Les Liaisons Dangereuses

AMG Review of Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Ken Dryden
All Music Guide

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.