I was privileged to have met Robbie Jordan at a 2009 private holiday jam a few months ago. My husband played bass with him, what a thrill! He is the real deal.

I was surprised about your comment at the end of your article that referred to his training. The following quote is from his website:
Saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist and composer/arranger Robbie Jordan's story begins in Boise, Idaho. He studied classical clarinet with James Hopper at Boise State University and later joined him in the clarinet section of the Boise Philharmonic. Robbie also studied jazz theory with Gary Peacock.

Regards,
Daughter of another woodwinds' artist

I met Robbie about 5 years ago, He and Zane Rudolph were playing a casual at the Horseshoe in Everett; they asked me to sit in on trumpet. I declined that time and a couple of times more, as I did not have my horn with me. I did see Robbie bring his class of eager jazz juniors to the Everett Library for a performance. The kids were wonderful, and it was easy to see the great work that he did for them. They were enthusiastic, brimming with confidence and advanced jazz ideas. They played out, just as he always did. Last year, at the invitation of a mutual friend, I did sit in three times with Robbie and his fine musicians at the Prohibition Grille in Everett and the Royal Thai in Monroe. It was a bit loud for me, but again, his students performed well. He just prepared them motivated them to play out; it was a beautiful thing to see. I learned of Robbie's passing from one of my band members, Brian Kent; it saddened all of us. We knew of his problems and were pulling for him to make it. I am sorry that he could not. Blessings to the loved ones of this fine musician; he is finally at peace.

Thank you for this story. I am a 53 year old student and friend of Robbie's. This is a terrible loss for so many of us in the community. Robbie loved all of his students of all ages, and his enthusiasm for making music is so infectuous that it was impossible to walk away from his presence without wanting to go practice or play somewhere.

He was incredibly generous as well. One of my last times playing with him was at a Christmas performance at a nursing home for brain-injury victims. Of course they loved him. We all do. I miss his guidance and friendship and will for a long, long time.

Our son Jamie studied with Robbie for almost 8 years - from grade school in Marysville through high school in Stanwood - and played with several of the student groups that Robbie worked with over those years. He gave a lot to those kids and helped them develop a love of jazz and a confidence to try new things. It was a joy to hear Robbie play as well. I will never forget how he played "When the Saints Go Marching In" at the end of my mother's funeral (in a Lutheran church no less). On the 3rd verse he took it up into the stratosphere. With all his problems, we will remember him as one of the saints and will think of him now jamming with some of the jazz greats who have also passed on.

MJ, I meant no disrespect to Robbie's education and perhaps "schooled" was the wrong word. My point was simply, his playing came from the heart.

Everett Youth Jazz are Robbie's proteges', He has several students from this group who are pursuing an education in music. From Berklee College of Music in Boston to our local Central WA Univ.
One of the trumpet players from EYJ has performed with the Natl Collegiate Wind Ensemble. The first time she was a high school junior. The second time a high school senior, the next year an invitation w/o audition to participate, but the funds weren't there. Coming up this May 2010 she scraped together the funds to go again as a college student. Each time an audition tape had to be sent to be selected and then audition for chair position with a member of the NY Symphony. It was Robbie's influence that brings his students to a comfort level to see how high they can go with their music. Be it their sound or being brave enough to just put it all out there and go for it.
Robbie's contagious enthusiasm for the love of playing music was his signature.
I hope his children and the mother of his children who shared him with the world, will find peace and comfort.

My heart is sad to hear of the passing of Robbie...he and I performed together in the Seattle Central Community College production of West Side Story back in 1994. Great musician and an even better human being...the world is less with his passing.

When Jr. Cadillac was asked by the White House to perform for then President Bill Clinton at the Paramount Theater for one of his three "Saxophone Club" fund raisers
in 1996, it was quickly decided to invite ROBBIE to join us, along with Steve Berlin, of Los Lobos who graciously accepted, to play baritone sax along with Les Clinkingbeard and me in the section.
Robbie gave a stunning performance that night, and I will never forget the look on his face when President Clinton shook his hand, and spoke with Robbie, while pictures were taken. It was a memory of a lifetime for all of us, and I know, for Robbie.
We all miss him, and his contribution to our industry and his immense talent will not
be forgotten. That night is how I choose to remember him........

Jeffrey Beals, Baritone Sax,
Jr. Cadillac

Robbie and I go back about 7 years. I know this because he came to my daughter's wedding as a guest of our keyboard player in December, 2002. We played together for the first time then and then again for perhaps a dozen gigs since, the last of which was, I believe, last December.
The most compelling comment have to say about Robbie is that even though the quality of his musicianship far exceeded mine, particularly in the area of jazz, he ALWAYS treated me as an equal. I will always remember, appreciate and love him for that. Thanks Robbie. We all missed you at the gig last night!

Rick Scriven, guitar
Rick Allen Blues Band

I met Robbie Jordan last April at the annual Paul deLay Memorial Concert fundraiser. He was a hoot to hang around with. We always laughed and joked and everyone enjoyed the idiomatic logic that went on in his head! He had a passion for life and a wit to match. Robbie was a fabulous horn player and I always looked forward to him bringing his axe to Portland Oregon to play with Lloyd Jones Band. He would show up at other peoples jams and gigs when he was in town as well and play his heart out for the fun of it. I and many other Portlander's will really miss him. What a sad day today is for me to hear the tragic news that I heard in passing last weekend, confirmed. My deepest sympathy goes out to his friends and family.

My son Justin and I studied with Robbie beginning about 6 or 7 years ago. He definitely had that inspirational knack for teaching music that a coupla' my childhood music teachers could've used! While Justin eventually dropped clarinet to take up the guitar, he still wanted to see Robbie at a gig (which, thankfully, we were able to do), and I credit Robbie for the initial spark that still inspires him to practice. We wanted to see him this past New Years' Eve as we had the year before, but he played a 21+ club in Vancouver...
It is hard to believe and sad that he's gone. We'll miss him.
My condolences to his family and his many good friends.

I am stunned at the news of Robbie's passing. Some of my best memories of playing music involve Robbie, (with a couple other horn players) a B-3 and a strong rhythm section. I would close my eyes and stop playing my guitar to just listen to the fat sound of Robbie's arrangements. It was magic. Rest in peace my friend.

1981 I met Robbie and we hit it off like oil and water. Little did I know we would become best friends. We were both strong-headed musicians with each of us testing each other. I had just left the Buddy Rich Band and was full of...well Buddy Rich ego. In the 80's we played together often. Freddy Pink, Paramount Orchestra, Mark Lindsay, Johnny Rusk, Reps, and many more recording dates, crazy parties etc...I invited robbie, Kathy #1 and then baby Katie to our West Seattle apartment on Beach Drive for a barbeque around 1982. My then spouse Jan and I quickly became great friends with "the Jordans". We have WAY too many stories of our "escapades". I still speak of Robbie in the present tense because it is a hard one for me to swallow. I spoke with him the day before and I knew what obstacles he had ahead of him. He told me he learned about being a parent from his dog Moe. I remember Katie riding him like a Shetland pony. I will miss our late night phone calls and comedy. I was Chips he was Clip O'Neill. We lost two 12' boats and a motor on Hood Canal one crazy weekend getting crab and oysters. We put hotdogs in each others pockets at gigs. Put condoms on Johnny Rusk's mic before he came on stage. Wore rabbit skinned coats...that weren't ours and ruined them. I could write a book. The last time I saw him was New Year's Eve of 2009/2010, 4 months ago. He was coming back from Portland with a friend and I drove us to Denny's for breakfast. We listened to music and videos and then they left. He was a great personality with eyes that "danced". His enthusiasm and ability to charm was unparralled, men and women alike. I just called his cell phone out of curiosity and heard his voice...how tragic. I remember him saying to me that we will outlive everyone. I wish I could have granted him that wish for now my friend is gone, but the world is a bit more quiet and a tiny bit less joy in it for me. Be Blessed Robbie and put hotdogs in the pockets of the musicians in that great band in the sky.
Sincerely, Steve Swanson
(PS to Jeff Grothe...those were my arrangements!...bonehead)

Does anyone know where he is buried? Want to pay my repects privately. Thx. Ded

I Knew Him Personally. Took Lessons.There To Be A Friend. Miss Him Dearly..

I am shocked and saddened. I was a student many years ago and while we didn't keep constant contact, I still considered him a friend. I have rarely met such a kind person and today my sun shines a little less brightly.