Taft Jordan

James Taft Jordan (* February 15, 1915 in Florence (South Carolina), † December 1, 1981 in New York City ) was an American jazz trumpeter of swing.

Jordan, who was in his early days heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, first played at the Washboard Rhythm Kings and 1933-1942 in the big band of Chick Webb, where he was principal trumpet alongside Bobby Stark and also in time, as Ella Fitzgerald she directed. In 1942 he led his own band. 1943 to 1947 he worked in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. 1949-1953 he was led by the bassist Lucille Dixon house band in the Savannah Club in Greenwich Village. 1958/59 he toured with Benny Goodman. He then worked as a freelancer in New York City. As a sideman he is 1959/60 to listen to Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis. He played in Broadway shows and took part in the 1963 Town Hall Concert by Duke Ellington. In the 1970s he played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company.

He took in 1935 for Banner ( " If The Moon Turns Green " under the band name Taft Jordan & The Mob ) and as head of his own band 1960/61, under his own name (including a tribute album to Ellington Mood Indigo at Prestige 1961). Throughout his career, he also participated in recordings of Benny Carter, Al Hibbler / Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Rex Stewart, and Sarah Vaughan.

Disco Graphical Notes

• The Moods of Taft Jordan ( Mercury, 1958) with Everett Barksdale and Joe Benjamin
• Plays Duke Ellington ( Prestige / Moodville, 1961)
• Al Sears / Taft Jordan - Swingville ( Prestige, 1961)