She was revered in the jazz world as a chance taker who communicated an effervescent joy in the pure act of singing.
By Barry Singer
Aug. 12, 2025Updated 10:55 a.m. ET
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 in New York City. She was 96.
Her death was confirmed by her daughter, Tracey Jordan.
A daredevil improviser, Ms. Jordan always seemed to be singing first for her fellow musicians. Her taste was regarded as impeccable, and she did not pander. Because of this, and also because of the career-narrowing choices she made in her private life, she remained little known to the general public. Yet she never stopped singing, and those audiences that did hear her tended to adore her.
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