Honi Gordon was among the one-album wonders of jazz; the obscure, bop-oriented singer recorded only one LP as a solo artist (1962's little-known Honi Gordon Sings). But her lack of exposure was not due to a lack of talent. Gordon, was the daughter of vocalist/composer George Gordon.
Gordon first sang professionally in the early '50s, when she became a member of a jazz vocal group called the Gordons. That outfit was a family affair, consisting of Honi Gordon as well as her father and two brothers. Though the group didn't sell a lot of records, it attracted the attention of Charles Mingus and did some recording with the famous bassist/pianist/bandleader.
Pianist Mary Lou Williams was also an admirer of the group, as was bandleader/vibist Lionel Hampton. Nonetheless, the Gordons were unable to sustain a long career, and they broke up. By the early '60s, Honi Gordon was pursuing a solo career. She recorded her first solo album, Honi Gordon Sings, for Prestige in 1962, employing such noteworthy jazzmen as acoustic bassist George Duvivier, drummer Ed Shaughnessy, and the eclectic pianist Jaki Byard. The album was quite promising; Gordon showed herself to be a strong interpreter of lyrics on material that ranged from Mingus' "Strollin'" and the standard "Ill Wind" to her father's "My Kokomo." But, unfortunately, Gordon's first solo album was also her last, she never recorded again as a solo artist. In 1991, Fantasy reissued Honi Gordon Sings on CD for the limited editions line of its Original Jazz Classics (OJC) series.
Gordon again recorded with Mary Lou Williams in 1967. In 1972 and 1973 she appeared on recordings led by Mingus. These were released principally as the albums Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert and Mingus Moves. Early in 1972 she also sang on Mary Lou's Mass, which was led by Williams. Gordon reprised some of the material from this session in a 2007 memorial Mass for Williams.
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