Jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan passes away at the age of 96.
Sheila Jordan, a pioneering American jazz singer and songwriter, passed away on Monday at the age of 96 in New York. Born on November 18, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, Jordan's career and personal life were deeply intertwined with her passion for jazz, particularly bebop.
A Difficult Childhood and a Love for Music
Jordan did not have an easy childhood as she was raised by her grandparents in a small coal-mining town in Pennsylvania. Despite the hardships, she found solace in music. Singing became her escape, and she credits it for getting her through her difficult childhood[1].
A Lifelong Love for Jazz
Jordan's love for jazz began during her teenage years in Detroit, where she was profoundly influenced by the music of Charlie Parker. She described being captivated by Parker's music after hearing "Now's the Time," which led her to dedicate her life to singing jazz[4].
In the early 1950s, she moved to New York and married Duke Jordan, a pianist and a key figure in the bebop movement, from whom she later took her professional surname[1][2]. Jordan initially gained recognition as part of a vocal trio, Skeeter, Mitch And Jean, which sang transcriptions of Parker's solos.
A Career That Gained Momentum
After her daughter was in college, Jordan's career gained momentum, and she began releasing albums at a steady clip in the late 1970s[5]. Her breakthrough came with the album "Portrait of Sheila" on Blue Note Records, marking one of the first vocal jazz albums on the label[3].
Jordan's distinct style, which included scat singing and improvisation, gained wider recognition as she performed around New York City with some of jazz's best-known names, including Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Herbie Nichols, and Duke Jordan[6].
A Lifetime of Accomplishments
Jordan's 1963 debut album "Portrait of Sheila" is widely considered a classic[7]. She continued to release more than two dozen albums over her career, including "Portrait Now," released earlier this year[2].
Sheila Jordan's contributions to jazz were recognised with the prestigious NEA Jazz Masters Award in 2012[8]. She also appeared as a featured vocalist on albums by Carla Bley, Cameron Brown, George Gruntz, Bob Moses, and Roswell Rudd, among others[9].
In addition to her performing career, Jordan taught jazz vocal workshops at the City College of New York and other institutions[10]. Despite spending 25 years working during the day at an advertising agency, Jordan's dedication to jazz never wavered[11].
Jordan was known for her aversion to self-promotion, which may have contributed to her being overlooked during her lifetime[12]. However, her legacy as one of the most innovative and dedicated figures in jazz history is undeniable.
Sheila Jordan's passing leaves a significant void in the jazz community, but her music and influence will continue to inspire generations of musicians to come.
Sources:
- Jazz Singer Sheila Jordan Dies at 96
- Jazz Singer Sheila Jordan Dies at 96
- Sheila Jordan
- Sheila Jordan: The Last of the Bebop Singers
- Sheila Jordan
- Sheila Jordan
- Portrait of Sheila
- Sheila Jordan Wins NEA Jazz Masters Award
- Sheila Jordan Discography
- Sheila Jordan
- Sheila Jordan
- Sheila Jordan
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