Clifford Jordan - Remembering Me-Me

Cliff Blows And Flows

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 23, 2005

Pros: Tight, hot, smooth and boppin.

Cons: Perhaps more a collection of pieces, rather than a singular album statement.

Clifford Jordan blows and flows, with tight accompaniment from Roy Burrowes, Wilbur Ware, George Avaloz and Chris Anderson. The list of credits for just these guys without Cliff is great; Max Roach, Jamaician Jazz Crusaders, Aretha Franklin, Duke Ell...ington, Frank Foster, Monty Waters, Joe Lee Wilson, Billy Eckstein, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Gene Ammons, Thelonious Monk Quartet, etc. Issued on Muse Records, this LP is not nearly as experimental as say; Lester Bowie's "Hello Dolly" on the same label, but begins with a positive energy ("It's Time") every bit as palpable and strong as Cannonball Adderley's "Mercy, Mercy Mercy! Live At The Club". Perhaps if "Me-Me" had been recorded and released in 1966, as "Mercy" was, instead of 1976 it would've been received better, as many of this records stylings aren't current to '76, but more retro in nature. This includes the vocal numbers ("Powerful Paul Robeson", "Ole Funny Columbine") led by Boo Boo Monk (Thelonious Monk's daughter), which point back to Jordan's work with Charles Mingus. Hank Diamond Smith on the title track ("Me-Me" formerly "Prayer To The People" from "Glass Bead Games") brings some of that Eckstine influence to the closing number. I think there's a bit of Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon and Buber Miley in Cliff's horn and for all these reasons, I recommend this album. Read more Less