January 2021
I thought that I’d kick off 2021 with one of my favorite ‘small-town heroes’ (but watch out… he won’t be “lesser known” for long).
I first met E’Lon Jordan a few years back when he was traveling through town with the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra. The band was staying with a buddy of mine, Peter Knudsen (great guitarist from Ghost Note’s band, with whom I play quite often locally).
Long story short; Peter called me up and mentioned that the guys were in town and E’Lon was hoping to catch a lesson with me. I didn’t know him but I knew of Jonathan and was more than happy to meet everybody and hang for a bit (I’ve been a fan of Jonathan for years). I drove over there, hung for a minute and then E’Lon and I came back to my house for a ‘lesson’.
It took a solid 2-minutes before I began singing my own variation of that old song in my head… my version going, “Anything I can do, he can do better… he can do anything better than me.. no he can’t… yes he can!”. lol
I loved every minute… for two reasons.
One, I always enjoy sitting down with someone who can teach me anything new and/or have a real & meaningful dialogue about approach, perception, etc…
Two, I especially love hanging with someone who is as genuinely humble, kind and generous as E’Lon is (along with Jonathan and drummer, Maison Guidry. That is one trio of inspiring dudes). To be so, so so good and also be a truly kind, gentle, thoughtful and unassuming soul is something that makes an impression on me.
E’Lon isn’t just someone I want to emulate as a player but someone I want to emulate as a person and that is a gospel worth spreading.
Watch Jonathan Scales Fourchestra play "Focus Poem", "We Came Through The Storm" and "Fake Buddha's Inner Child" at the Tiny Desk
E'Lon JD - You Can't Contain Us
Video was shot and edited entirely on his iPhone
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra - "The Trap"
Another Minute of listening pleasure.
"Focus Poem" from the album PILLAR