Great Entertainers Series #2 Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song
Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz vocalist in the world for more than half a century-- and her flawless musicianship and eternally youthful voice helped define the sound of jazz and the popular standards of The Great American Songbook. Although Ella always sounded young and optimistic, her life was anything but easy.
BIOs
JORDAN KLAPMAN
Jordan Klapman is a versatile pianist, accompanist, bandleader, music director, composer, and 20th century popular music educator. He has taught popular music courses for the Continuing Education departments of Ryerson’s LIFE Institute, The Miles Nadal and Prosserman JCCs, The Schwartz Reisman Centre, LLIR at Glendon College, York University, George Brown University, The Baycrest Learning Academy, Classi Lectures, The University of Toronto, and The Royal Conservatory of Music.
A professional pianist since 1977, Jordan has performed most genres of 20th century popular music, including traditional Dixieland jazz with The Hot Five Jazzmakers and Patrick Tevlin’s Happy Pals, Jazz Age classics and original compositions for The Wintergarten Orchestra.
Jordan plays and sings the great jazz and pop standards of The Great American Songbook, Broadway, and performed Jewish and klezmer music extensively with his own band. He also composes music and songs in authentic retro styles.
Jordan scores and accompanies classic silent films for The University of Toronto’s Media Commons, The Toronto International Film Festival, Silent Sundays at The Revue Theatre, The Toronto Silent Film Festival, The
Toronto Jewish Film Festival, and The Vintage Film Festival. He also produces Mardi Gras and jazz concerts at St. Andrew’s Church, in downtown Toronto.
