Jazz Child

A Portrait of Sheila Jordan

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Music Styles, Jazz & Blues, Jazz, Biography & Memoir, Composers & Musicians
Cover of the book Jazz Child by Ellen Johnson, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ellen Johnson ISBN: 9780810888371
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Publication: September 12, 2014
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Language: English
Author: Ellen Johnson
ISBN: 9780810888371
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication: September 12, 2014
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Language: English

When Sheila Jordan dropped a nickel in the juke box of a Detroit diner in the 1940s and heard “Now’s The Time” by Charlie Parker, she was instantly hooked—and so began a seventy-year jazz journey. In 1962, she emerged as the first jazz singer to record on the prestigious Blue Note label with her debut album Portrait of Sheila. Exploding on the jazz scene, this classic work set the bar for her career as an iconic jazz vocalist and mentor to other promising female vocalists. As The New York Times then announced, “Her ballad performances are simply beyond the emotional and expressive capabilities of most other vocalists.”

Jazz Child: A Portrait of Sheila Jordan, as the first complete biography about this remarkable singer’s life, reveals the challenges she confronted, from her growing up poor in a Pennsylvania coal mining town to her rise as a bebop singer in Detroit and New York City during the 1950s to her work as a recording artist and performer under the influence of and in performance with such jazz luminaries as Charlie Parker, George Russell, Lennie Tristano, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, and Thelonious Monk. Jordan’s views as a woman living the jazz life in an era of racial and gender discrimination while surrounded by those often struggling with the twin evils of alcohol and drug abuse are skillfully woven into the tapestry of the tale she tells.

With Jordan’s full cooperation, author Ellen Johnson documents the fascinating career of this jazz great, who stands today as one of the most deeply respected jazz singers and educators. For jazz fans, Johnson’s biography is a testament to a vanishing generation of musicians and her indomitable spirit is an inspiration to all walks of life.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

When Sheila Jordan dropped a nickel in the juke box of a Detroit diner in the 1940s and heard “Now’s The Time” by Charlie Parker, she was instantly hooked—and so began a seventy-year jazz journey. In 1962, she emerged as the first jazz singer to record on the prestigious Blue Note label with her debut album Portrait of Sheila. Exploding on the jazz scene, this classic work set the bar for her career as an iconic jazz vocalist and mentor to other promising female vocalists. As The New York Times then announced, “Her ballad performances are simply beyond the emotional and expressive capabilities of most other vocalists.”

Jazz Child: A Portrait of Sheila Jordan, as the first complete biography about this remarkable singer’s life, reveals the challenges she confronted, from her growing up poor in a Pennsylvania coal mining town to her rise as a bebop singer in Detroit and New York City during the 1950s to her work as a recording artist and performer under the influence of and in performance with such jazz luminaries as Charlie Parker, George Russell, Lennie Tristano, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, and Thelonious Monk. Jordan’s views as a woman living the jazz life in an era of racial and gender discrimination while surrounded by those often struggling with the twin evils of alcohol and drug abuse are skillfully woven into the tapestry of the tale she tells.

With Jordan’s full cooperation, author Ellen Johnson documents the fascinating career of this jazz great, who stands today as one of the most deeply respected jazz singers and educators. For jazz fans, Johnson’s biography is a testament to a vanishing generation of musicians and her indomitable spirit is an inspiration to all walks of life.

More books from Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Cover of the book Discovering and Using Historical Geographic Resources on the Web by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book How to Survive and Thrive When Bad Things Happen by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Continuity and Innovation in Honors College Curricula by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Latin American Popular Culture since Independence by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book One Bread, One Body by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Historical Dictionary of Indonesia by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Developing Critical Thinking by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Attachment Theory in Action by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book 1927 by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book An Introduction to the Geography of Tourism by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book The Shared Origins of Football, Rugby, and Soccer by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book The American South by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Food on the Rails by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book The Boxing Kings by Ellen Johnson
Cover of the book Geopolitics by Ellen Johnson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy