Mark Stryker Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 (edited) Seeing reliable social media posts from Renee Rosnes, Nate Chinen and Ethan Iverson that Lorraine Gordon has passed away at age 95. An amazing life. Edited June 9, 2018 by Mark Stryker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 The Cool Struttin' legs belonged to Ruth Lion, not Lorraine. RIP. An amazing life. And thanks for all the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted O'Reilly Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 Here's the NYTimes item: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/arts/music/lorraine-gordon-dies.html?action=click&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&contentCollection=Music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 RIP. A very interesting life. Thanks for the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 I was lucky enough to spend a long afternoon in a hotel bar with her circa 1981. She was charming. I told her Alfred Lion was an "idol" of mine - she said "me too". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 I never met her, but remember seeing her running the business at the VV a number of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 The reason she and Lion got divorced was because she wanted kids and he didn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 R.I.P .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted June 20, 2018 Report Share Posted June 20, 2018 Here's a great remembrance of Lorraine Gordon by Ethan Iverson. Lorraine Gordon 1922-2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Weiss Posted June 20, 2018 Report Share Posted June 20, 2018 As others have said aptly, Lorraine was a force of nature – just the kind of fortitude needed to successfully run the most famous jazz club in the world and to maintain its integrity throughout the years. Lorraine's love of jazz preceded her introduction to Max Gordon so this story is no accident. She had "big ears" and really listened. Lorraine's spirit will now hover around the club together with all the musical icons who performed there. And believe me when I tell you, when you're on that stage you feel their presence. On a personal note I'll always be grateful to Lorraine for booking me into the Vanguard as a leader beginning in 2006: Despite having played annually as a sideman at the Vanguard for 20 years by that point, trying to negotiate a gig as a leader seemed like a lost cause. Yet one night, when playing there with Joe WIlder, she called me over in her typically stern voice. "I want to talk to you!" I thought she was going to ream me out about something, but to my surprise she asked me to bring in a band of my own. So after the shock wore off, now I'm thinking I can either bring in a band and play what I'm known for and what I think she'll like - OR - I can bring in a band and do what I really want to do, which is my own composition-heavy music with tinges of "fusion". I figure I may never get another chance – I'd rather go down swinging and not have any regrets, so I opt for the latter. Opening night, immediately after the first set, again - "Come here! I want to talk to you!" Oh shit, I'm going to be read the riot act now. I'm expecting the worst. Lorraine says, "That was fantastic! The way you played da-da-da-da and the percussionist (Daniel Sadownick) picked up on it, and how it went from one thing to another... that was great." I couldn't believe it. This is more typical: A few years later, I'm standing at the bar, minding my own business, when Lorraine walks by and steps solidly on my foot. She immediately barks at me, "What's your foot doing there!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted June 20, 2018 Report Share Posted June 20, 2018 Great stories Michael. Thanks for sharing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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