STEVE KUHN / SHEILA JORDAN BAND - Playground (1980) lp / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

After many years off records, Sheila Jordan began to become more active in jazz in the mid-'70s. Her two recordings as part of pianist Steve Kuhn's quartet, of which this was the first, gave her both a higher profile and a challenging vehicle for her improvised words and adventurous scat singing. With bassist Harvie Swartz and drummer Bob Moses completing the group, Jordan performs six of Kuhn's originals and lyrics (including "The Zoo" and the 10 1/2-minute "Deep Tango") as a member of the quartet, rather than as a dominant vocalist. Intriguing music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1    Tomorrow's Son    8:58
A2    Gentle Thoughts    7:22
A3    Poem For No.15    7:08
B1    The Zoo    4:32
B2    Deep Tango    10:41
B3    Life's Backward Glance    5:35
Credits :
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Drums – Bob Moses
Piano, Music By, Words By – Steve Kuhn
Voice – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN + HARVIE SWARTZ - Songs from Within (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sheila Jordan is one of the few singers to record duets frequently with just a string bass, usually Harvie Swartz. Jordan and Swartz interpret a wide variety of standards on their CD along with two originals. Although the always-inventive singer is clearly the lead voice, Swartz is not restricted to merely an accompanying role; he often shares center stage in close interplay with Jordan and his lines are almost as unpredictable as Sheila's. Their versions of such veteran songs as "Waltz for Debbie," "St. Thomas," "My Shining Hour" and "In a Sentimental Mood" sound quite original and fresh. As is the custom with M-A, this CD concludes with a selection taken from another release on the label, a melancholy showcase for Marty Krystall's bass clarinet. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Dedication 5:57
Sheila Jordan
2     If You Could See Me Now 4:20
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
3     Waltz for Debby 4:21
Bill Evans / Gene Lees
4     Goodmorning Heartache 3:41
5     St. Thomas 4:15
S. Jordan / Sonny Rollins
6     You Don't Know What Love Is 3:50
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
7     My Shining Hour 3:19
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
8     We'll Be Together Again 4:05
Carl Fischer / Frankie Lane
9     Alone Together 4:29
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
10     A Child Is Born 4:44
Alan Berman / Dave Grusin
11     In a Sentimental Mood 5:34
Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
12     I Got Rhythm/Anthropology 6:36
Ira Gershwin / Charlie Parker
13     Birmingham Jail 5:15
Sheila Jordan
14     Song of Elder Brother After He Had Created the Wind and the  Clouds 5:16
Credits :
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Voice – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN AND CAMERON BROWN - I've Grown Accustomed To The Bass (2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This 1997 concert marked the first time that vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Cameron Brown had performed live as a duo. Nerves aside, they had their Belgian audience captivated from the opening of the set. Jordan improvises much like a horn with her interesting choices of notes as she sings the lyrics to standards like "The Very Thought of You," while Brown is also a superb musician, comping perfectly for her and launching on inventive solo flights of his own. Jordan scats an introduction to the playful "Better Than Anything" (a good song that is often subjected to lackluster interpretations), adding a few interesting twists of her own as they take it into new musical territory. "Dat Dere" sounds even better in a vocal/bass setting; Jordan's humorous interpretation proves to be infectious. One unusual part of this performance is her series of medleys that are connected without interruption, blending her originals with standards and favorite jazz compositions into a stunning tour de force. The duo wraps the session with "I've Grown Accustomed to the Bass," with Jordan wryly altering the lyrics to "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" to craft a fitting tribute to her duo partner. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Introductory Remarks by Sheila Jordan 0:36
2     The Very Thought of You 6:43
Ray Noble
3     Better Than Anything 4:21
David "Buck" Wheat
4     Dat Dere 3:33
O. Brown / Bobby Timmons
5     Medley: Mourning Song 4:59
Sheila Jordan
6     Medley: The Bird/Tribute/Embraceable You 9:40
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Sheila Jordan / Charlie Parker
7     Medley: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 2:04
Charles Mingus
8     Medley: Good Morning Heartache 6:10
9     Medley: I Got Rhythm/Listen to Monk (Rhythm-A-Ning) 5:19
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Jon Hendricks / Thelonious Monk
10     Sheila's Blues 7:27
Sheila Jordan
11     I've Grown Accustomed to the Bass 2:24
Alan Jay Lerner / Frank Loesser
Credits :
Bass, Interviewee – Cameron Brown
Vocals, Interviewee – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN - Little Song (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although she shows her age in spots, Sheila Jordan in 2002 was still a very creative jazz singer. She has always made the most of her voice, taking chances while remaining a little tied to the bebop tradition. She reunites with her old friend pianist Steve Kuhn, welcomes trumpeter Tom Harrell to four of the 13 selections, and explores such songs as a wistful "Autumn in New York," "On a Slow Boat to China," a witty version of "Hello Young Lovers," "If I Should Love You," and some lesser-known material. Her scatting remains quite inventive and sometimes her wordless vocals sound like an American Indian folk song. Although not quite as essential as her work of a decade earlier, this is a worthwhile effort full of subtle surprises and Sheila Jordan's charm. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Little Song/Blackbird 2:14
Sheila Jordan / John Lennon / Paul McCartney
2     Autumn in New York 7:46
Vernon Duke
3     Barbados 4:49
Charlie Parker
4     On a Slow Boat to China 5:07
Frank Loesser
5     Hello, Young Lovers 2:45
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
6     Fairweather 5:31
Kenny Dorham
7     Something's Gotta Give 5:29
Johnny Mercer
8     If I Should Lose You 6:05
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
9     The Way He Captured Me 5:09
David Finck
10     Deep Tango 6:48
Steve Kuhn
11     The Touch of Your Lips 5:07
Ray Noble
12     When I Grow Too Old to Dream 4:05
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
13     Little Song 0:44
Sheila Jordan
Credits :
Double Bass – David Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Tom Harrell (2, 6, 8, 11)
Vocals – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN - Believe In Jazz (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Comes Love (Nothing Can Be Done)    4:06
2    Buffalo Wings    7:20
3    Bird Alone    6:10
4    Where You At    5:58
5    Little Song / Black Bird / Real Time    10:20
6    Everything Happens To Me    8:03
7    The Touch Of Your Lips    12:00
8    You Must Believe In Spring    6:53
Credits :
Ensemble – Serge Forté Trio
Vocals – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN + CAMERON BROWN - Celebration (2005) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Introductory Remarks By Sheila Jordan    0:35
2    Humdrum Blues    3:07
3    Mood Indigo    4:00
4    It's You Or No One    5:17
5    Commentary    0:08
6    Brother Where Are You?    5:34
Blues Medley For Miles:    (10:07)
7.1    Blue Skies    
7.2    All Blues    
7.3    Freddie Freeloader    
8    The Promise Of You    4:48
9    Commentary    0:04
Astaire / Rogers Medley:    (7:20)
10.1    Let's Face The Music And Dance    
10.2    Cheek To Cheek    
10.3    I Won't Dance    
10.4    I Could Have Danced All Night    
10.5    Pick Yourself Up    
11    Commentary    0:08
12    Straight Ahead    5:07
Fats Meets Bird Medley:    (9:41)
13.1    Honeysuckle Rose    
13.2    Ain't Misbehavin'    
13.3    Scrapple From The Apple    
14    Introducing Jay Clayton    0:20
15    Birk's Works    6:45
16    Sheila's Blues    3:07
17    Commentary    0:15
18    The Crossing    4:41
Credits :
Producer, Bass – Cameron Brown
Producer, Vocals – Sheila Jordan

Sheila Jordan - Better Than Anything : Live (2015) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Better Than Anything 6:37
Bill Loughborough / David "Buck" Wheat
2     If I Had You 9:16
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
3     The Best Thing for You 5:55
Irving Berlin
4     I Concentrate on You 4:01
Cole Porter
5     Medley: You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To/Mourning Song/Japanese Dream/What'll I Do? 13:59
Irving Berlin / Clifford Jordan / Sheila Jordan / Abbey Lincoln / Cole Porter
6     Confirmation 5:52
Leroy Mitchell / Charlie Parker / Skeeter Spight
7     Waltz for Debby 4:24
Bill Evans / Bill Oddie
8     Falling in Love With Love 8:39
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9     The Caterpillar Song 6:28
Larry Gelb
Credits :
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Piano – Alan Broadbent
Vocals – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN - Portrait Of Sheila (1963-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sheila Jordan's debut recording was one of the very few vocal records made for Blue Note during Alfred Lion's reign. Accompanied by the subtle guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Denzil Best, Jordan sounds quite distinctive, cool-toned, and adventurous during her classic date. Her interpretations of Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Hum Drum Blues" and 11 standards (including "Falling in Love With Love," "Dat Dere," "Baltimore Oriole," and "I'm a Fool to Want You") are both swinging and haunting. Possibly because of her originality, Sheila Jordan would not record again for over a dozen years, making this highly recommended set quite historic.  by Scott Yanow

Tracklist :

1 Falling In Love With Love 2:28
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
2 If You Could See Me Now 4:28
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
3 Am I Blue 4:09
Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
4 Date Dere 2:40
Bobby Timmons
5 When The World Was Young 4:40
Johnny Mercer / Michel Philippe-Gérard / Angele Vannier
6 Let's Face The Music And Dance 1:12
Irving Berlin
7 Laugh, Clown, Laugh 3:07
Sam M. Lewis / Ted Fio Rito / Joe Young
8 Who Can I Turn To? 3:16
William Engvick / Alec Wilder
9 Baltimore Oriole 2:30
Hoagy Carmichael / Paul Francis Webster
10 I'm A Fool To Want You 2:30
Joel Herron / Frank Sinatra / Jack Wolf
11 Hum Drum Blues 2:10
Oscar Brown, Jr.
12 Willow Weep For Me 3:27
Ann Ronell

Credits :

Bass – Steve Swallow

Drums – Denzil Best

Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder

Guitar – Barry Galbraith

Vocals – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN & ARILD ANDERSEN - Sheila (1977-1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This was a breakthrough recording for Sheila Jordan. She recorded a superb album for Blue Note in 1962 and then was off records (and only working in jazz on a part-time basis) up until the mid-'70s. She cut two albums for tiny labels and then came this, the first of her vocal-bass duet recordings. While in later years bassist Harvie Swartz would be her frequent musical partner, Jordan's SteepleChase set features the talented Arild Andersen on bass. The communication between the two often borders on the miraculous and it is a pleasure to hear Sheila Jordan's fresh and original interpretations of such songs as "Lush Life," "On Green Dolphin Street," "Don't Explain" and "Better than Anything." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Song of Joy 2:05
Reginald Rasputin Boutte / B. Preston
2 Hold Out Your Hands 3:19
Steve Kuhn
3 Lush Life 4:53
Billy Strayhorn
4 The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers 3:24
Steve Kuhn
5 What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 2:54
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
6 On Green Dolphin Street 3:27
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
7 It Never Entered My Mind 4:01
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
8 Don't Explain 4:59
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
9 Better Than Anything 2:54
Bill Loughbrough / David "Buck" Wheat
10 The Lady 4:26
Rudy Stevenson
11 Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 3:08
Sidney Clare / Sam H. Stept
12 Song of Joy 3:46
Reginald Rasputin Boutte / B. Preston
Credits :
Bass – Arild Andersen
Vocals [Vocal] – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN - Jazz Child (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Making the supposition that she's an acquired taste, those who enjoy Jordan's unique singing will be thrilled with this release. She's reunited with the resourceful pianist Steve Kuhn who she made exceptional recordings with on ECM (Last Year's Waltz and Playground.) Her breathy, hither-come-yon, soulful voice, with an unmistakable Native American inflection and the quick witted, harmonic bebop foundation of her early days continues to earmark Jordan as one of the most important jazz singers of our time. Three cuts feature the artist with fellow vocalist Theo Bleckmann, and their voices mesh well together, especially on the kitschy, fun loving "Oh Henry." Bleckmann sounds bluesy and like a less histrionic Kurt Elling. The rest of the CD finds Jordan's material all over the map, from a vocal version of Don Cherry's "Art Deco," a revision replete with Indian scat of Steve Kuhn's "The Zoo," a take on Abbey Lincoln's "Bird Alone," and Cheryl Pyle's lyrics to Tom Harrell's "Buffalo Wings." All are outstanding examples of Jordan's uncanny ability to make a song all her own. Ballads like "My Ship," "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," and "Everything Happens to Me" are further proof of her total command and love for the American popular song tradition. Precious music making can be difficult to grasp, much less embrace, especially from a populist standpoint. Getting next to Jordan's artistry should not be too difficult for the open minded. For those of you who are fans, you'll treasure this as one of her best efforts yet and a vocal jazz highlight of the year. Others can discover Jordan at the peak of her powers and revel in the deep blue, mysterious tones she conjures like no one else. by Michael G. Nastos   
Tracklist :
1 Jazz Child 0:33
Sheila Jordan
2 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 5:22
Jimmy Webb
3 Reel Time 3:13
Chris Lee
4 Art Deco 6:16
Don Cherry / Sheila Jordan
5 The Zoo 4:17
Steve Kuhn
6 My Ship 4:03
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
7 Oh Henry 3:17
Gil Fuller / Ernie Henry
8 Bird Alone 4:43
Abbey Lincoln
9 Medley: Ballad for Miles/My Funny Valentine 9:27
Lorenz Hart / Sheila Jordan / Richard Rodgers
10 Buffalo Wings 6:21
Tom Harrell / Sheila Jordan / Cheryl Pyle
11 Everything Happens to Me 4:37
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 Medley: Everytime We Say Goodbye/For All We Know 5:38
Sam M. Lewis / Cole Porter
13 Jazz Child (Reprise) 0:36
Sheila Jordan
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann (tracks: 3, 7, 12)

SHEILA JORDAN - Confirmation (1975) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After a long layoff from recording following her debut album in 1962, Sheila Jordan was very active in the 1970s, and is in top form on these 1975 sessions made for the Japanese label East Wind. Accompanied by pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Cameron Brown, drummer Beaver Harris, and tenor saxophonist Norman Marnell, she devotes the first half of the release to a medley of songs dedicated to children. Her intriguing approach to such standards as "God Bless the Child," "My Favorite Things," and "Inch Worm" provides plenty of solo space for the musicians between numbers, while they also dazzle the listener throughout each track. This medley wraps with the playful but charming "Because We're Kids" (penned by Dr. Seuss). The remainder of the disc is primarily devoted to standards. Jordan's adroit duet with Brown in "Confirmation" gives her a chance to show off her scatting. "By Myself" is a miniature duet, first with Harris (on brushes) and then Pasqua as the piece segues into a moving performance of "Why Was I Born." Her performance of Steve Kuhn's challenging "Pearlie's Swine" adds a nice twist to a marvelous date, which was finally reissued by Test of Time in 2005.  by Ken Dryden   
Tracklist:
1 Introduction 0:25
2 God Bless The Child  4:49
Lyrics By – Arthur Herzog, Jr.
Music By – Billie Holiday
3 My Favourite Things  6:47
Lyrics By – Oscar Hammerstein II
Music By – Richard Rodgers
4 Inch Worm  6:00
Music By, Lyrics By – Frank Loesser
5 Because We're Kids  4:46
Lyrics By – Dr. Seuss
Music By – Friedrich Hollaender
6 Confirmation  8:55
Music By – Charlie Parker
7 By Myself  1:50
Lyrics By – Arthur Schwartz
Music By – Howard Dietz
8 Why Was I Born  3:12
Lyrics By – Oscar Hammerstein II
Music By – Jerome Kern
9 Pearlie's Swine  5:42
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
Credits
Bass – Cameron Brown
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Alan Pasqua
Tenor Saxophone – Norman Marnell
Vocals – Sheila Jordan