Taft Jordan (February 15, 1915 – December 1, 1981) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trumpeter.

Life and career

He was born in

Florence, South Carolina Florence is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within the Florence metropol ...

, United States. Jordan played early in his career with the Washboard Rhythm Kings, before becoming a member of Chick Webb's orchestra from 1933 to 1942, remaining after

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

became its leader. Jordan and Bobby Stark traded duties as the main trumpet soloist in Webb's orchestra. From 1943 to 1947, he played with

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

, then with Lucille Dixon at the Savannah Club in New York City from 1949 to 1953. After this he played less often, though he toured with

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader, known as the "King of Swing". His orchestra did well commercially. From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing bi ...

in 1958, played on

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...

's ''

Sketches of Spain ''Sketches of Spain'' is a studio album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released on July 18, 1960 by Columbia Records. Recording took place between November 1959 and March 1960 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City. An extended ...

'', and worked with the New York Jazz Repertory Company. He recorded four tunes as a leader in 1935, and led his own band in 1960–61 when he recorded albums for Mercury, Aamco Records, and Swingville.

Discography

As leader

* ''Skin Tight and Cymbal Wise!'' with Vic Dickenson, Arvell Shaw, Budd Johnson (Columbia, 1958) – originally billed as The International Jazz Group & reissued as ''The International Jazz Group Vol. 1'' (Disques Swing, 1985) * ''The Moods of Taft Jordan'' (Mercury, 1959) * '' Rockin' in Rhythm'' with Al Sears and Hilton Jefferson (Swingville, 1960) * ''Mood Indigo!!! Taft Jordan Plays Duke Ellington'' (Moodsville, 1961)

As sideman

With

* '' Rhythm Is My Business'' (Verve, 1962) * '' Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall'' (Columbia, 1973) * ''Live from the Roseland Ballroom New York 1940'' (Sunbeam, 1974) * ''Ella Sings, Chick Swings'' (Olympic, 1974) With others *

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

, ''I Love Jazz!'' (Decca, 1962) – one track only + alternate take on some issues (recorded 1954) * Eddie Barefield, ''Eddie Barefield'' (RCA, 1974) *

Eugenie Baird Eugenie Baird (November 19, 1923 – June 12, 1988) was an American big-band, jazz, and radio singer. Career Baird was from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Eugene Baird, whose obituary described him as a construction foreman, ...

, ''Eugenie Baird Sings, Duke's Boys Play Ellington'' (Design, 1959) *

Big Maybelle Mabel Louise Smith (May 1, 1924 – January 23, 1972), known professionally as Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer. Her 1956 hit single "Candy" received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. Childhood and musical background Born in J ...

, ''The Okeh Sessions'' (Epic, 1983) *

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a popular music, pop music ...

, ''

'' (Atlantic, 1957) * Al "Jazzbo" Collins, ''Presents Swinging at the Opera'' (Everest, 1960) *

, '' Miles Ahead'' (Columbia, 1958) * Miles Davis, ''

'' (Columbia, 1960) *

, '' The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944'' (Prestige, 1977) * Duke Ellington, '' The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946'' (Prestige, 1977) * Slim Gaillard, ''Opera in Vout'' (Verve, 1982) *

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...

, '' Jazz Recital'' (Norgran, 1955) *

Johnny Hodges Johnny Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophone, alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on sop ...

, ''Ellingtonia!'' (Onyx, 1974) *

Geoff Muldaur Geoff Muldaur (born August 12, 1943) is an American singer, guitarist and composer, who was a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and a member of Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Career Having established a reputation with the Kweskin J ...

, ''Is Having a Wonderful Time'' (Reprise, 1975) * Red Prysock, ''Swing Softly Red'' (Mercury, 1961) * George Rhodes, ''Porgy and Bess'' (AAMCO, 1959) * Dakota Staton, ''Time to Swing'' (Capitol, 1959) * Rex Stewart, '' Henderson Homecoming'' (United Artists, 1959) * Chick Webb, ''Webb on the Air'' (Trip, 1970)

References

;Footnotes ;General references *

Scott Yanow Scott Yanow (born 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author. Life and career Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles. Beginning in 1974, Yanow was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles and was the jazz e ...

, Taft Jordanat

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

External links

Taft Jordan recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Taft 1915 births 1981 deaths People from Florence, South Carolina American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Musicians from South Carolina Duke Ellington Orchestra members 20th-century American musicians American male jazz musicians The Washboard Rhythm Kings members Black & Blue Records artists 20th-century American male musicians