Sheila Jordan, Jazz Singer Daring in Song and Style, Dead at 96 #american #jazz #singer #died

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Sheila Jordan, who was recognized as one of the great singers in jazz although she never achieved the name recognition of a Billie Holiday or Sarah Vaughan, died on Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 96.
Sheila Jordan, the jazz vocalist who tugged at the boundaries of music whether she was scat-singing or freshly interpreting songs by Kurt Weill, Rodgers and Hart, or Jimmy Webb, died on Monday. She was 96. Jordan’s death was confirmed by her daughter Tracey Jordan, a music executive, who said her mother died in New York while listening to the bebop song “Bill for Bennie.”
Sheila Jordan, one of the great underappreciated voices in jazz, has died at the age of 96.
Her longtime bassist Harvie S told NPR that Jordan died Monday at her apartment in New York City.
Despite a career that unfolded in fits and starts due to racial tensions, a troubled marriage and the challenges of single motherhood, Jordan recorded one of the most beloved vocal jazz records of the 1960s, Portrait of Sheila on Blue Note Records, and was recognized 50 years later by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, the genre's highest honor.
Sheila Jordan, a pioneering jazz musician who earned critical acclaim, has reportedly died. She was 96.
Jordan died Monday, Aug. 12, in New York City, according to NPR and The New York Times.
A representative for Jordan was not immediately available for comment.
Known for her improvisational style and impeccable ear, Jordan rose from a childhood defined by poverty and addiction to become one of the most celebrated vocalists in the genre. Her 1963 album "Portrait of Sheila," recorded with the highly lauded label Blue Note, introduced her as a promising new songstress, and raked in rave reviews. It would be years, however, until she stepped back into the studio.
Sheila Jordan, a pioneering and fearless jazz singer known for her innovative vocal improvisations and distinctive bebop and scat style, passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 96. Renowned within the jazz community but often underappreciated in mainstream circles, Jordan's career spanned several decades during which she recorded more than twenty albums, including the acclaimed debut Portrait of Sheila released by Blue Note in 1963.
Her ability to improvise lyrics and perform with minimal accompaniment earned her respect and admiration, with jazz legend Charlie Parker famously calling her "the lady with the million dollar ears." Jordan was also dedicated to jazz education, teaching workshops and serving as a professor at various institutions.
In 2012, she was honored as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the highest jazz honor in the U.S. Jordan's passing marks the end of an era for one of jazz's most adventurous vocalists, remembered for her bold artistry and lasting influence on the genre.
Sheila Jordan died peacefully in her New York apartment, leaving behind a profound legacy in jazz music.
Sheila Jordan, a pioneering jazz singer known for her bold vocal improvisations and bebop style, died peacefully on August 11, 2025, at age 96. With a career spanning decades and more than twenty albums, including her acclaimed 1963 debut Portrait of Sheila, Jordan earned respect for her unique ability to improvise with minimal accompaniment. Jazz legend Charlie Parker praised her as "the lady with the million dollar ears." Honored as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2012, Jordan’s legacy as a fearless innovator in jazz endures.

SOURCE:-
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/arts/music/sheila-jordan-dead.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/08/12/sheila-jordan-dead-jazz-singer/85622824007/