The CJB

Eden singer/songwriter Codi Jordan is having a musical homecoming. Jordan and his band (Mike Lee from Huntsville, and Ogden musicians Cameron Goldsberry and Johnny Knoder) are taking the stage for the Music in the Mountains series.

The series, which is a fundraiser for the Wolf Creek Utah resort to host retreats for deploying Hill Air Force Base airmen and their families, marks the band's big return to Eden.

Jordan has played the series once before.

"The very first form of the Codi Jordan Band, called Codi Jordan and the Midnight Riders, opened there for a nine-piece jazz band, I think it was," Jordan said. "I was a waiter at the restaurant up at Wolf Creek. And the owner then, who's passed away now, knew I was trying to get going and let us open up. I was very excited -- made my own fliers. We had hit the big time, you know.

"But seriously, that was one of my first professional gigs, that led to what we are now. Now I am getting the call three years later, to headline."

New fans

Jordan was born in Logan, but his family moved to Eden when he was 2. He and the band have traveled far beyond the Ogden Valley in recent years, trying to build a following as so many bands do now -- one show at a time.

"We have broadened our horizon and expanded our touring radius, touring on our second album for two years now, and gone quite a ways with it," said Jordan. "Phoenix to San Diego and up to Seattle and through Montana and down through Denver."

The band has built some strong pockets of fans throughout the towns of the Intermountain West, as well as Southern California.

"Everywhere we have gone, we have met new fans and been able to connect to some really amazing people. It has been fun to watch it grow."

Who's who

Bassist Goldsberry has been with Jordan since the band's beginnings, some five years ago.

"He is an amazing left-handed bass player," said Jordan of Goldsberry. "He is irreplaceable. He has bought into our music and helped me build the business."

He said that lead guitarist Mike Lee fills in the gaps with style, and makes the band sound bigger.

"He and Johnny Knoder have been with the band coming up on three years now," Jordan said. "And Johnny plays every instrument I can think of. He is one of those guys who can do it all. He has been really good with the band, learned all of the music on both the bass and drums."

Jordan said he knows he is lucky to have not only talented musicians playing for him, but a good group of guys as well.

"I do hear horror stories and how bands can't get along. We are all stuffed in an Econoline Ford van. Plus, we tour the West, which is huge. Everything is a six-hour drive, at least. Sure, we have our moments, but everyone is on the same page about what we want to do -- gain more fans, tour farther and see how far we can take it."

Live shows and solos

For the past six weeks or so, the band has been home. Jordan has used the stretch to record some solo material.

"I have some new songs I've written over the last couple of years that I am recording with Derek Keith (of Ogden's DK Studios) right now. It's a side project, more like my first album, 'Vacation.' Very simple. But I think the songs are good and I want to share them."

He said that the demands on the band that come with touring have been such that he has not had much time to write with them.

"But I wanted to finish these songs at least," said Jordan. "It's like being a painter with 15 unfinished paintings in your studio. You want to get finished and move on to the next step."

The band has been playing at least one gig a week and will hit the highway once again before long.

"We've put together a pretty good live show over the last couple of years," said Jordan. "Mike also lives up in the valley, up in Huntsville. So we are excited to go back there and show everyone what we have put together since we first played there." - The Ogden Standard Examiner

"Positivity." Codi Jordan -- Eden's Jordan has been building an easygoing dub/reggae sound with his band for a number of years now, winning fans over with crowd-friendly appearances in Utah and beyond. This is Jordan's second album, one with more texture and instrumentation than his impressive 2008 debut, "Vacation."

Recorded at Ogden's DK Studios with Derek Keith at the helm as producer (Keith is also part of the band), the CD features all-original music. Highlights include the flowing groove of "Misery" and the Latin-beat-tinged instrumental "Sin Nombre."

For those who love the fun side of reggae and dub, this one is a good fit. www.myspace.com/codijordan
- The Ogden Standard Examiner

The CJB
Positivity
Self-Released
Street: 11.23.10
The CJB = Sublime + The Secret + a piña colada
This is a great easy-listening album. It is exactly what it purports to be: a positive, uplifting, easy-to-listen-to collection of chilled-out songs. Even the saddest lyrical topics on the album are lightened up by the delivery via charming and harmless reggae-inspired riffs. The tone and content are cohesive, and the CD cover art communicates the intended message before you even pop the CD in. All in all, the only thing I could critique is also what I consider one of their biggest successes—a mission to become commercially viable. Predictable and typical for this genre, I will be excited to see how they cut out a more personalized niche as they continue on their musical journey. Kudos to the CJB—I will be looking forward to more music from these talented fellows in the future. –P. Buchanan - SLUG Magazine

In guitarist Codi Jordan's fantasies, he has two houses.

One is by the beach — preferably in Southern California — where bands such as Sublime and Slightly Stoopid rule with the summery reggae beats that influence Jordan's tunes. The other house would be in the mountains of Utah, where he grew up an avid snowboarder and powder hound.

Caught between a love of summer and winter, the 28-year-old frontman for the Codi Jordan Band incorporates the positive vibes and upbeat lifestyle of beach and mountain culture in his reggae rock outfit.

“It's all about the stoke,” Jordan said. “It's about the earth and being close to nature, whether you're riding in 24 inches of powder or riding a wave.”

Codi Jordan Band will perform at Saltwater Cowboy in Avon tonight and again Thursday at Paddy's in Eagle-Vail.

Positive music
From party anthems to peaceful acoustic island beats, the group has a glass-half-full mentality regarding its music and music career.

“Reggae music is just a positive music,” Jordan said. “It's a positive beat and a positive vibe. It's in tune with the earth. There's a brighter side to life you have to hold on to.”

Jordan had to try to hold on to those optimistic thoughts when a second knee injury derailed his dreams of being a pro snowboarder several years ago.

So he turned to the acoustic guitar he often played at parties and bars during his college career at the University of Utah.

“People knew that when I start playing, the beer starts flowing,” he said with a laugh.

He graduated with a degree in architecture, securing him his parents' blessing to follow his dreams of being a recording artist.

He was in the right place at the right time when he had the chance to play his songs for a producer, who agreed to work on Jordan's first record, “Vacation,” which was released in 2008.

Since then, Jordan and his band, comprising Mike Lee on lead guitar, Jonny Knoder on drums, Cameron Goldsberry on bass and Derek Keith on keys, have toured the intermountain west with an evolving sound filled with harmonic pop melodies, smooth hip-hop beats and traditional reggae.

New album
They released a new album Nov. 23, called “Positivity,” which Jordan said has them even more amped up about their Colorado tour.

The live show, Jordan said, is a time for both the band and the audience to let loose.

“I just want people to feel like they had a good time and want to come out again,” Jordan said. “Just come and have fun.

“But don't have too much fun. You want to get up and make turns in the morning.” - Vail Daily