SHEILA JORDAN - Back In The UK
Jazz Vocal Star Returns to the UK, April 2018
Preview and Interview by Georgia Mancio
Photo credit; Bob Barkany
https://m.facebook.com/bobbarkanyshootspeople/
Seeing and experiencing the spirit that is Sheila Jordan live is always a deeply nourishing and uplifting experience. Steeped in jazz history, championed by Charlie Parker, at 89 Sheila still travels the world performing and leading workshops to remind us that this highly intellectual art form is best served with a huge dollop of heart, humanity and soul.
Knowing all that, I was still overwhelmed by the emotions stirred at the final performance of her UK dates last week. There were moments, in a phrase, in the space between phrases, in an abandoned, joyous burst of scat, the retelling of jazz and personal history when I was completely transported and the whole room felt it too. For a while we were wrapped up in the unending soul, warmth, honesty, generosity and humanity of this most rare and precious of beings. Transported on an ocean liner of talent and stunning music, the moment came when we all forgot the outside world and its ugly terrors and injustices, we forgot our fights and worries, we forgot the questions and just found the answer - Sheila Jordan.
Sheila Jordan played Gateshead International Jazz Festival and Pizza Express Jazz Club with Pete Churchill (piano/voice), Duncan Hopkins (bass), Mark Fletcher (drums) and The Tori String Quartet
GM: Welcome back to the UK, Sheila. This is a very special project you’re touring - can you tell us more about it - the music and the players involved?
SJ: I am going to be singing with a string quartet and trio on this tour. I have been wanting to perform with a string quartet for years. Alan Broadbent has done some beautiful arrangements plus a few extra arrangements by a wonderful cello player, Harold Birsten from Canada, I had this idea for years after hearing Stan Getz do his string quartet recording. It will be wonderful to sing them for all the wonderful people in The United Kingdom. It's a dream come true.
GM: Your schedule is staggering and your dedication undiminished. I know you also held a day job for many years. So please what is the secret of your energy and what keeps you inspired to work so hard?
SJ: I worked in an office from the time I was 17 years old until my early 60's. I always found a place to sing though when I had my office job. Maybe one or two nites a week and used my vacation for touring when booked for gigs. I had a great boss the last 18 years of my day gig and he would give me time off to go sing. I call it going to any lengths to keep this music alive.
GM: It seems education is as important a part of your mission as performance. Did you always teach and what does it bring to you? What are the fundamental tools you want to pass on to your students?
SJ: I never went past high school and had no formal education in music. I learned it from doing it and from the streets so to speak. I never thought of teaching until I did a little concert at City College in NYC. John Lewis from the Modern Jazz Quartet and Ed Summerlin had me come up to do a concert. After the concert they said I should teach and the classical teacher Janet Steele agreed. I said I don't teach and I have no education in teaching and John said "Teach what you do". So I said okay. I learned to teach from teaching.
I teach them to get good lead sheets together and to learn the original melodies of the tunes because knowing the original melodies of tunes are the stepping stones to improvisation. If you know what's there originally you'll never get lost. I teach how to talk down a tune, i.e., intros (how many bars do you want), how many times through, what kind of ending, etc.
Know your tunes and get into the lyrics. I basically teach performance.
GM: The best advice anyone ever gave me was yours: “Just keep going.” What else would you say to anyone looking to sustain a career in jazz?
SJ: I tell them they might have to work at another job to support the music. In other words my saying is: "Support the Music until it supports you". It may never support you but if you love it you don't stop doing it because it doesn't support you. You do it because you love it and it's part of your soul. Keep Singing" is my motto....
GM: Finally I know that Charlie Parker played a very special role in your development as a jazz artist. Can you tell us more about his influence and others who helped shape your sound?
SJ: I wouldn't be coming to the U.K. if I hadn't heard Bird as a teenager on a 78 record. He is the reason I sing. I also studied with Lennie Tristano for a couple of years and Lennie was very encouraging. My main influence was Charlie Parker ... I always sang as a kid but didn't know what kind of music I wanted to sing until I hear Charlie Parker. Hearing him as a teenager playing "Now the Time" was an eye opener for me. I heard four notes from him which made my skin crawl and said to myself "this is the music I will dedicate my life to whether I sing it, teach it or just go out and support it". Bird was my saviour.
Preview and Interview by Georgia Mancio
Photo credit; Bob Barkany
https://m.facebook.com/bobbarkanyshootspeople/
Seeing and experiencing the spirit that is Sheila Jordan live is always a deeply nourishing and uplifting experience. Steeped in jazz history, championed by Charlie Parker, at 89 Sheila still travels the world performing and leading workshops to remind us that this highly intellectual art form is best served with a huge dollop of heart, humanity and soul.
Knowing all that, I was still overwhelmed by the emotions stirred at the final performance of her UK dates last week. There were moments, in a phrase, in the space between phrases, in an abandoned, joyous burst of scat, the retelling of jazz and personal history when I was completely transported and the whole room felt it too. For a while we were wrapped up in the unending soul, warmth, honesty, generosity and humanity of this most rare and precious of beings. Transported on an ocean liner of talent and stunning music, the moment came when we all forgot the outside world and its ugly terrors and injustices, we forgot our fights and worries, we forgot the questions and just found the answer - Sheila Jordan.
Sheila Jordan played Gateshead International Jazz Festival and Pizza Express Jazz Club with Pete Churchill (piano/voice), Duncan Hopkins (bass), Mark Fletcher (drums) and The Tori String Quartet
GM: Welcome back to the UK, Sheila. This is a very special project you’re touring - can you tell us more about it - the music and the players involved?
SJ: I am going to be singing with a string quartet and trio on this tour. I have been wanting to perform with a string quartet for years. Alan Broadbent has done some beautiful arrangements plus a few extra arrangements by a wonderful cello player, Harold Birsten from Canada, I had this idea for years after hearing Stan Getz do his string quartet recording. It will be wonderful to sing them for all the wonderful people in The United Kingdom. It's a dream come true.
GM: Your schedule is staggering and your dedication undiminished. I know you also held a day job for many years. So please what is the secret of your energy and what keeps you inspired to work so hard?
SJ: I worked in an office from the time I was 17 years old until my early 60's. I always found a place to sing though when I had my office job. Maybe one or two nites a week and used my vacation for touring when booked for gigs. I had a great boss the last 18 years of my day gig and he would give me time off to go sing. I call it going to any lengths to keep this music alive.
GM: It seems education is as important a part of your mission as performance. Did you always teach and what does it bring to you? What are the fundamental tools you want to pass on to your students?
SJ: I never went past high school and had no formal education in music. I learned it from doing it and from the streets so to speak. I never thought of teaching until I did a little concert at City College in NYC. John Lewis from the Modern Jazz Quartet and Ed Summerlin had me come up to do a concert. After the concert they said I should teach and the classical teacher Janet Steele agreed. I said I don't teach and I have no education in teaching and John said "Teach what you do". So I said okay. I learned to teach from teaching.
I teach them to get good lead sheets together and to learn the original melodies of the tunes because knowing the original melodies of tunes are the stepping stones to improvisation. If you know what's there originally you'll never get lost. I teach how to talk down a tune, i.e., intros (how many bars do you want), how many times through, what kind of ending, etc.
Know your tunes and get into the lyrics. I basically teach performance.
GM: The best advice anyone ever gave me was yours: “Just keep going.” What else would you say to anyone looking to sustain a career in jazz?
SJ: I tell them they might have to work at another job to support the music. In other words my saying is: "Support the Music until it supports you". It may never support you but if you love it you don't stop doing it because it doesn't support you. You do it because you love it and it's part of your soul. Keep Singing" is my motto....
GM: Finally I know that Charlie Parker played a very special role in your development as a jazz artist. Can you tell us more about his influence and others who helped shape your sound?
SJ: I wouldn't be coming to the U.K. if I hadn't heard Bird as a teenager on a 78 record. He is the reason I sing. I also studied with Lennie Tristano for a couple of years and Lennie was very encouraging. My main influence was Charlie Parker ... I always sang as a kid but didn't know what kind of music I wanted to sing until I hear Charlie Parker. Hearing him as a teenager playing "Now the Time" was an eye opener for me. I heard four notes from him which made my skin crawl and said to myself "this is the music I will dedicate my life to whether I sing it, teach it or just go out and support it". Bird was my saviour.
DATES:
Sat 7 April
Masterclass
The Sage, Gateshead International Jazz Festival
http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/jazz-song-master-class/
Sun 8 April
Sheila Jordan with the Pete Churchill Trio and resident string quartet
The Sage, Gateshead International Jazz Festival
http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/gijf-18-sheila-jordan-plus-support/
Mon 9 April (12.30-4.30pm)
Workshop accompanied by Pete Churchill
Pizza Express, Soho
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/sheila-jordan-vocal-jazz-workshop#scr-booking
Wed & Thur 11 & 12 April
Sheila Jordan with the Pete Churchill Trio and Tori String Quartet
Pizza Express, Soho
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/sheila-jordan
NB For the workshops please note the singing places are taken but there are places for observers at £30.00 each. Contact Chris Legee on 020 7703 9648 for bookings.
Sat 7 April
Masterclass
The Sage, Gateshead International Jazz Festival
http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/jazz-song-master-class/
Sun 8 April
Sheila Jordan with the Pete Churchill Trio and resident string quartet
The Sage, Gateshead International Jazz Festival
http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/gijf-18-sheila-jordan-plus-support/
Mon 9 April (12.30-4.30pm)
Workshop accompanied by Pete Churchill
Pizza Express, Soho
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/sheila-jordan-vocal-jazz-workshop#scr-booking
Wed & Thur 11 & 12 April
Sheila Jordan with the Pete Churchill Trio and Tori String Quartet
Pizza Express, Soho
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/sheila-jordan
NB For the workshops please note the singing places are taken but there are places for observers at £30.00 each. Contact Chris Legee on 020 7703 9648 for bookings.
