Stanley Jordan: Live in Montreal

No doubt about it: Stanley Jordan is a genuine phenomenon. Even now, some 20 years after his debut, no other guitarist (at least none of note) utilizes Jordan's double-handed fretboard-playing technique. Jordan also has unusual taste: he'll play a hoary standard like “Autumn Leaves” or “Willow Weep for Me,” along with John Coltrane's “Cousin Mary,” but he also mixes in versions of “Eleanor Rigby,” “What's Going On,” and even “Stairway to Heaven,” along with a few originals. He can swing, too: joined by bassist Charnett Moffet and drummer Tommy Campbell, he rips through some of this material with the confidence of a seasoned jazz man (Jordan was 30 at the time of this 1990 show). But here's the problem: because he doesn't pick the strings, or bend them very much, Jordan's attack isn't very strong, and his tone is thin. As a result, a little goes a pretty long way, and in this case, an hour is plenty. The guy's got amazing chops, but after a while, he's more interesting to look at than actually listen to. Optional. Aud: P. (S. Graham)