Steve Jordan

Who was Steve Jordan?

Steve Jordan was an American jazz guitarist.

Jordan studied with Allan Reuss early in life while Reuss was Benny Goodman's guitarist. He worked in the Will Bradley Orchestra, Artie Shaw, and Teddy Powell before he enlisted in the Navy. Following his term of service he played with Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Boyd Raeburn.

He became a studio musician for NBC and worked often as a freelance sideman after the big band era was over. He worked with Gene Krupa, Mel Powell, Vic Dickenson, Charles Thompson, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, Benny Goodman, Wild Bill Davison, Clancy Hayes, Buddy Tate, Helen Ward, and Ed Polcer. He held a regular gig in Washington, D.C. with Tommy Gwaltney from 1965 to 1972, and was offered the opportunity to succeed Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra but turned it down.

Jordan recorded only one session as a leader, a 1972 release on Fat Cat Jazz. He published a memoir entitled Rhythm Man in 1991.