Remembering Sheila Jordan (1928–2025)

We are deeply saddened by the passing of jazz legend Sheila Jordan. A pioneering vocalist, teacher, and storyteller, Sheila left an indelible mark on the world of jazz and on countless singers who had the privilege to learn from her.

Sheila was a beloved presence at JazzVoice.com from our earliest days. She gave four classes for us, and three out of the four classes, we went to her apartment in Manhattan so I could play piano for her, and we could run the Zoom so she didn't have to fight with the technology — it was such a wonderful time getting to spend those afternoons in person with her! Sheila’s warmth and humor always shone through, and her classes were as full of life as her music.

In 2023, Sheila joined us in person at the Virginia Beach Vocal Jazz Summit, where she performed a concert and led a workshop that inspired everyone in the room.

On a personal note, I (Alexis Cole) will always cherish the lesson I had with Sheila when I was just 20 years old. Even three decades later, her wisdom and generosity of spirit stay with me.

To honor her memory, we are making all of Sheila’s classes on JazzVoice.com free to watch for the month. They’re quirky, heartfelt, and capture Sheila in an intimate, relaxed setting—usually from her own living room—chatting about the music, singing a little, and sharing the stories only she could tell.

You can view her classes on this page: www.JazzVoice.com/freevideos

These videos are always available free to JazzVoice.com members or individually purchased for $15. But for this month, (until September 15) they’re open to everyone as we remember Sheila and celebrate her life in music.

Thank you, Sheila. You will be missed, but never forgotten.