Jordu | Malt House FiDi | 2A | Blue and Gold | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune on the 2nd Volume of Week 68 of Pint&Pen&Paper is Jordu by Clifford Brown and Max Roach. The jazz tune with no lyrics was originally written by Irving “Duke” Jordan in 1953 but would be made famous by Brown & Roach in 1954.
Clifford Brown started playing the trumpet when he was 15 years old in 1945, regularly playing in Philadelphia while growing up in Wilmington, Delaware. After 1 year of college at Maryland State University, Brown would get into a very serious car accident in 1950. He couldn’t play music for a year, but when he returned he toured a bit in Europe before teaming up with drummer Max Roach. The two formed a jazz group with saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Richie Powell, and bassist George Morrow in mid-1954; this tune Jordu was one of their first songs. They recorded this record at Capitol Studios in New York City in 1955. Tragically, Clifford Brown and Richie Powell (along with his wife) passed away in another car accident after a recording session in Chicago in 1956. Clifford Brown was just 25 years old and is considered one of the biggest what-ifs in jazz history.
Max Roach was born in Newland, North Carolina, in 1924. He and his family moved to Brooklyn around the Great Depression. Roach started playing the drums in gospel bands where his mother was the singer at age 10. By 18 years old, Roach was talented enough to fill in on the drums for Duke Ellington’s Orchestra at the Paramount Theater in New York. Before teaming up with Clifford Brown, Roach would play the drums with the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker. After a successful career as a performer throughout the 50s and 60s, Max Roach taught drumming at UMass from 1972 to the mid-1990s. Roach passed away in ‘07 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in ‘08.
Before today, I didn’t know anything about this jazz record or artists, just heard this tune on an old jukebox at one of these bars in New York City. After learning a bit about their stories, tomorrow’s movie pick for Critiquing the Critics isa breeze.
On to the pints…
#GuinnessChallengeSeason
@Kids don’t try this at home. Not just because you’re underage and will have plenty of pints to drink if that ends up being your thing when you’re older but also because Guinness is actually best served in a pint glass from a tap. A pint of Guinness varies depending on the drinking establishment. If the keg it sits in is rarely poured, it can lead to some underwhelming taste. Rather than stealing gimmicks, I’d like to start taking Notes while drinking Guinness. My grandfather from Connemara, whom I never got the chance to meet, Thomas Davis, used to drink pints and by all accounts was a self-taught thinker. The one rule I’ve imposed on myself is that I will only have 1 pint per sitting from each establishment I review, so @AnyoneWorrying, don’t worry about my drinking habits. The Guinness Challenge is to “cut the G” on your first sip (more like a gulp and a half). If this is your first time hearing about it, I didn’t come up with the fun challenge @YouTheReader can try the next time you have a Guinness. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extraordinarily nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan ever to give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Song On In The Background: Knock You Down by Keri Hilson ft. Kayne West & Ne-Yo
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Not a Guinness, it is a Malt House Irish Stout substitute. It’s in a jar, with a solid foam head to it. The taste is missing the Guinness thiccness and aftertaste but a very solid substitute. It’s on the lighter end of the stouts as there are some bubbles. I made sure to pay for the pint and put my credit card directly in my wallet after the transaction. The booths are a nice color maroon and they have a cool upstairs that overlooks down on the main first level. The bartender is busy as it’s Happy Hour after work.
Established in ‘12, the Malt House has 3 levels and over 7,000 square feet of bar space. It’s an excellent option for parties and groups. They have a top-notch burger along with an upscale American bar menu. Their Boozy Brunch goes from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekday specials of Happy Hour run from 3 to 6 PM. The Malt House in the Financial District has an extensive list of cocktails, wines, and craft beers. I was thrilled to have my credit card back in my wallet and I look forward to grabbing another pint at the Malt House again!
Song On In The Background: Shiny New Model by BODEGA
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Dive bar located on 2nd Ave. Pissing rain outside the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. The dark bar is located on the corner with an old-school feel to it. I’m eliminated from fantasy football in League 10965, but my Albany League team is still going strong. Also doing well in my family league. The patrons next to me are talking about Corey Feldman and his beef with Charlie Sheen. Sad story. Child actors, man.
Located in East Village, 2A is an old-school on-the-corner haunt with some nice couch seating. During the spring and summer time, they open up their windows and you can enjoy a drink in some fresh air. I don’t think we need to dive too much into Corey Feldman and his beef with Charlie Sheen today. 2A serves free popcorn and has a nice 2-for-1 Happy Hour every day until 8 PM. I look forward to grabbing another drink at 2A again!
Blue and Gold Tavern (@Blue&GoldBar) 11/21 ‘23
Service & Staff: A+
Guinness: 4.0 (Standard Can)
Guinness Challenge: N/A (No Logo)
Song On In The Background: Jordu by Clifford Brown & Max Roach’s Quintet
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Pool table. The booths have chess boards on them. The massive jukebox playing music right behind me, the brand seems to be Sapphire. Old school. The patron next to me has an interview for a customer service position for an app that is an event planner. Sounds cool and they have insurance. The bartender had Medicaid during COVID and said it was good. Bit of insurance talk and foreign currency behind the bar. Beer and shot specials type of joint.
Blue & Gold Tavern is located a couple blocks from Tompkins Square Park in East Village. Much like 2A, Blue and Gold Tavern is a classic old-school NYC dive bar with a jukebox. It’s a Wednesday and I don’t feel like doing much research on health insurance because it’s all too complicated and important, but I trust the bartender’s opinion. Hope the patron got the job! They offer cheap drinks and their pool table had plenty of company. I look forward to grabbing another drink at Blue and Gold Tavern again soon!