February 2103
Some news and upcoming events: http://eepurl.com/vL2Lf

January 2013
We have a great show coming up at the "new" Dizzy's located in PB/Mission Bay. This is the second-installment of my DOUBLE TRIO series - each show my trio plays the first set and then we feature a special-guest trio for the second set. On March 16th we'll be bringing in the Peter Sprague trio (Peter-guitar, fellow North Texan Gunnar Biggs-bass, and Duncan Moore-drums). This is also a rare all-ages show, so please come on down!

I lucked out and made another year-end list - Tragic Comedy was mentioned in the SD Reader's "Standout Jazz Releases From 2012". Follow the link to check out the complete list.

In Other News: Ben Wanicur's new record with myself on sax, Charlie Weller on drums, and Peter Sprague on guitar is in the final stages of mixing. The disc includes lots of unique originals and a few standards. Look for an album release party in the spring!

December 2012
It's been a great year for jazz in souther CA! Check out the San Diego Reader article on the top 20 jazz concerts of 2012...

I had the pleasure of going into the studio earlier this month to record for Ben Wanicur's new record. The band is myself on saxophone, Ben on bass, Peter Sprague on guitar, and Charles Weller on drumset. Really fun project - stay tuned in 2013 for the release party and more info on the album. Happy holidays to all and I look forward to seeing everyone out and about in 2013!

October 2012
We're starting up a new series tonight at 98 Bottles - The Twin Tenors. Each concert I'll be featuring a new guest saxophonist - tonight we have the outstanding Brian Clancy coming down from Los Angeles. Come on down and check it out! You don't get to see 5 piece bands all that often these days...

Check the calendar for more gigs in November - Nov 8th with Peter Sprague, and Nov 17 double-header with my trio and Danny Green's trio. I've been busy with small studio projects and also getting ready to go into the studio with Ben Wanicur's group featuring Peter Sprague on guitar and Charlie Weller on drums. Stay tuned!

August 2012
It's been a while since my last update, so I'm taking this opportunity to get up to date (and to back-fill the news section). On the 2nd I'm performing a not-to-miss solo concert in conjunction with The Jazz Loft Project exhibit at San Diego's Museum Of Photographic Arts.

The Eugene W. Smith Jazz Loft has been featured on NPR and now you can see the photographs here in San Diego. The concert is free with museum admission and I'll be discussing some of the musicians featured in the exhibit and playing some of the repertoire.
http://www.mopa.org/jazzloft

July 2012
The new record is doing quite well and I wanted to share this review with you (from San Diego's Troubadour):

[written by Paul Hormick]
Jazz is a curious art form. It shares with classical music an abidingness to its history and heritage. Players scrutinize the performers of the past, transcribing their solos and studying their arrangements. At the same time and more so than other popular music forms, there is a constant call in jazz for continual innovation and the incorporation of other music forms. With his recent CD, Tragic Comedy, saxophonist Ian Tordella exemplifies this dynamic of strong musical roots and drive for innovation.

Starting with the artwork on the CD cover, with a black and white photo of Tordella in dinner jacket, graphics lifted from Don Draper's art department, and the perspective font banner enticing the listener with the promise of "Stereophonic Sound," Tordella signals that his music is firmly grounded in the tradition and sensibilities of the great boppers of 50 years ago, while incorporating influences and stylizations of the intervening decades.

Anyone who was a vinyl hound in the seventies will recognize the ECM influence, both in the open approach Tordella and the other musicians take to the compositions and the overall sound of the recording, which has a drop-the-needle-on-the-record warmth that makes you wish you still had that Marantz 2216B receiver you had in college... [read complete review]

June 2012
We'll be back at 98 Bottles in Little Italy on June 28th. This time we'll be in a quartet format (saxophone/guitar/bass/drums), and I'll be running my "electric" setup - saxophone processed through guitar effects pedals - which really expands the sonic possibilities of the group. We'll have a few new tunes, plus some reworked Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard material, as well as some tunes from the new record. Hope to see you there!

May 2012
At the end of the month through beginning of June I'll be joining Spanish pop-icon Paloma San Basilio for a short tour of the Caribbean. We are supporting her new album Amolap, and I'll be performing on tenor saxophone, soprano, and flute. It's a great band of mostly Los Angeles musicians and I'm really looking forward to playing with these guys!

April 2012
Join us on Friday the 13th for a show at 98 Bottles in Little Italy. We'll be featuring local guitar legend Peter Sprague along with a rhythm section of Joey Carano on guitar, Ben Wanicur on bass, and Richard Sellers on drums.

March 1 2012
The new cd Tragic Comedy is out and available here on the website and also through the major on-line retailers! Looking forward to sharing the music with you.

February 12 2012
The IndieGoGo campaign was a huge success and thanks to you we reached the goal and the CD is fully funded!

Come check out the release party on February 25th at The Glashaus. Danny Weller and Jeff Miles (bass / guitar) will be in from Bklyn to play with us!

If you did not pre-order and you'd like a copy, Tragic Comedy will be available on the web starting March 1st (or at the CD release show). Cheers!

January 23 2012
We had a great time playing this weekend at one of the newest venues in town - 98 Bottles. The place was standing-room-only, and the incredible crowd really made the night! It was also an honor to finally get to play with one of my favorite musicians in town - guitarist Peter Sprague. Needless to say, my tunes are not Peter's usual fare, and it was really mind-blowing to hear him in a new context. Between Peter and Joey Carano I definitely kept on my toes the whole night! Check out the review from the Reader below:

January 20 2012
Excited to be playing at 98 Bottles tomorrow (January 21st) with guitarists Peter Sprague and Joey Carano, bassist Ben Wanicur, and drummer Richard Sellers. We're also featuring an art opening with Michelle Robinson and Michael Klayman! Come on down and say hello.

December 18 2011
My quintet will be playing music from the upcoming CD (as well as some choice rearranged cover tunes) at 98 Bottles on Saturday January 21st. This is a stellar new jazz venue in Little Italy that has a dedicated listening room in the back!

Also, if you are out and about, check out Matthew Taylor's quartet (I'll be on saxophones) at Leroy's in Coronado on December 29th.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all and thank you everybody who has contributed to TRAGIC COMEDY on IndieGoGo!

December 10 2011
Had a great time playing trio tunes at the new Late Night Jam Session last night with Ben Wanicur on bass and Fernando Gomez on drums. Thanks everyone who came out! The spot has a really hip art gallery/warehouse/loft vibe. Almost felt like we were on the East Coast (but maybe that's because there was no heat). See pics here.

Also big thanks to everyone who has funded the new album so far! 'Tragic Comedy' is up on the crowd-funding site IndieGoGo; we're raising money to get the CD paid for and out there into the universe. Check out the IndieGoGo campaign and order your pre-release copy now. We can't do it without your help :-)

December 1 2011
Check out the IndieGoGo campaign for the new CD!


IndieGoGo is a crowd-funding platform similar to Kickstarter, which has become more and more popular as the record labels decline. By contributing to the CD, you can help us get the record out on the street! Contribute now to receive a pre-sale copy of the album and other bonuses.

October 2011
Had a great time at The Echo Lab near Denton, TX mixing the CD with master engineer Justin Collins. We put the whole thing through a Sony mixing console to 1/4" tape. Now time to send it off to mastering. The CD will be titled 'Tragic Comedy', but for now it's going under codename: Guitar-mageddon for the double-guitar action...

September 2011
Just finished two days of sessions with guitarists Joey Carano and Jeff Miles, bassist Danny Weller, and drummer Richard Sellers. Our engineer Chris Hobson hipped us to this great little studio on The Boulevard called Audio Design. Gear nerds look here: audiodesignrecording.com

We've got some great tunes 'in-the-can' and I'm really excited about the new record. With two electric guitars, post-jazz and a few 'covers' is the name of the game for this new quintet! More info soon on the new CD.

Summer 2011
Been working on tunes for the upcoming CD recording this fall. I'll also be playing around a bit with alt/surf/jazz duo The Mattson Two. Check out http://mattson2.com/ for more info and drop in to a show to see some electrified sax.

December 2010
I'm hosting a podcast each Thursday featuring local jazz/singer-songwriters/bluegrass/folk music. The artists will be presenting the music in intimate duo, trio, or solo configurations. Please check out the show and subscribe at the link below!

- Dirty Thursdays - The Dirty Boulevard Recording Co. Podcast

November 2010
Sorry for the hiatus! Been working hard on some songs for the new record and working with some creative musicians at the new Dirty Boulevard Recording Co. If you'd like to check out some great duo jazz, please come down to the Woodfin Hotel every Thursday from 5:30 - 8:30. Featuring myself and guitarist Joey Carano!

September 12 2010
SDMAs are tonight; Magnolia is up for 'best jazz album'. Wish us luck!

In other news: The Jazz88 Ocean Beach Jazz Festival was a great success - got to see some of Southern California's finest perform, and got to play in a great band with Bobby Shew, Christopher Hollyday, Scott Kyle, Tim Nunnink and everybody else.

August 29 2010
My latest venture, Dirty Boulevard Recording Co., is now open for business! We are a home recording studio with a boutique analog console and gear. Did a test-run yesterday with P.O.E. (Purity Of Essence) - Edward Kornhauser on Rhodes, Mack Leighton on bass, and Issac Crow on drums!

August 12 2010
Come check out the quartet's only San Diego show of the summer! We're at Dizzy's next Sunday, August 22nd... Featuring a smokin' new rhythm section - Gary Fukushima piano, Hamilton Price bass, and Brian McLaughlin drums. More info on the homepage or at www.dizzysjazz.com

July 2010
Magnolia has been nominated for the 2010 San Diego Music Awards 'Best Jazz Album'! Here is the link.

June 6, 2010
Thanks to all who came to the CD release show for "Magnolia"! Next big concert is with trumpeter John Reynolds' group in Escondido. Stay tuned for more dates throughout the summer; my group will be back at Dizzy's in a couple months, and I'll also will be joining up with pianist Joshua White for a few things playing alto.

If you haven't picked up the CD yet, you can order it through this website or through iTunes! Thank you for supporting local jazz.

May 27, 2010
CD Release Show this Saturday night at Dizzy's in downtown SD! I hope to see you there and please tell your friends! We'll be playing some new material as well. The concert will feature Jeff Miles guitar; Jeff Denson bass; and Brian McLaughlin drums.

May 24, 2010
Woodfin duo gig next week with Jeff Miles guitar is cancelled. In other news - just got my alto back from Beason Woodwinds and it plays great! Alto Madness is coming... I will try to post some sax pictures soon.

May 16, 2010
Come join me tomorrow at the Woodfin Hotel with pianist Anthony Smith! 4:30 to 7:30, see homepage for details.

Funk fans: The Earful is on hiatus for the time being but there should be some shows in the not-so-distant future with Quartet Bombastique.

May 12, 2010
I'd like to thank all the DJs on San Diego jazz station Jazz 88 for spinning "Magnolia"! Although it still feels a bit funny hearing myself in the car...

May 10, 2010
Press kit updated with new review from Jazz-Quad Magazine in Belarus.

May 7, 2010
CD RELEASE PARTY: Saturday May 29th at Dizzy's! Please come out and join us for a great evening of jazz:

May 4, 2010
We'll be starting a string of duo gigs at the Woodfin Hotel's Oasis Bar and Grill in Mira Mesa. The first one will be on May 10th featuring guitarist Joey Carano. Come out and enjoy the interplay! More info on the calendar. Future Mondays will feature other San Diego jazz musicians, including Jeff Miles guitar and Kamau Kenyatta piano/sax.

April 19, 2010
The video of the quartet playing "The Red Dot" is being featured today on All About Jazz! AAJ is the internet's biggest jazz website.

April 13, 2010
Here are some of the latest reviews of the CD:

Hot House
http://www.jazzhothouse.com
3-30-2010
In case you were wondering, there is good jazz to be heard in San Diego (as if that town needed anything else going for it). Ian Tordella, a DC transplant and former student of Charles McPherson, brings us proof with his debut album, Magnolia. Tordella's chops are apparent throughout the album, but what separates this album from most other debuts is his restraint. Rather than simply showing us everything he can do with his horn, Tordella creates some wonderful melodies and solos which employ thematic variation and make enough use of negative space to keep things interesting.

The opening track, Magnolia, gets the album started on the right foot. Tordella plays a bouncy melody over a nice groove of simmering straight eighth notes. Underneath Tordella's ensuing solo, the rhythm section slowly works up to a nice boil, pushing Tordella into full gear without overheating . . . [read complete review at http://www.jazzhothouse.com]

JazzFlits
http://www.jazzflits.nl/
4-6-2010
[Translated from Dutch]
If tenor saxophonist Ian Tordella were signed to a major label, he would probably have a whole marketing machine behind him and be launched as one of the great new talents. For now he must make do with local San Diego label Circumvention, and a bio sheet for his new CD 'Magnolia'. That does not change the fact that Tordella is a talent with a distinctive voice. He has the light, upper-register saxophone tone that Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, and Joe Lovano had as his ancestors. In his quintet we meet bassist Jeff Denson and pianist Florian Weber, who are part of the Lee Konitz New Quartet. Guitarist Jeff Miles, winner of the 2008 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition, and drummer Brian McLaughlin complete the group. Seven original compositions (one by Denson, the rest by the leader) exude a lovely sort of post-bop, and are certainly adventurous enough to be above average. Tordella's forte, however, is more as a stylist and a soloist than as a composer. With its strong groove, Denson's 'Shadow Dancing' is the most convincing tune of the set.
-Herman te Loo

April 11, 2010
Press kit and one-sheet are now available on the contact page!

March 14, 2010
San Diego Jazz in Italy:
Magnolia is being played today on Bruno Pollacci's show AnimaJazz in Italy. You'll be able to listen to a stream of it here. Very interesting show with some cutting edge artists (although he does have some 80s Miles for the show's theme music, so fair warning).

Rain Check:
The Bernardo Winery concert will be happening this Sunday (March 21st) in much finer weather! Come join us for some jazz on the patio. We play from 2-5pm. Thanks for supporting local jazz!

March 8, 2010
The wet San Diego jazz scene--
Unfortunately, El Nino had the best of us and the Bernardo Winery show was cancelled due to rain. We are going to reschedule for a Sunday later in March.

Press images are now downloadable from the 'Contact' page.

March 2, 2010
In February, Magnolia was the Listen of the Week on "Pushing The Envelope: Music Decidedly Left of Center" 91.7 FM WHUS in Connecticut. Also, the video for D's Melody was featured as a video of the day on the internet's biggest jazz site, All About Jazz. You can view it here. This tune has a wonderful solo by Jeff Miles guitar. Great to see some San Diego jazz promoted on this site!

Please come out and see the quartet this weekend at Bernardo Winery from 2-5pm! See the Calendar on the Home Page for details.

We'll be cleaning up some kinks on the website in the coming weeks and have all content fully functional soon!

Feb 12, 2010
The new CD, Magnolia, is finally available! With Jeff Miles guitar; Jeff Denson bass; Florian Weber piano; and Brian McLaughlin drums. You can purchase the disc at Circumvention Music, and MP3s will be available by the end of the month at all the major websites.

Feb 1, 2010
The new CD is on its way featuring guitarist Jeff Miles, German pianist Florian Weber, bassist Jeff Denson, and drummer Brian McLaughlin. In February I'll be doing a short recording with Quartet Bombastique and also playing my first solo concert on Sunday the 14th! Please come out and have a listen. The venue is Kava Gallery on Kettner Blvd. I'm sharing the bill with three other solo artists from the San Diego jazz and avant-garde scene.

Other San Diego Jazz Gigs: This month I'll be playing with The Earful and with bassist Harley Magsino in Quartet Bombastique. Check the calendar for more info and stay tuned for more local jazz and CD Release Party news!

Jan 29, 2010
La Jolla Shores became a jazz park this afternoon as bassist Chris Mees and I put on an impromptu concert. There were lots of interested tourists and picture takers. The San Diego jazz scene is anywhere you take it!