Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi
Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 7:30 PM at The Bull Run
World-renowned guitarist Stanley Jordan has developed a new live show called "Stanley Plays Jimi." This is a tribute show, but it's not pure imitation. Stanley builds on Jimi's legacy in a creative way, "This is my fantasy Jimi Hendrixconcert if Jimi were still playing today. By re-imagining his music and channeling his persona I try to bring that fantasy to life."
It may be surprising that Stanley Jordan would take on a project like this. After all, Stanley is already a well-known guitarist with a signature style, four Grammy nominations, a cameo in a Blake Edwards film (Blind Date) and a host of TV appearances over a long career including Jimmy Fallon,David Letterman, Jay Leno and Johnny Carson. But Stanley says, "I feel a strong connection to Jimi because he was the first guitarist I emulated as a child. Out of love for Jimi and his music I feel a strong desire to try to keep his legacy alive."
Is it surprising that a rock legend like Hendrix would get so much love from a jazz legend like Jordan? Stanley says "I actually played rock and blues before I played jazz. In fact, Jimi's constant searching for new sounds inspired me to move toward jazz in the first place." Stanley's 1985 album "Magic Touch" was #1 on Billboard's jazz chart for 51 weeks, and Stanley has shared the stage or recorded with jazz artists such as Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Billy Cobham. But in recent years Stanley has performed with many artists in the rock and jam band worlds, including the Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey's McGee, Moe. and many others. "Returning to my rock roots has been an absolute joy artistically, and with this project I'm taking that to a new level."
Stanley steps onto the stage as the embodiment of Jimi Hendrix, so there is a theatrical element to the show. But this is not a comedic caricature nor is it a theatrical play - it's a concert built upon a sincere and heartfelt effort to recreate the jaw-dropping experience of witnessing Jimi Hendrix live while at the same time bringing his legacy up to date in a believable way. Wow! Tall order to fill, no? That's why you need a world-class artist of Stanley Jordan's caliber to pull it off.
"Stanley Plays Jimi" is a new project based on an old idea. "Back in 1971 at the age of eleven I was saddened to hear of Jimi's passing. I decided to try to continue his legacy, so I took up guitar. Of course my desire was to be an original artist in my own right, but the concept of a Hendrix tribute has been in my mind pretty much from the start. Now, in the year of the 50th anniversary of Jimi's historic Woodstock performance the time feels right to bring this idea to fruition."