Search - Louis Jordan :: 1940-41

The early stages of Jordanism

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 02/12/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"These selections are form the early phase of the career of Louis Jordan, the super-lunatic madman supreme of Jazz comedy and grandfather of soul.



He specialized in singing (and acting out) wildly comical stories about everyday African-American life in his times, as well as playing one of the meanest saxophones around. Knee-slapping as well as foot-patting.



In this set of recordings, it shows him struggling to find his winning formula. Most of the tunes here are hit-or miss, undistiunguished, standard small combo jazz of the era, although instrumentals like "Pintetop's Boogie Woogie" and "saxa Woogie" are not bad and listenable. But we catch a few glimpses of the audio-cartoon insanity that was to come.



"Somebody Done Hoodooed the HooDoo Man" is as fall down-on the floor funny as his more famous records. Here he sings about a voodoo con-artist "selling jive" to his gullible customers. In "De Laff's On You," we hear the foundation of his "Jafakean" accent tunes with a West-Indian theme, which endeared (rather than offended) Carribean fans of Jordan.



"Do You Call That a Buddy" is a mildly amusing blues about a "friend" who sneaks off with Jordan's lover, but not as hilarious as the stuff that was to come. "How I Love My Teacher," is a moderately funny tale about a "strapping boy" who falls in love with his teacher.



Jordanites who love the belly-laugh and foot-stomping inducing "Saturday Night Fish Fry," "Beans and Cornbread" brand of Jordanism should be warned that this is largely of historical interest, but even they will be amused by some of this stuff. Buy it used and you'll do alright."