“I met Kidd directly through Chicago saxophonist Clifford Jordan,” Alvin Fielder explains. “I was working with him when he came down South and he played at Southern University (SUNO) with his quartet. Kidd was at a point where, I guess, he was searching for different things. He was even talking about just stopping playing because he didn’t have anybody to play with - though there were some musicians available like trumpeter Clyde Kerr and saxophonist Alvin Thomas and a few more. So Clifford told me to come down and meet, talk and play with Kidd. So I did one Sunday, and after that, I came down every Sunday. We’d just go over music and enjoy each other.”

Improvisational Arts Quintet (IAQ) started as a trio with Kidd Jordan (sax), Alvin Fielder (drums), and London Branch (bass). Later, Alvin Thomas (sax) and Clyde Kerr (trumpet) joined and formed the Improvisational Arts Quintet. Other members have included Kent Jordan (flute), Elton Heron (bass), Darrell Lavigne (piano). Kidd experimented with a modern sound in the 80’s and formed “Electrik Band”, which included former students, Darrell Lavigne, Elton Heron, Jonathan Bloom and Kent Jordan.