Biography

Jordan was born in New York and grew up in Brooklyn, where he attended Boys High School. A creative and talented pianist, Jordan was a frequent member of Charlie Parker's quintet from 1947 to 1948, which also included Miles Davis. He took part in Parker's Dial sessions in late 1947, which created songs such as "Dewey Square," "Bongo Bop," "Bird of Paradise," and the ballad "Embraceable You." These recordings can be found on the album Charlie Parker on Dial.

From the mid-1950s, Jordan had a long solo career. However, during the mid-1960s, he worked as a taxi driver in New York. After performing with musicians like Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz, he played and recorded in a trio format. His song "Jordu" became a well-known jazz standard after trumpeter Clifford Brown included it in his performances. Another of his songs, "No Problem," was recorded by several artists, including Art Blakey, who performed it as "No Hay Problema," and Chet Baker.

Beginning in 1978, Jordan lived in Copenhagen, Denmark. He recorded many albums for the SteepleChase label, with his first recording for the company dating back to 1973. It was reported that he did not change his musical style throughout his career.

From 1952 to 1962, Jordan was married to jazz singer Sheila Jordan. The couple had a daughter named Tracey J. Jordan. Jordan died in Valby, Copenhagen.

Discography

• When You're Smiling (Steeple Chase, 1996) – combines Time on My Hands (1988) and As Time Goes By (1989) with ten additional tracks
• Double Duke (Steeple Chase, 1997) – combines Change a Pace (1980) and Thinking of You (1982) with five additional tracks

• The Happy Blues (Prestige, 1956)
• All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1956) – recorded between 1950 and 1955
• Blues Up and Down, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1970) – recorded in 1950

• Eddie Bert (Discovery, 1952)[10"]
• Eddie Bert Quintet (Discovery, 1953)[10"]

• Blue Lights Vols. 1 & 2 (Blue Note, 1958)
• Swingin' (Blue Note (JP), 1980) – recorded in 1958 only

• Duke Ellington 25th Anniversary Concert (FDC (It) 1005)
• Getz Age (Roost RLP 2258)
• Hooray for Stan Getz (Session Disc 108)
• Move! (Natasha Imports 4005)
• Sweetie Pie (Philology (It) W 40-2)
• The Complete Roost Recordings (Roost CDP 7243 8 59622-2)
• Stan Getz Plays (Norgran, 1952)
• Stan Getz Quartet (Queen Disc (It) Q 013)
• Live at Carnegie Hall (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1003)
• Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 1 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1014)
• Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 2 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1015)
• That Top Tenor Technician Stan Getz (Alto AL 704)

• Patterns of Jazz (Savoy, 1956)
• Cecil Payne Quartet and Quintet (Signal, 1957)
• Shaw 'Nuff (Charlie Parker, 1961)
• Cecil Payne Performing Charlie Parker Music (Charlie Parker, 1961)
• The Connection (Charlie Parker, 1962)
• Bird Gets The Worm (Muse, 1976)

• Stitt's Bits (Prestige, 1958) – recorded in 1950
• Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass (Atlantic, 1963) – recorded in 1962
• The Champ (Muse, 1974) – recorded in 1973

• Un Témoin Dans La Ville (Fontana (FR), 1959) – soundtrack for Witness in the City
• Barney (RCA (FR), 1960) – live recording from 1959

• The Birdlanders, Vol. 1 (Period, 1957) – recorded in 1954
• The Birdlanders, Vol. 2 (Period, 1957) – recorded in 1954
• The Birdlanders, Vol. 3 (Period, 1957) – recorded in 1954

• Ernestine Anderson, It's Time for Ernestine (Metronome (SE), 1958)
• Chet Baker, No Problem (SteepleChase, 1980) – recorded in 1979
• Paul Bascomb, Bad Bascomb (Delmark, 1976) – recorded in 1952
• Art Blakey, Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (Fontana, 1960) – recorded in 1959. Original soundtrack with Barney Wilen.
• Tina Brooks, True Blue (Blue Note, 1960)
• Joe Carroll, "Joe Carroll" (Charlie Parker, 1962)[7"]
• Teddy Edwards, The Inimitable Teddy Edwards (Xanadu, 1976)
• Rolf Ericson, Rolf Ericson and his American All Stars (Metronome (SE) JMLP 2–105, EmArcy MG 36106)
• Art Farmer, Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige, 1956) – recorded in 1955
• Gigi Gryce, Doin' the Gigi (Uptown, 2011) – compilation
• Coleman Hawkins, Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra (Crown, 1960)
• Joe Holiday, Holiday for Jazz (Decca DL 8487)
• Howard McGhee, The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem, 1956) – recorded in 1955
• Charles McPherson, Beautiful! (Xanadu 115)
• Barry Miles, Miles of Genius (Charlie Parker PLP 804)
• Sam Most, Mostly Flute (Xanadu 133)
• Charlie Parker, Complete Charlie Parker on Dial, Charlie Parker on Dial (Jazz Classics, Spotlite)
• Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Pettiford (Bethlehem, 1954)
• Doug Raney, Introducing Doug Raney (SteepleChase, 1978) – recorded in 1977
• Dizzy Reece, Comin' On! (Blue Note, 1999) – recorded in 1960
• Louis Smith, Here Comes Louis Smith (Blue Note,