Getting Out! by the Standard-Examiner – GO! is a weekly publication serving the Top of Utah.

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."