Steve Jordan (guitarist)

Steve Philip Jordan (January 15, 1919^[1] – September 13, 1993)^[2] was an American jazz guitarist.

Career

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]

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)
• Brooks Tegler, Keep Em Flying (Jazzology 1990) And Not Only That! (Big Mo 1995)

References