One for the Library

AMG Review of One for the Library

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Duke Jordan has long been one of the top bebop pianists, although living in Europe for many years has resulted in his often being overlooked. On this CD, he performs 18 unaccompanied solos, all but one of which are under 4˝ minutes long. Jordan plays six originals and a dozen veteran standards (such as "All The Things You Are," "The Way You Look Tonight," "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Three Little Words") quite well. The pianist strides and lays down basslines in spots; however, his strength has always been his single-note right-hand lines, and he actually sounds at his best in a trio format.