Got a tip? Send it our way
Share your music news — big or small — with the Austin360.com team by sending us an e-mail.
Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2008 > August > 10 > Entry
Live review: Steve Jordan tribute
Steve “Esteban” Jordan and his three sons (two named Steve) were scheduled to play only 20 minutes at the tribute concert in the accordion wizard’s honor Sunday at the H&H Ballroom. After all, the 69-year-old Jordan had been undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer and has been in frail health in recent months.
It was supposed to be a day of proclaimations, like the one from State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, signed by Gov. Rick Perry, that acknowleged Jordan’s incredible contributions to Texas music. It was Latinopalooza, with such greats as Little Joe Hernandez, Ernie Garibay, Rudy T Gonzales, Dimas Garza, Max Baca and the Texmaniacs and many more showing that Spanish music in Texas is not just Tejano and conjunto, but Chicano soul and blues and doowop and a touch of country. Nobody expected Jordan’s Rio Jordan to make more than a token appearance.
But “El Parche” played 45 minutes and would’ve gone on longer if the house lights hadn’t gone up almost two hours after the advertised 8 p.m. ending time. With the remaining crowd of about 200 (attendance peaked at about 450) pushed all the way in front of the stage, cheering every jazzy accordion tangent and the four-part harmony of “El Jardinero,” Jordan was unmistakably re-energized. He seemed to get stronger as the set wore on, even joining in on a spirited percussion jam on “Volver Volver.”
But the real kick came early in the set when Little Joe Hernandez came out to duet with Jordan, who’d been complaining about monitor problems for the first two songs. Putting the testy Jordan at ease with his comical asides, Little Joe harmonized on “El Gaucho,” then kissed the man of honor and left the stage. But Jordan got him bounding back up by spontaneously launching into “Las Nubes,” one of Hernandez’ biggest hits.
Jordan has played better; none of his solos were of the head-slapping type. His voice lost its pierce, except on a couple of yelps. But the set was without the padding one usually finds at a Jordan show. No “Spinning Wheel,” in other words. No “My Toot- Toot.” Jordan was feeding off pride- his own and that of the beaming audience that couldn’t possibly have wished to be anywhere else.
Comments
Click here to report comment abuse.
By Chubby
August 11, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
What about the triplets During the Chicano Soul revue? Fantastic!
By Ruby Gonzales
August 11, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
The Steve Jordan Tribute was a blast!! I was amazed by the music. Sadly, the true music of our Tejano culture has died in Port Lavaca, Texas. Also, the people at the tribute accepted everyone. P.L. people would poo-pooey this type of music. White people wouldn’t dream of attending a tribute to anyone period. My mouth was opened so wide when I saw all cultures enjoying the music as one.
I remember Steve Jordan playing in Port Lavaca at the Continental Ballroom. Since I was young at the time, I didn’t much care for accordian music then. But when I heard Steve for the first time, I was hooked to the accordian genre.
For those who didn’t attend the tribute—-You missed a once in a lifetime event. Thanks for Estevan Jordan, his music, who opened avenues for the young people to keep it alive.
Only in Austin was the true spirit of music heard, seen, danced, and appreciated. I will definately return just for the soul of music.
Ruby Gonzales Ingleside, Texas