Steve Jordan (guitarist)

Steve Jordan (January 15, 1919 – September 13, 1993) was an American jazz guitarist.

Steve Jordan
Born(1919-01-15)January 15, 1919
New York City
DiedSeptember 13, 1993(1993-09-13) (aged 74)
Alexandria, Virginia
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar

Career

Jordan considered himself a rhythm guitarist whose biggest influences were George Van Eps and Allan Reuss.[1] He received lessons from Reuss, who played rhythm guitar for Benny Goodman[2] In the early 1940s Jordan was a member of bands led by Will Bradley, Artie Shaw, and Teddy Powell.[1] 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.[1]

When jobs for rhythm guitarists disappeared as big bands dwindled, Jordan became a studio musician for NBC.[1][2] During the 1950s he worked with Gene Krupa, Mel Powell, Vic Dickenson, Charles Thompson, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, and Benny Goodman.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1][2] His memoir, Rhythm Man, was published in the early 1990s.[1][2] Here Comes Mr. Jordan was his only album as a leader.[1]

Discography

As leader
  • Here Comes Mister Jordan (Fat Cat's Jazz, 1972)

As sideman

With Ruby Braff

  • At Newport (Verve, 1958)
  • Braff!! (Epic, 1956)
  • Hi-Fi Salute to Bunny (RCA Victor, 1957)

With Buck Clayton

  • How Hi the Fi (Columbia, 1954)
  • Jumpin' at the Woodside (Columbia, 1955)
  • All the Cats Join in (Columbia, 1956)
  • Cat Meets Chick (Columbia, 1956)
  • Buck Meets Ruby (Family, 1973)
  • Just a Groove (Vanguard, 1973)
  • Jam Sessions from the Vault (Columbia, 1988)

With others

  • Wild Bill Davison, Lady of the Evening (Jazzology, 1985)
  • Vic Dickenson, The Vic Dickenson Showcase (Vanguard, 1953)
  • Vic Dickenson, Slidin' Swing (Jazztone, 1957)
  • Jimmy Dorsey, The Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey (Fraternity, 1957)
  • Ronnie Gilbert, In Hi-Fi: The Legend of Bessie Smith (RCA Victor, 1958)
  • Glen Gray, The Uncollected 1943–1946 Vol. 2 (Hindsight, 1978)
  • Benny Goodman, B.G. in Hi-Fi (Capitol, 1955)
  • Tommy Gwaltney, This Is Blues Alley (Blues Alley 1966)
  • Clancy Hayes, Mr. Hayes Goes to Washington (Clanco, 1972)
  • Gene Krupa, Drum Boogie (Clef, 1956)
  • Gene Krupa, The Exciting Gene Krupa (Verve, 1983)
  • Mel Powell, Jam Session at Carnegie Hall (Columbia 1954)
  • Boyd Raeburn, Boyd Meets Stravinski (Savoy, 1955)
  • Jimmy Rushing, The Jazz Odyssey of Jimmy Rushing (Philips, 1957)
  • Pee Wee Russell, Plays Pee Wee (Bell, 1961)
  • Phil Silvers, Phil Silvers and Swinging Brass (Columbia, 1957)
  • Buddy Tate, Buddy Tate and His Buddies (Chiaroscuro, 1973)

References
  1. Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  2. Yanow, Scott. "Steve Jordan". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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