The newly-created New Orleans chapter of the National Jazz Journalists’ Association will this week honor Edward “Kidd” Jordan as the city’s inaugural jazz hero.

Jordan was selected by members of the New Orleans JJA based on his career-spanning dedication to expanding the horizons of the music itself, and educating the next generation of musicians — both in fundamentals and in the essential risk-taking spirit of the art form. Although best known as an avant-garde jazz musician, Jordan played baritone saxophone on rhythm and blues hits in the 1960s, and has backed up such stars as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and R.E.M. when they’ve come to town. He’s been recognized as as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres  by the French Ministry of Culture, with a Lifetime Achievement Award from New York City’s Vision Festival, and has also made teaching a part of his practice, since he started his career as a musician in the late 1950s. He has run the Jazz and Heritage Foundation School of Music, the Jazz Studies program at Southern University of New Orleans, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp.

Everyone is invited to join the JJA and members of the city’s cultural community at a reception, following the presentation of Jordan’s award, on International Jazz Day, Tuesday April 30, at 5:30 pm at Café Istanbul, located inside the New Orleans Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Ave. This event is free and open to the public.