Released in 1963 on Blue Note Records, Portrait of Sheila is the stunning debut album by jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan—and a rare vocal-led release on the legendary label. Backed by Barry Galbraith on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Denzil Best on drums, Jordan delivers an intimate, harmonically sophisticated performance that defies the era’s expectations for female jazz singers. Her phrasing is inventive, her tone pure, and her ability to improvise over complex chord changes foreshadows the vocal jazz revolution to come.

Right in time for Jazz Appreciation Month the Blue Note LP series continues on with five new titles. During the Blue Note 75th anniversary celebration the label released 100 essential Blue Note LPs and asked New York Times readers what titles they'd like to see make the list. These five new reissues were hand-selected by Blue Note President, Don Was, based on New York Times reader recommendations.

Reviews

"An understated masterpiece—Jordan sings with daring restraint, bending and reshaping melodies with a bebop musician’s ear." – DownBeat

"Her voice is cool and vulnerable, but with a steel spine of musicianship. Portrait of Sheila feels like a private recital—unfiltered, expressive, and unshakably honest." – AllMusic

"This debut didn’t just announce a new jazz singer—it quietly changed the possibilities of vocal jazz." – The New York Times

"Jordan sculpts space and silence like an instrumentalist, pushing vocal phrasing into thrilling new territory." – The Guardian

"A cult classic and a touchstone for generations of vocal improvisers." – JazzTimes