Sheila Jordan
Encyclopedia
Sheila Jordan is an American jazz
singer and songwriter
. Jordan has recorded as a session musician
with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career.
Although her mainstream success has been somewhat limited, Jordan's music has earned praise from many critics, particularly for her ability to improvise entire lyrics
; Scott Yanow
describes her as "[o]ne of the most consistently creative of all jazz singers."
before returning to her birthplace in Detroit in 1940 playing the piano
and singing semi-professionally in jazz clubs. She was influenced by Charlie Parker
and was part of a trio called Skeeter, Mitch and Jean (she was Jean) which composed lyrics to Parker's arrangement
s.
Sheila also claimed in her song "Sheila's Blues" that Charlie Parker wrote the song, "Chasing the Bird" for her, as she and her friends were known to chase him around the jazz clubs in the 1940s.
In 1951, she moved to New York and started studying harmony and music theory
taught by Lennie Tristano
and Charles Mingus
. From 1952 to 1962 she was married to Charlie Parker's pianist, Duke Jordan
.
, where she was performing with pianist Herbie Nichols
, and was working in different clubs and bars in New York.
In 1962, she was discovered by George Russell with whom she recorded the song, "You Are My Sunshine
" on his album The Outer View
(Riverside
). Later that year she recorded her Portrait of Sheila album (recorded on September 19 and October 12, 1962) which was sold to Blue Note
.
Over the next decade, Jordan withdrew from music to raise her daughter. She supported herself by working as a legal secretary
.
Later in the decade, she sang jazz-inflected liturgies in different churches such as Cornell and Princeton, NYC. Jordan played with Don Heckman (1967–68), Lee Konitz
(1972), Roswell Rudd
(1972–75) and began her long working relationship with Steve Kuhn
around this time.
" at the City College
and was teaching there in 1975. On July 12, 1975, she recorded "Confirmation". One year later she did the duet album simply called Sheila with Arild Andersen
(bass) for SteepleChase
in the end of 1976. In 1979, she founded a quartet with Kuhn, Harvie Swartz
and Bob Moses
. During the 1980s, she was working with Harvie Swartz as a duo and played on several records with him. Until 1987 she worked in an advertising agency
and recorded Lost and Found in 1989.
Sheila Jordan is also a songwriter and is able to work in both bebop
and free jazz
. In addition to the musicians previously mentioned, she has recorded with the George Gruntz
Concert Jazz Band (TCB, ECM
), Harvie S (MA Recordings), Cameron Brown, Carla Bley
(Escalator over the Hill
) and Steve Swallow
(Home). In addition to Blue Note, she has led recordings issued by Eastwind, Grapevine, SteepleChase, ECM
, Palo Alto
, Blackhawk and Muse
.
With Steve Kuhn
With Cameron Brown
With Jane Bunnett
With George Gruntz
With Bob Moses
With Roswell Rudd
With Steve Swallow
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Jordan has recorded as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career.
Although her mainstream success has been somewhat limited, Jordan's music has earned praise from many critics, particularly for her ability to improvise entire lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
; Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...
describes her as "[o]ne of the most consistently creative of all jazz singers."
Early career
Sheila Jordan grew up in Summerhill, PennsylvaniaSummerhill, Pennsylvania
Summerhill is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summerhill is located at ....
before returning to her birthplace in Detroit in 1940 playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and singing semi-professionally in jazz clubs. She was influenced by Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
and was part of a trio called Skeeter, Mitch and Jean (she was Jean) which composed lyrics to Parker's arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s.
Sheila also claimed in her song "Sheila's Blues" that Charlie Parker wrote the song, "Chasing the Bird" for her, as she and her friends were known to chase him around the jazz clubs in the 1940s.
In 1951, she moved to New York and started studying harmony and music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
taught by Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano
Leonard Joseph Tristano was a jazz pianist, composer and teacher of jazz improvisation. He performed in the cool jazz, bebop, post bop and avant-garde jazz genres. He remains a somewhat overlooked figure in jazz history, but his enormous originality and dazzling work as an improviser have long...
and Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
. From 1952 to 1962 she was married to Charlie Parker's pianist, Duke Jordan
Duke Jordan
Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regular member of Charlie Parker's so-called "classic quintet" , featuring Miles Davis...
.
1960s
In the early 1960s, she had gigs and sessions in the Page Three Club in Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, where she was performing with pianist Herbie Nichols
Herbie Nichols
Herbie Nichols , was an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote the jazz standard "Lady Sings the Blues". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by many musicians and critics.-Life:...
, and was working in different clubs and bars in New York.
In 1962, she was discovered by George Russell with whom she recorded the song, "You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
" on his album The Outer View
The Outer View
The Outer View is an album by George Russell originally released on Riverside in 1962. The album contains performances by Russell with Garnett Brown, Paul Plummer, Don Ellis, Steve Swallow and Joe Hunt and features the recording debut of vocalist Sheila Jordan on one track...
(Riverside
Riverside Records
Riverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade...
). Later that year she recorded her Portrait of Sheila album (recorded on September 19 and October 12, 1962) which was sold to Blue Note
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
.
Over the next decade, Jordan withdrew from music to raise her daughter. She supported herself by working as a legal secretary
Legal secretary
A legal secretary is a particular category of worker within the legal profession.In the practice of law in the United States, a legal secretary is person who works in the legal profession, typically assisting lawyers. Legal secretaries help by preparing and filing legal documents, such as appeals...
.
Later in the decade, she sang jazz-inflected liturgies in different churches such as Cornell and Princeton, NYC. Jordan played with Don Heckman (1967–68), Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
(1972), Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
(1972–75) and began her long working relationship with Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn is an American jazz pianist, composer and trio leader.-Biography:He began studying piano at the age of five and studied under Boston piano teacher Margaret Chaloff, mother of jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, who taught him the "Russian style" of piano playing. At an early age he...
around this time.
1970s to current years
In 1974, she was "Artist in residenceArtist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
" at the City College
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
and was teaching there in 1975. On July 12, 1975, she recorded "Confirmation". One year later she did the duet album simply called Sheila with Arild Andersen
Arild Andersen
Arild Andersen is a Norwegian bass player.Born in Lillestrøm, Norway, he started out as a member of the Jan Garbarek Quartet , with Terje Rypdal and Jon Christensen...
(bass) for SteepleChase
SteepleChase Records
SteepleChase Records is a jazz record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time...
in the end of 1976. In 1979, she founded a quartet with Kuhn, Harvie Swartz
Harvie Swartz
Harvie S is an American jazz double-bassist.S learned piano as a child and did not begin playing bass until 1967, when he was nineteen years old. He attended Berklee College of Music and played in and around Boston with Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Mose Allison, and Chris Connor...
and Bob Moses
Bob Moses (musician)
Rakalam Bob Moses is an American jazz drummer born in New York City.Moses played with Roland Kirk in 1964-65 while he was still a teenager. In 1966 he and Larry Coryell formed The Free Spirits, a jazz fusion ensemble, and from 1967 to 1969 he played in Gary Burton's quartet...
. During the 1980s, she was working with Harvie Swartz as a duo and played on several records with him. Until 1987 she worked in an advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
and recorded Lost and Found in 1989.
Sheila Jordan is also a songwriter and is able to work in both bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
and free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
. In addition to the musicians previously mentioned, she has recorded with the George Gruntz
George Gruntz
George Gruntz is a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist and composer most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Phil Woods, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Mel Lewis.From 1972 to 1994 he served as artistic director for...
Concert Jazz Band (TCB, ECM
ECM (record label)
ECM is a record label founded in Munich, Germany, in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a wide variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres...
), Harvie S (MA Recordings), Cameron Brown, Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
(Escalator over the Hill
Escalator over the Hill
Escalator over the Hill is mostly referred to as a jazz opera, but it was released as a "chronotransduction" with "words by Paul Haines, adaptation and music by Carla Bley, production and coordination by Michael Mantler", performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra.-History:Escalator over the Hill...
) and Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
(Home). In addition to Blue Note, she has led recordings issued by Eastwind, Grapevine, SteepleChase, ECM
ECM (record label)
ECM is a record label founded in Munich, Germany, in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a wide variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres...
, Palo Alto
Palo Alto Records
Palo Alto Records was a jazz record label that released most of its discography in the 1980s. The label was founded in 1981 by Jim Benham, who was a Palo Alto, California resident. The artistic director was Herb Wong. In 1985 the company ceased its activities...
, Blackhawk and Muse
Muse Records
Muse Records was an American record label which released jazz and blues music.Muse was founded in the early 1970s by Joe Fields, who had previously worked as an executive for Prestige Records in the 1960s...
.
Solo albums
- Portrait of Sheila Jordan - (Blue NoteBlue Note RecordsBlue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
1963) - Confirmation - (Eastwind 1975)
- Sheila - (SteepleChase 1977)
- Old Time Feeling - (MuseMuse RecordsMuse Records was an American record label which released jazz and blues music.Muse was founded in the early 1970s by Joe Fields, who had previously worked as an executive for Prestige Records in the 1960s...
(1982) - The Crossing - (Blackhawk Records 1984)
- Body and Soul - (CBSCBS RecordsCBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
/Sony 1986) - Lost and Found - (Muse 1989)
- Songs From Within - (MA Recordings 1989)
- One for Junior - (Muse 1991)
- Heart Strings - (Muse 1993)
- Jazz Child- (HighNoteHighNote RecordsHighNote Records is an American record label based in New York City, specializing in jazz music.HighNote was founded by Joe Fields, who worked for Prestige Records as an executive in the 1960s and founded Muse Records in the 1970s. He co-founded HighNote and its sister label, Savant Records, in...
1999) - Sheila's Back In Town - ( Splasc(h) 2000)
- From the Heart - (32 Records 2000)
- Straight Ahead - (YVP/Splasc(h) 2000)
- I've Grown Accustomed to the Bass - (High Note 2000)
- The Very Thought of Two - (MA Recordings 2000)
- Little Song - (High Note 2003)
- Believe in Jazz - (ELLA Productions 2004)
- Celebration - Live At The Triad - (High Note 2005)
- Winter Sunshine - (Justin TimeJustin Time RecordsJustin Time Records, Inc. is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal. It was established in 1983 and specialises mostly in jazz and blues...
2008)
With Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn is an American jazz pianist, composer and trio leader.-Biography:He began studying piano at the age of five and studied under Boston piano teacher Margaret Chaloff, mother of jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, who taught him the "Russian style" of piano playing. At an early age he...
- PlaygroundPlayground (Steve Kuhn & Sheila Jordan album)Playground is an album by the Steve Kuhn/Sheila Jordan Band recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars calling it "Intriguing music".-Track listing:# "Tomorrow`s Son" - 8:58...
- Steve Kuhn/Sheila Jordan Band - (ECM, 1980) - Last Year's WaltzLast Year's WaltzLast Year's Waltz is a live album by the Steve Kuhn Quartet featuring Sheila Jordan recorded in 1981 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
- Steve Kuhn Quartet (ECM, 1981) - Little Song - Steve Kuhn Trio (2002)
- Jazz Child - Steve Kuhn Trio (1998)
As featured vocalist
With Carla BleyCarla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
- Escalator over the HillEscalator over the HillEscalator over the Hill is mostly referred to as a jazz opera, but it was released as a "chronotransduction" with "words by Paul Haines, adaptation and music by Carla Bley, production and coordination by Michael Mantler", performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra.-History:Escalator over the Hill...
(JCOA, 1971)
With Cameron Brown
- Here and How! (OmniTone 1997)
With Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett is a Canadian soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader known for her Afro-Cuban jazz melodies.In 2004, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada...
- The Water Is Wide (1993)
With George Gruntz
George Gruntz
George Gruntz is a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist and composer most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Phil Woods, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Mel Lewis.From 1972 to 1994 he served as artistic director for...
- TheatreTheatre (album)Theatre is an album by Swiss pianist, composer, and arranger George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band '83 recorded in 1983 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1983)
With Bob Moses
Bob Moses (musician)
Rakalam Bob Moses is an American jazz drummer born in New York City.Moses played with Roland Kirk in 1964-65 while he was still a teenager. In 1966 he and Larry Coryell formed The Free Spirits, a jazz fusion ensemble, and from 1967 to 1969 he played in Gary Burton's quartet...
- When Elephants Dream Of Music (RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
1982)
With Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
- Flexible Flyer (AristaArista RecordsArista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
/Freedom 1974)
With Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
- HomeHome (Steve Swallow album)Home is an album by bassist Steve Swallow featuring poetry by Robert Creeley recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Ron Wynn awarded the album 2½ stars calling it an "Interesting concept"....
(ECM, 1980)