From NPR.org
One of the most popular and successful bandleaders of his day, saxophonist and singer Louis Jordan broke from the jazz mainstream to become a founding father of rhythm & blues.In the late '30s and early '40s, Jordan made a conscious decision to turn away from the big band sound, a dominant trend in popular music of the day. His smaller, tighter groups — the Tympany Four and Tympany Five — developed a loose, hard-driving sound that came to be known as "jump music." Jordan's musical departure fueled a successful string of novelty swing hits through the '40s and early '50s, and created a bridge to the pop music that arrived in the second half of the 20th century. Chuck Berry, James Brown and Ray Charles all cited Jordan's influence on their work.
From Fred Deller, NME Magazine
The last of the swingers, the first of the rockers, altoist Louis Jordan's influence stretches through BB King and David Bowie to the '80s jive jumpers. Fred Dellar affectionately examines Jordan's monumental career as the ace base.
