Steve Jordan (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Jordan is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music producer from New York City. He is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and has been a session musician for a wide range of artists. He released an instructional program for drummers called The Groove is Here.

Jordan was a teenager when first joined Stevie Wonder's band. Later, he played drums for the Saturday Night Live band during the 1970s. When John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd toured as The Blues Brothers in the early 1980s, Jordan was their drummer; however, he did not appear in the movie of the same name. He was also the first drummer (before Anton Fig) in the Paul Shaffer-led "World's Most Dangerous Band", the live studio band for the Late Night with David Letterman show on NBC^[1].

[edit] X-Pensive Winos

Jordan, along with fellow Shaffer alumnus Anton Fig, appeared on the Rolling Stones' 1986 release Dirty Work when Charlie Watts' participation was stilled due to his substance abuse problems in the mid-80's. In the wake of this work, Keith Richards hired Jordan to play on Aretha Franklin's cover of Jumpin' Jack Flash for a film of the same name.

According to Richards, Jordan pleaded on the plane ride home from Aretha's recording session in Detroit to be included in the upcoming documentary by Taylor Hackford Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, a tribute to Chuck Berry. Richards had been hoping to include Charlie Watts in the project, but when this proved unfeasible, Jordan was hired and he appeared in many scenes with Berry and Richards^[2].

The success of this project led to Jordan's appearances with "Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos", a band that toured and recorded with Richards in 1988 and 1992 for Talk is Cheap and Main Offender, respectively. In fact, Jordan co-produced each record and is credited with songwriting along with Richards. One of these collaborations made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 via the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels album version in 1989: "Almost Hear You Sigh" peaked at number 50 (U.S.) and 31 (U.K.) in December of that year.

Back stage at the March 12, 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, Richards said Jordan and other band members where calling him up to reunite for a new album and tour. "The guys are calling me up," Richards said, "I have a feeling something might be bubbling. "^[3].

[edit] John Mayer Trio

Jordan is a member of the John Mayer Trio, a power-rock blues group that consists of bassist Pino Palladino and guitarist-singer John Mayer. The group was formed in 2005 by Mayer as a deviation from his pop-acoustic career. The trio, for which Jordan plays the drums, released the record Try! on November 22, 2005. The eleven-track live album includes cover songs, such as Jimi Hendrix's "Wait Until Tomorrow" and "I Got A Woman" by Ray Charles, two songs from Mayer's release Heavier Things, as well as new songs written by Mayer.

In addition, Jordan, Mayer, and Palladino wrote three songs on the album: "Good Love Is On The Way," "Vultures," and "Try." Jordan and Mayer also produced the album under the Columbia Records label.

Jordan would later collaborate with Mayer and Charlie Hunter by writing "In Repair," the eleventh track from Mayer's 2006 album Continuum.

[edit] Producing career

He has recorded with such artists as Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, BB King, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, and many more. He is featured on James Taylor's 1998 DVD-- James Taylor Live At The Beacon Theatre. He has evolved into a Grammy Award winning producer with Robert Cray's album Take Your Shoes Off and the nominated Bring 'Em In by Buddy Guy. While he has played on countless records, from Alicia Keys "If I Ain't Got You" to Bruce Springsteen's Devils and Dust, he continues to produce with such works as the Grammy Award winning John Mayer album Continuum, John Scofield's That's What I Say, Possibilities by Herbie Hancock, 23rd St. Lullaby - Patti Scialfa.

In 2006, Steve Jordan joined Eric Clapton's hand-picked touring band for Clapton's "European Tour 2006", which included seven sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall. He will continue in Clapton's band as they tour North America in 2007.

In 2008, Jordan produced and played percussion on one track for Los Lonely Boys' third album, "Forgiven", at East Side Stages in Austin, Texas. The album is set for a July release.

[edit] The Verbs

Steve Jordan formed a band with his wife, Meegan Voss, and they have toured and recorded under the band name The Verbs. The music has been described as "The perfect cocktail of girl group, Brit-pop, Country, Ska and Funk."^[4] Their album is called And now...The Verbs and they toured Japan in 2006.

[edit] Notes

3 - Is called Steve "Getdwa" Jordan in the Blues Brothers albuem "Made in America"

[edit] External links

• Steve Jordan's Biography at Drummer's World (a public catalogue of professional international drummers).