Jazz guitar player Steve Jordan, although not that well known to the jazz world at large, was one of the finest exponents of rhythm jazz guitar. Jordan originally studied the guitar as a child with his uncle Bartolo Loguidice, father of saxophonist Don Lodice. As a teenager he played in a band led by trumpeter Vic Hunter. Jordan went on to study in New York with Allan Reuss using various guitar method books.
From the late 1930s he was featured in the rhythm section of several big bands including those led by Artie Shaw and Will Bradley. In the late 1940s Steve Jordan spent short periods with the Stan Kenton, Glen Gray and Boyd Raeburn orchestras. He was often hired for studio work including some sessions produced by John Hammond and the N.B.C. From 1954-57 he worked with Benny Goodman and wrote some jazz guitar method books. Following this Jordan retired from music and worked as a tailor in New York and Washington, D.C.
Steve Jordan became a resident of the Washington D.C. area in 1965 and began to play jazz guitar regularly with Tommy Gwaltney’s group at the local Blues Alley club. In 1971 he joined the house band at this club. In 1977 he made his first recording as leader on the Fat Cats Jazz label. On this he sings and plays fine acoustic rhythm jazz guitar backed by Bill Goodall on string bass. His biography of his life as a rhythm guitarist, co-written with Tom Scanlan, was published in 1991.
Jazz guitar player Vic Juris began to study the guitar at the age of ten with a local teacher who initially taught him from some blues guitar method books. He was originally inspired by the pop guitar greats of the day such as Duane Eddy and Chuck Berry. It was after hearing a Johnny Smith recording at his teacher’s house that Juris decided he wanted to play jazz guitar music.
By the time he was eighteen Vic Juris had an advanced technique and musical knowledge. He began to play in local jazz clubs in New York and New Jersey and was soon recognised locally, by musicians and jazz fans alike, as being a talented jazz guitarist. In 1974 he met and impressed saxophonist Eric Kloss who featured Juris on his `Bodies’ Warmth’ recording. After this he was soon hired by other prominent jazz and jazz/fusion musicians including pianist Barry Miles. In 1975 Juris played with saxophonist Richie Cole and it was he who persuaded Muse Records to give the young guitarist a recording contract.
Since that time Vic Juris has established himself as one of the busiest jazz guitarists in the New York area. He worked for a while in a trio led by organist Don Patterson. This led to work with organists Wild Bill Davis and Jimmy Smith. In 1977 Juris went on the first of what was to be a series of regular visits to Europe. On this trip he played with the Barry Miles Group at the Berlin Jazz Festival. In recent years Vic Juris has also been featured on many recording sessions with prominent artists including Mel Torme, Phil Woods, Kenny Wheeler and Michel Legrand.