After moving to New York in the early 1950s, she married Parker’s pianist, Duke Jordan, and studied with Lennie Tristano, but it was not until the early 1960s that she made her first recordings. One was under her name; the other was “The Outer View” with George Russell, which featured a famous 10-minute version of “You Are My Sunshine.”
In the mid-1960s, her work encompassed jazz liturgies sung in churches and extensive club work, but her appeal was narrow even within the confines of jazz. However, by the late 1970s, jazz audiences had begun to understand her uncompromising style a little more. As a result, her popularity increased - as did her appearances on record, which included albums with pianist Steve Kuhn, whose quartet she joined, and an album, Home, comprising a selection of Robert Creeley’s poems set to music and arranged by Steve Swallow.
A 1983 duo set with bassist Harvie Swartz, “Old Time Feeling” comprises several standards Jordan regularly features in her live repertoire, while the 1990s “Lost And Found” pays tribute to her bebop roots. Both sets display her unique musical trademarks, such as the frequent and unexpected sweeping changes of pitch, which still tend to confound an uninitiated audience. Her preference for the bass and voice set led to another remarkable collaboration with bassist Cameron Brown, who has been performing worldwide for more than ten years and has released the live albums “I’ve Grown Accustomed to the Bass” and “Celebration.” Entirely non-derivative, Jordan is one of only a tiny handful of jazz singers who fully deserve the appellation and for whom no other term will do.
Autumn in New York
Sheila Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why does it seem so inviting
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-knighting
Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds
In canyons of steel
They're making me feel
It's autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain
Dreamers with empty hands
And they sigh for exotic lands
It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again
This autumn in New York
Transforms the slums into Mayfair
Autumn in New York
You'll need no castles in Spain
Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park
It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again
Sheila Jordan's "Autumn in New York" is a quintessential jazz standard that captures the essence of New York during the autumn season. The lyrics express a mixture of emotions that fall brings: the excitement of new beginnings and the sadness of things coming to an end. The lines "Why does it seem so inviting" and "It spells the thrill of first-knighting" set the tone for the song, suggesting that autumn in New York is an invitation to fall in love for the first time.
The lyrics also paint a vivid picture of the city during the season, with "glittering crowds and shimmering clouds in canyons of steel" invoking the image of skyscrapers reflecting sunlight. The line "It's good to live it again" implies a sense of nostalgia and the desire to relive past experiences. The verse about "lovers that bless the dark on benches in Central Park" evokes a romanticized image of New York City in autumn, where couples can find solace in each other's company amidst the cooling weather.
Overall, Sheila Jordan's "Autumn in New York" captures the essence of the season in the city, boldly proclaiming that there's no better time or place to fall in love than during autumn in New York.
Line by Line Meaning
Autumn in New York
An introduction to the theme of the song: the beauty of autumn in New York
Why does it seem so inviting
Wondering why the autumn in New York is so enchanting
Autumn in New York
Repeating the focus of the song: the magical season in New York
It spells the thrill of first-knighting
The atmosphere of the autumn in New York creates the excitement and magic of falling in love for the first time
Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds
The bustling masses of people and the picturesque clouds in New York City
In canyons of steel
Referring to the tall buildings that make up the skyline of the city
They're making me feel
The city warrants an emotional response
I'm home
The feelings of familiarity and belonging that are instilled in the artist when they are in New York City
It's autumn in New York
Repeating the central theme: the beauty of autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York offers new beginnings and the possibility of finding love
Autumn in New York
Recalling the beauty of the season
Is often mingled with pain
The joy of autumn in New York can also bring to mind memories of heartbreak and struggle
Dreamers with empty hands
People with unfulfilled hopes and desires
And they sigh for exotic lands
These people long for far-off and idealised places
It's autumn in New York
The beauty of autumn in New York is still present
It's good to live it again
The artist is glad to be experiencing the season once more
This autumn in New York
Re-emphasizing the wonder of the season
Transforms the slums into Mayfair
Autumn in New York can make even the most run-down neighborhoods seem glamorous and beautiful
Autumn in New York
A reminder of the central theme
You'll need no castles in Spain
The beauty of the season in New York is enough to satisfy the listener-- they don't need anything else
Lovers that bless the dark
Couples who find romance in the dark of the park
On benches in Central Park
Central Park is a place where many find love and solace
It's autumn in New York
Once again, emphasizing the beauty of the season.
It's good to live it again
Reiterating the artist's appreciation of the season and New York City.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ishtapinks
Sublime. She may have been born in Pennsylvania and raised in Detroit but Sheila's exquisite performance of this tune says she is a New Yorker now.