[3] He received lessons from Reuss, who played rhythm guitar for Benny Goodman[4] In the early 1940s Jordan was a member of bands led by Will Bradley, Artie Shaw, and Teddy Powell.
[3] After serving with the Navy in World War II, he returned to music as a member of bands led by Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Glen Gray, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Boyd Raeburn.
[3] When jobs for rhythm guitarists disappeared as big bands dwindled, Jordan became a studio musician for NBC.
[3][4] During the 1950s, he worked with Gene Krupa, Mel Powell, Vic Dickenson, Charles Thompson, Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, and Benny Goodman.
[3] In the 1960s, he earned a living as a tailor, but from 1965 to 1972 he performed routinely with Tommy Gwaltney at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.[3] His last job as sideman was with DC area band leader/drummer Brooks Tegler where he played strictly rhythm guitar for eight years and recorded two CD's ("Keep Em Flying" and "And Not Only That!