For greater than 30 years, Marqueal Jordan has carved out a particular place within the modern jazz panorama, seamlessly mixing his roles as saxophonist, vocalist, and bandleader. The Los Angeles native, who was raised in Kansas Metropolis and has referred to as Chicago house for 3 many years, has constructed a powerful catalog that features three solo albums and a number of Billboard High 20 easy jazz singles.
Jordan’s musical journey started with childhood publicity to John Coltrane by means of his father’s document assortment, finally main him to choose up the tenor saxophone in seventh grade. His path from aspiring musician to established artist included an 11-year touring stint with easy jazz luminary Brian Culbertson, performances alongside legends like Larry Graham and Larry Dunn from Earth, Wind & Fireplace, and collaborations which have taken him from intimate Chicago venues to worldwide levels in Japan.
Now getting ready for a efficiency at Chicago’s All That Jazz Dinner Sequence at Mesler at The Sophy Resort, Jordan displays on his inventive evolution and his expertise in Chicago. His story reveals the dedication required to maintain an genuine music profession whereas navigating the complexities of style expectations and business adjustments.
What was it about John Coltrane that drew you in?
I imply, in all probability trying again on it now, I simply needed to be as cool as my dad. That was music my father listened to, so I needed to be like pops.
However actually, it needed to be his sound. Now that I give it some thought he gave the impression of no person else. And that emotion that simply hits you proper right here, and it’s exhausting to essentially put it into phrases. You’re feeling it greater than I can clarify it. However that sound was simply, there was nothing prefer it. And it actually was emotional.
It simply tapped into all of these sorts of issues. That was what I aspired to need to do. I didn’t know the way I used to be going to get there. I didn’t know what it was going to take, nevertheless it was simply that spirit that moved by means of him that touches all people that basically listens to John Coltrane. Whether or not you pay attention passively or actually actively, there’s one thing about that sound.
Chicago has been your property for 30 years. How has the town influenced your evolution as an artist?
Chicago helped me develop up as a person. One factor I’ll say about Chicago is it’s gonna provide you with some exhausting knocks, nevertheless it provides it to you in a loving method. I believe the Chicago method actually is to nurture you. Beat you up a little bit bit, however we’re actually gonna nurture you. We’re gonna love you thru all of these items. And I believe that’s why the emotion and the music and why what we do right here is completely different from in all places else. I believe if I’d went to Los Angeles proper out of faculty, which was actually what my dream was, it could have been a unique expertise for me.
You’re generally known as a triple menace: saxophone artist, vocalist and band chief. Which got here first and the way did the others develop?
Saxophone got here first. I at all times sang, however I by no means actually took it significantly as a result of I believed as a teenager I spotted that I had good pitch in highschool, and I spotted I had a great ear perhaps a few years earlier than highschool. I may sing alongside to the R&B songs of the day, once I was in junior excessive in LA, simply impress the little ladies and stuff. So however I by no means took it significantly, as a result of I used to be considering, oh, I don’t sound like Stevie Marvel for actual, for actual. I can mimic that. However I didn’t actually assume that I had a mode, or I simply didn’t take it significantly.
However transferring to Chicago was the factor that basically kicked me within the ass to do it, as a result of Scott and I needed to start out a band. And the entire thing was we didn’t need to rent one other individual to be a lead singer, and I actually didn’t need to must take care of one other ego within the band. And he was like, you sing higher out of the 2 of us.
Then you definitely received to do it. I used to be like, I simply need to play saxophone. I need to try this. However I needed to recover from my concern of getting in entrance of individuals and singing, and simply the reps that I received in, I spotted I really had a present for it.
The singing got here second, band chief factor got here final, as a result of I don’t assume you’ll be able to actually lead till you gotta be a great sideman. You gotta be a great a part of a band. You gotta know what your half is within the scenario and play that function, after which you’ll be able to see the place you’ll be able to slot in or the place you’ll be able to say, okay, we have to organize the music this manner, or let’s do that tune, however let’s try this.
It took some years to get to a degree the place I felt snug main a band, and actually I realized by being within the band I preserve referencing — the identify of that band was Fats Time. So we performed from ’95 to the early 2000s and so I used to be the entrance man. So actually being the entrance man, I used to be chief in coaching. Scott was actually the chief.
He wrote many of the music. He organized all the pieces. He made all of the calls. He received all of the gigs. He did all that type of stuff. So I realized that a part of the sport by watching him and his method to what he was doing.
After which I used to be studying the best way to be a entrance man and actually entrance a band, and be a band chief on stage, and that stuff grew to become actual pure to me after some time. I simply needed to recover from the concern of standing in entrance of a mic and singing in entrance of individuals. Then all of this, all of the influences would come out.
I’m within the jazz, clearly. However once I’m in entrance of a mic, then I’m into James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Michael Jackson. Not that I can sing precisely like these guys. However the issues that that they had as leaders I watched, and the way in which that they work on stage, and the way they might get down. That’s all part of what I current on stage.
You’ve carried out with some legendary acts and traveled the world performing. What have been a few of your most memorable efficiency moments?
I toured a very long time with a easy jazz artist by the identify of Brian Culbertson, and that scenario is what received me out right here as an artist. I toured with him for 11 years, however the second yr I used to be within the band, I believe my best touring expertise, we spent per week in Japan. So we have been in Tokyo and Osaka on the Billboard Dwell in each of these cities, and Culbertson is clearly big right here, however in Japan the one method that they might guide him he needed to carry some heavyweights with him.
I used to be on the market with Larry Graham and Larry Dunn from Earth, Wind & Fireplace, keyboard participant from Earth, Wind & Fireplace. And in addition a gentleman who was additionally in Brian’s band, however he spent a very long time with Earth, Wind & Fireplace. He’s not with us sadly, his identify is Sheldon Reynolds. So it was Brian Culbertson and the Funk All Stars.
And that was my first time in Japan, really my solely time in Japan. It was superb! That was 2009, in order that one stands proud simply to be on stage with Larry Graham and he would go up, there was a few balconies, so he would go as much as the second balcony and it’s in a U form.
There’s a desk that’s proper right here, however the wall is perhaps about that top. You step off the opposite method, you’re falling down. He would soar on that desk, dealing with in the wrong way enjoying bass and singing, fearless. He was 65, I believe, on the time, and it was simply wow, I’m on stage with someone who modified music. In order that fingers down was my finest expertise, nonetheless is to at the present time.
You’ve had albums that landed on the Billboard charts. What does that type of recognition imply to you?
It means all the pieces, particularly being within the style with Brian Culbertson, and also you get to satisfy all people. So I’ve met Kirk Whalum. I’ve met Eric Marienthal. I’ve met Gerald Albright and folks. So I’m on stage and on the charts with people who find themselves my heroes, folks I appeared as much as. In order that in and of itself is only a blessing.
From the enterprise facet of it, it’s fairly necessary that you’ve some music on the charts and get some radio play. So folks worldwide actually can see who you’re, know who you’re, and that makes it so I can play a present in Columbia, South Carolina, or Los Angeles, again house. So it was actually necessary.
It implies that persons are testing the music, they usually really take pleasure in it not simply the followers, however the radio promoters and the radio stations dig it. So it simply lets me know that, okay, I’m on the fitting path. I’m on the fitting path.
What does acting at an occasion just like the All That Jazz Dinner Sequence at Mesler imply for you?
In the beginning and I believe it’s one thing that I can’t gloss over, I’ve actually loved over the past, I’d say 15 years of performing in loads of areas the place I carry out to individuals who appear like me, and there’s nothing prefer it. The power is completely different. We come from music, we all know the music, I respect all of the audiences don’t get me incorrect, however there’s one thing about enjoying for us that’s fulfilling in a method spiritually, that it’s exhausting to place into phrases, and the Mesler is in one among my favourite neighborhoods in Chicago, proper? Smack dab in Hyde Park on the Strip, 53rd Road.
I’m fairly enthusiastic about it. And I’m doing a pared-down model of what I do. It’s gonna be myself and my longtime keyboardist.
We’re simply gonna go in, we play some Branford Marsalis, we’ll play some Marvin Gaye, we’re gonna be capable to faucet the gamut of the musical tradition and all people there’s going to have one thing that they’ll actually vibe out to, and it’s gonna be cool. Meals’s nice, the cocktails are nice, and the ambiance is fantastic. So I’m actually enthusiastic about doing it.
Marqueal Jordan will carry out on the All That Jazz Dinner Sequence at Mesler on June 26, 2025.