Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz
Comments: 10
So I was looking around shops today and couldn’t help going into the second-hand CD store where I found a copy of a Ken Nordine best-of compilation put out by Rhino in 1990. Had to have it, and did, too, for the princely sum of ¥380.
If you’re American and have ever watched TV or listened to the radio, Nordine’s voice is probably familar. He’s done hundreds of commercial voice-overs for a list of clients as long as your arm. Since 1957 he’s also been making what he calls Word Jazz, which is basically him riffing stories and weird anecdotes over a quasi-bebop background. Some absolutely hilarious stuff, very dry. There’s a track floating around on the ‘net with him, Tom Waits and Jerry Garcia called “The Movie” which you ought to track down. Any guy who can crack up Tom Waits in the middle of a skit is worth listening to.
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Posted to Audio • 2002.11.11 (Mon) • 23:32
Comments
Posted by resonance 2002.11.12, 05:32
Actually, National Public Radio (at least its Chicago station, WBEZ, now famous for This American Life) used to have a Ken Nordine Word Jazz 1-2 long show evening every week. I listened to it pseudo-religiously throughout college.
Posted by Adam 2002.11.13, 11:15
Thanks Jeremy for the reminder about Ken Nordine! It can be funky, it can be moody, it can be downright eerie. great stuff. Reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe.
Yep, ol’ Ken was a favorite on WORT in Madison too.
Posted by roger 2003.01.23, 09:11
we played Ken on KXCI, as well, 1/2 show on reel to reel. I’m gonna bring him back on the air, I thinks
I am old enough to remember Ken Nordine when he first came out with his word jazz concept…..they actually played it on commercial AM radio (FM in cars was still way off in the future). I thought he was pretty cool then, and haven’t changed my opinion. Nobody plays his stuff around here (San Francisco Bay Area), not even PBS. Guess I will have to go and spring for the records. Frank
Posted by WJ webmaster 2003.03.14, 11:31
Hey, just found your blog while doing a google search on Ken. If you haven’t checked out his site, we now have a weekly show feature in addition to about 20 archives. http://www.wordjazz.com
Posted by Karen Durham 2003.03.27, 02:50
Image Jazz: An Evening with Ken Nordine
Wednesday, April 2, at 8 p.m. At the Gene Siskel Film Center 164 N. State St. Chicago, IL
Chicago’s own Ken Nordine has evolved his famed Word Jazz into Image Jazz, a series of computer-generated experimental films. This program presents Nordine in dialogue with his audience, screening the shorts he prefers to call “imaginary movies.”
Tickets: $8/general public; $4/Film Center members. (Note: no free passes or blue tickets will be valid for this program.)
Information: 312-846-2800 or http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org.
Posted by TMed 2004.08.19, 09:40
Currently co-producing a major doc on Nordine. Looking for unique photo/video/film of Ken. Did anyone do a home video of the ‘93 Nordine/Dead concert? I’ll be checking the blog.
amedici@ix.netcom.com
Posted by Donna Pearce 2004.10.21, 04:59
I remember watching late nite TV in Chicago, Ken Nordine reading Edgar Allen Poe. Awesome. I mentioned his name to someone here (I live in Australia now) and was trying to explain his beautiful rich resonant voice. He said, look him up on the net and I did. Wow, am I pleased.
Posted by simmo 2006.08.15, 23:28
does anyone know whether they are still producing the cd - i’m having all sorts of trouble tracking “word jazz” down
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