About Duke Jordan
Lived 1922 – 2006 (aged 84). Duke Jordan was an American pianist, composer, jazz musician, recording artist and musician.
Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American jazz pianist. and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School. An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regular member of Charlie Parker's quintet during 1947–48, which also featured Miles Davis. He participated in Parker's Dial sessions in late 1947 that produced "Dewey Square", "Bongo Bop", "Bird of Paradise", and the ballad "Embraceable You". These performances are featured on Charlie Parker on Dial.
Jordan had a long solo career from the mid-1950s onwards, although for a period in the mid-1960s he drove a taxi in New York.
As sideman With Gene Ammons The Happy Blues (Prestige, 1956) All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1956) – rec. 1950–1955 Blues Up and Down, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1970) – rec. 1950
With Eddie Bert Eddie Bert (Discovery, 1952)[10"] Eddie Bert Quintet (Discovery, 1953)[10"]
With Kenny Burrell Blue Lights Vols. 1 & 2 (Blue Note, 1958) Swingin' (Blue Note (JP), 1980) – rec. 1958 only
With Stan Getz Duke Ellington 25th Anniversary Concert (FDC (It) 1005) Getz Age (Roost RLP 2258) Hooray for Stan Getz (Session Disc 108) Move! (Natasha Imports 4005) Sweetie Pie (Philology (It) W 40-2) The Complete Roost Recordings (Roost CDP 7243 8 59622-2) Stan Getz Plays (Norgran, 1952) Stan Getz Quartet (Queen Disc (It) Q 013) Live at Carnegie Hall (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1003) Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 1 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1014) Live at the Hi-Hat 1953, Vol. 2 (Fresh Sound (Sp) FSCD 1015) That Top Tenor Technician Stan Getz (Alto AL 704)
With Cecil Payne Patterns of Jazz (Savoy, 1956) Cecil Payne Quartet and Quintet (Signal, 1957) Shaw 'Nuff (Charlie Parker, 1961) Cecil Payne Performing Charlie Parker Music (Charlie Parker, 1961) The Connection (Charlie Parker, 1962) Bird Gets The Worm (Muse, 1976)
With Sonny Stitt Stitt's Bits (Prestige, 1958) – rec. 1950 Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass (Atlantic, 1963) – rec. 1962 The Champ (Muse, 1974) – rec. 1973
With Barney Wilen Un Témoin Dans La Ville (Fontana (FR), 1959) – soundtrack for Witness in the City Barney (RCA (FR), 1960) – live rec. 1959
With The Birdlanders The Birdlanders, Vol. 1 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954 The Birdlanders, Vol. 2 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954 The Birdlanders, Vol. 3 (Period, 1957) – rec. 1954
With others Ernestine Anderson, It's Time for Ernestine (Metronome (SE), 1958) Chet Baker, No Problem (SteepleChase, 1980) – rec. 1979 Paul Bascomb, Bad Bascomb (Delmark , 1976) – rec. 1952 Art Blakey, Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (Fontana, 1960) – rec. 1959. Original Soundtrack with Barney Wilen. Tina Brooks, True Blue (Blue Note, 1960) Joe Carroll, "Joe Carroll" (Charlie Parker, 1962)[7"] Teddy Edwards, The Inimitable Teddy Edwards (Xanadu, 1976) Rolf Ericson, Rolf Ericson and his American All Stars (Metronome (SE) JMLP 2–105, EmArcy MG 36106) Art Farmer, Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige, 1956) – rec. 1955 Gigi Gryce, Doin' the Gigi (Uptown, 2011) – compilation Coleman Hawkins, Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra (Crown, 1960) Joe Holiday, Holiday for Jazz (Decca DL 8487) Howard McGhee, The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem, 1956) – rec. 1955 Charles McPherson, Beautiful! (Xanadu 115) Barry Miles, Miles of Genius (Charlie Parker PLP 804) Sam Most, Mostly Flute (Xanadu 133) Charlie Parker, Complete Charlie Parker on Dial, Charlie Parker on Dial (Jazz Classics, Spotlite) Oscar Pettiford, Oscar Pettiford (Bethlehem, 1954) Doug Raney, Introducing Doug Raney (SteepleChase, 1978) – rec. 1977 Dizzy Reece, Comin' On! (Blue Note, 1999) – rec. 1960 Louis Smith, Here Comes Louis Smith (Blue Note, 1958) Clark Terry, Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival (Vanguard 1974, VSD 79355) Doug Watkins, Watkins at Large (Transition TRLP 20) Julius Watkins, Julius Watkins Sextet (Blue Note, 1995) – rec. 1954–1955 Teddy Williams, Touch of the Blues c/w Dumb Woman Blues (Prestige 715)
Various Artists Birds Night: A Night at the Five Spot (Signal S 1204) Savoy (1958) (Savoy Jazz 2 LPs Celebration of Music of Charlie Parker) International Jam Sessions (Xanadu 122) Lestorian Mode (Savoy MG 12105) The Piano Players (Xanadu 171) Birdology vols. 1&2 (Birdology, Verve 1990 CDs)
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Important facts
People in Duke Jordan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Duke Jordan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Duke Jordan?
American jazz pianist (1922–2006)
When was Duke Jordan born?
Duke Jordan was born on 1 April 1922 in New York City.
When did Duke Jordan die?
Duke Jordan died on 8 August 2006 in Copenhagen.
What was Duke Jordan's occupation?
Duke Jordan was a pianist, composer, jazz musician, recording artist and musician.
What nationality was Duke Jordan?
Duke Jordan was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Duke Jordan. https://biography.guide/duke-jordan/
MLA: "Duke Jordan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/duke-jordan/.
Chicago: "Duke Jordan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/duke-jordan/.
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