Irene S.

Radio Sverige played a couple of Ralph's tracks from "Eloise" on air yesterday , a Bach Gavotte,and a traditional Swedish air "Nigpolska". They are available to listen to online, and I've posted details on the Music and Videos thread if anyone wants to hear them.

Hmm. Looks as if that doesn't work! Try this instead.. Http://www.sverigesradio.se/ and then click on P2 Muzik to the left;from there click on Program A-O in the banner and scroll down to Kalejdoskop, which should bring up Dead Man Walking...and click on Lyssna. Hopefully that may get you there!

Just a quick note to say that two tracks from Ralph Jordan's CD "Eloise" , a Bach Gavotte and a Swedish folk tune, Nigpolskà, were played on Sverige Radio last night. They are still available to listen to on www.sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt?programme=2195 The tracks are the first two broadcast.

Since it always gets mis-spelled, can I leap in and point out that Nigel's surname was actually Chippindale without benefit of more than the one 'e' at the end? ;-)

I have been trying to get my avatar back but so far without success since my two records were combined. A search on the site leads to instructions which don't seem to tie up with the reality of the site as it is now. Before I had both an avatar and a pic on my profile. Now there doesn't seem to be a facility for adding the avatar ....or have I missed it?

Sadly Felix ,although there may be one or two private videos and recordings of Ralphie playing, I don't think you'll find much out there which which will demonstrate the art of the solo player.He much preferred the art of accompanying and playing with others. You can find examples of that aspect of his work on the CD by Patterson Jordan Dipper called "Flat Earth",which,much though he hated the fact is available as an mp3 downloadable from sources such as Amazon,iTunes etc.The CD itself is no longer available although second hand copies sometimes pop up. You can find him on there,as on Eloise, demonstrating his prowess as guitarist,bouzouki, harmonium and Hammond organ player as well.

Yep,thanks to Paul for merging the two records.

Thanks ceemonster. I was intending to do that as well but other things got in the way. Will get round to that later. Why is this telling me that I'm a new member??? I changed my password the other day,but that was all! Upset... My DLT avatar has disappeared... Off to sulk!

Ralph's partner Sheena has found a number of his Eloise CDs while sorting things out,and has suggested that if anyone is interested in obtaining a copy they should contact her direct. Her email address can be found earlier in this thread.The CD was extremely well received when released,and is a musical journey through his life. He placed a thread about it on here when he released the recording.

Ralphie received a goodly turnout, a standing room only funeral service at the West Herts Crematorium outside Watford. The Quaker service promoted tears, laughter and thoughtful contemplation centred around his life, with short witness statements being provided by his many friends from both his work, social and musical life. The session at the pub afterwards was one he would have approved of, and it seemed strange that we were having a session in his "one minute " pub without him being there, but nevertheless the very appropriate place to be, as it was definitely what he regarded as "his" pub. Folks from his various walks of life were all to be found. Had any device managed to knock out the crematorium or the pub, a large proportion of the musical folk glitterati in the UK would have been lost at one fell swoop! He's going to leave a very large hole in the musical future, and will be much missed. RIP to a very good friend x

Ralph's funeral will be held on Monday 27th January. You may have seen an earlier post giving full details of venues and times. Please note that this was unfortunate, and was not authorised by the family. Although all are welcome, these are very small venues, and it was specifically requested that you contact Ralphie's partner Sheena Roberts direct for full details, as numbers need to be known for organisational purposes. Please do not just "turn up" without letting Sheena know that you intend to do so. Apologies from me, and from her, that we had neglected to provide details on this forum. If you need to contact her, please either message her on Facebook, or alternatively email her at clerksheena@hotmail.co.uk. Many thanks. Irene Shettle

:-) Good examle to take Geoff. I was thinking that this was the time to get the tina out and try making a stab at something .... and this one was going to be the one when I heard what the choice was at the end of December . Just listening to Ralphie's recording of it now , and remembering him sitting on the sofa and playing it to me when illustrating what a Maccann concertina could do. I may leave it for a bit longer, but I still intend to have a try !

I think he posted in the last couple of days on the (now) Obituary thread for Ralphie Jordan ?

For those able to access BBC radio player streaming Genevieve Tudor gave a tribute to Ralphie - three recordings from Eloise may be found there ... first track played, and two further ones later on (One hour and eight minutes in) ... it is available for four more days only http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7lt/episodes/player

Defra, yes indeed. You name it he played it (almost). This is very evident on his solo CD "Eloise", a copy of which has been sent to Mike (previously agreed with Ralphie last year. Hopefully he may get to play some of it in a later show.

Some of you have asked if you can hear some of his music. Sadly the Onmvoice links that he originally put up are no longer available . There are some copies of his Eloise CD - well worth listening to, and critically well received, but sadly now the only solo CD that he will make (he had been pondering on items to put on his "difficult second CD" for some time - still available. If anyone is interested in obtaining a copy, please message me and I will put you in contact with Ralphie's partner, Sheena who will be able to help you out on that. In the meantime you can hear some examples of his work with others on the Attic Tapes website that he set up ... particularly listen out for his concertina jazz break with the band Groupa playing Klappvals ... around half way through. He said that he thought he got away with it .... and some!! Examples there of his mastery of other instruments as well . https://sites.google.com/site/theattictapes/collaborations

I'm sad to have to report that Ralphie, who was my close friend, and my musical partner for oh too short a time, passed away this morning peacefully at 3.50 am in hospital with his partner Sheena, and his sister by his bed. He had had a fall which his GP suspected had resulted in a fractured pelvis. This proved not to be the case, but while in hospital he was found to be suffering from dangerously low sodium levels ... and this was the reason for his decline in hospital, and it appears many of the other medical problems which he had had over the last couple of years. Once there is more news regarding funeral etc, I will pass them on. RIP Ralphie ... so sad at this moment.

And herewith a recording of him accompanying me during a rehearsal of "She's Like the Swallow" - and I'll stress that it is exactly that - a rehearsal and not a polished performance . There are a couple of fluffs from him, and I forget some words ... but it is a great example of his art as an accompanist. I had started singing the song to him, and he picked the tina up and started providing an accompaniment, sensitive throughout to the verse content. At the end I turned to him and said "You've heard it before then?" ... answer was "Nope". We played it once more through, and then recorded it for reference . There is a video of it on Youtube in performance a few weeks later ... where I forget my words in a duff manner!! I've been hoping for some time that we could go back to it, and polish it off properly ... keeping my fingers crossed, but rather pessimistically, and hoping he will prove me wrong. https://soundcloud.com/surreysinger/shes-like-the-swallow-irene

Edited: I have removed the video after discussing it with Sheena, Ralphie's partner. There are very few videos of Ralphie in action around, but on reflection, this was not Ralphie at his best . We will be trying to get together a collection of photos and recordings of him which reflect him as what he was - a superb player, accompanist and intuitive musician. Will keep you posted.

Rod - no . He did post stuff on Onmvoice, but that disappeared with the handover to another owner. Over the last seven years he has become one of my closest friends, and like Chris, i don't know what to say. Just hoping against hope that he might rally, but fearing the worst.

Although an absolutely superb accompanist (as I know from having had the privilege of working with him, and being accompanied by him for a few years) Ralph Jordan hasn't accompanied his own vocals in a solo capacity in many years. (If indeed he ever did in the early days - I'm not sure about that one). Although he has performed as a vocalist with Crows, and provided backing vocals for James Patterson in a small way with the group Patterson Jordan Dipper, he doesn't sing these days. (His album "Eloise" - no vocals, is still obtainable though. If anyone is interested, please drop me a message here). He has,however, appeared on a number of other people's CDs as accompanist, either on Maccann duet, bouzouki, guitar or cittern . To the best of my limited knowledge Michael Hebbert doesn't sing either (I stand to be corrected on that one) , although there is, of course, a recording of him playing solo and accompanying Andrew Frank's singing available through Free Reed Records.

Iris plays it in G major, and has played it with John Dipper in Martyn's band in the past. Part of me wonders (but I have never had the chance to ask her yet) if she gleaned it from John who played it with Ralphie Jordan (I believe) while they were playing together as two thirds of the band Patterson Jordan Dipper. For further examples - herewith harp and cello (Steph West and Danny Chapman - with nary a concertina in sight in his hands on this occasion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhl_gx_Mf8A - first half of the video only A version on solo nyckelharpa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fw2eTvYUcE And as many notations in ABC as you might care to shake a stick at ... http://thesession.org/tunes/1016

He did, indeed, on Eloise, along with at least one other Swedish tune, Yrsno. And Ptarmigan (Dick Glasgow) has previously recorded a version played on concertina and mandolin. Link below. Josefin's Waltz Chris Re that Chris ... if you check the label out quite a few Swedish tunes (not surprisingly) crop up on Ralphie's CD - in fact about half a dozen including Langsammazurkan by Benny Andersson, Augustins Tema by Lars Hollmer, Vipschottis by Jan Ekedahl, Over Heiane, ,Josefins Dopvals and Yrsno (by Mats Eden) ... makes about one third of the CD Swedish in content. :-)

He did, indeed, on Eloise, along with at least one other Swedish tune, Yrsno. And Ptarmigan (Dick Glasgow) has previously recorded a version played on concertina and mandolin. Link below. Josefin's Waltz Chris Re that Chris ... quite a few Swedish tunes (not surprisingly) crop up on Ralphie's CD - in fact about half a dozen including Langsammazurkan by Benny Andersson, Augustins Tema by Lars Hollmer, Vipschottis by Jan Ekedahl, Over Heiane, ,Josefins Dopvals and Yrsno (by Mats Eden) ... makes about one third of the CD Swedish in content. :-)