Remembering Edward “Kidd” Jordan: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of a Legendary Jazz Saxophonist and Teacher

Edward “Kidd” Jordan, a famous jazz saxophonist and music teacher, sadly passed away in his sleep on Friday morning at his home in New Orleans. He was 87 years old. During his long career of fifty years, Kidd played all over the city but also performed with many world-famous artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder.

Jordan was born in Crowley in 1935 and moved to New Orleans when he turned 20. In 1975, he formed a group called “The Improvisation Arts Quintet”, through which they released a variety of unique music which could be seen as visual art as well.

Jordan also worked at Southern University of New Orleans where he taught music and eventually became the head of their Jazz Studies Program.

Mr. Jordan worked at SUNO for 34 years and he taught his students to find their own true creativity in their music. He wanted his students’ music to be original, which is something that he also did himself. Sylvain said that by doing this, Mr. Jordan has left an impressive legacy for his students.

Jordan worked as a teacher at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s School of Music for 25 years. He was also responsible for running the Louis Armstrong Satchmo Jazz Camp. Jordan retired in 2006 but has left a lasting impact on young people through music instruction.

Jackie Harris from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation said, “Kidd spent his life training young people. His passing marks the end of an important era of music teaching in New Orleans.”

Harris said that the musician Jordan’s courage gave other musicians strength to pursue music without fear of control. Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Donald Harrison Jr., Tony Dagradi, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and “Big” Sam Williams were all students of Jordan who became musical heroes themselves.

Jordan had seven children, namely Edward Jr., Kent, Christie, Paul, Stephanie, Rachel and Marlon. Out of them four became professional musicians – Kent on the flute, Stephanie as a singer, Rachel playing the classical violin and Marlon playing the trumpet.

In 1985, Jordan was given an important award called Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture for creating special pieces of art or literature. In 2008, he also got a Lifetime Achievement Honoree award at the Vision Festival XIII in New York, and he was named “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalist Association in 2013.

He is survived by his beloved wife Edvidge Chatters Jordan and their children.

Plans for a funeral are still being worked out.