Steve Jordan | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | January 15, 1919
Died | September 13, 1993 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 74)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
Steve Philip Jordan (January 15, 1919 [1] – September 13, 1993) [2] was an American jazz guitarist.
Jordan was born in New York City. [1] He considered himself a rhythm guitarist whose biggest influences were George Van Eps and Allan Reuss. [3] He received lessons from Reuss, who played rhythm guitar for Benny Goodman [4] In the early 1940s Jordan was a member of bands led by Will Bradley, Artie Shaw, and Teddy Powell. [3] After serving with the Navy in World War II, he returned to music as a member of bands led by Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Glen Gray, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Boyd Raeburn. [3]
When jobs for rhythm guitarists disappeared as big bands dwindled, Jordan became a studio musician for NBC. [3] [4] During the 1950s, he worked with Gene Krupa, Mel Powell, Vic Dickenson, Charles Thompson, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, and Benny Goodman. [3] In the 1960s, he earned a living as a tailor, but from 1965 to 1972 he performed routinely with Tommy Gwaltney at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. [3] His last job as sideman was with DC area band leader/drummer Brooks Tegler where he played strictly rhythm guitar for eight years and recorded two CD's ("Keep Em Flying" and "And Not Only That!"), [5] with Tegler, in that capacity. He was offered a job replacing Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra, but he rejected it because he said he was too old to tour again. [3] [4] His memoir, Rhythm Man, was published in the early 1990s. [3] [4] Here Comes Mr. Jordan was his only album as a leader. [3]
With Ruby Braff
With Buck Clayton
With others
Steve Jordan | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | January 15, 1919
Died | September 13, 1993 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 74)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
Steve Philip Jordan (January 15, 1919 [1] – September 13, 1993) [2] was an American jazz guitarist.
Jordan was born in New York City. [1] He considered himself a rhythm guitarist whose biggest influences were George Van Eps and Allan Reuss. [3] He received lessons from Reuss, who played rhythm guitar for Benny Goodman [4] In the early 1940s Jordan was a member of bands led by Will Bradley, Artie Shaw, and Teddy Powell. [3] After serving with the Navy in World War II, he returned to music as a member of bands led by Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Glen Gray, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Boyd Raeburn. [3]
When jobs for rhythm guitarists disappeared as big bands dwindled, Jordan became a studio musician for NBC. [3] [4] During the 1950s, he worked with Gene Krupa, Mel Powell, Vic Dickenson, Charles Thompson, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, and Benny Goodman. [3] In the 1960s, he earned a living as a tailor, but from 1965 to 1972 he performed routinely with Tommy Gwaltney at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. [3] His last job as sideman was with DC area band leader/drummer Brooks Tegler where he played strictly rhythm guitar for eight years and recorded two CD's ("Keep Em Flying" and "And Not Only That!"), [5] with Tegler, in that capacity. He was offered a job replacing Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra, but he rejected it because he said he was too old to tour again. [3] [4] His memoir, Rhythm Man, was published in the early 1990s. [3] [4] Here Comes Mr. Jordan was his only album as a leader. [3]
With Ruby Braff
With Buck Clayton
With others