by Scott Yanow in All Music Guide

Styles:
Hard-Bop
Post-Bop

Tracks:
01 - Status Quo (5:34)
02 - Bo-Till (5:54)
03 - Blue Lights (6:35)
04 - Billie's Bounce (9:32)
05 - Evil Eye (5:12)
06 - Everywhere (5:42)
07 - Let It Stand (7:42)

Line-up:
Clifford Jordan - Tenor Sax
Curly Russell - Bass
Art Blakey - Drums
Horace Silver - Piano
John Gilmore - Tenor Sax