Taft Jordan was a distinguished trumpeter renowned for his early career resemblance to Louis Armstrong in both trumpet playing and vocals. He gained prominence when he joined Chick Webb's orchestra, where he served as a primary trumpet soloist alongside Bobby Stark from 1933 to 1942. Jordan's rendition of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" was so reminiscent of Armstrong's style that it led to some confusion among listeners. Before his tenure with Webb, he played and recorded with the Washboard Rhythm Kings. After Webb's death, Jordan continued with the band under the leadership of Ella Fitzgerald.

In the mid-1940s, Jordan joined Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he further honed his unique sound and gained significant recognition. Following his time with Ellington, he worked at the Savannah Club in New York with Lucille Dixon from 1949 to 1953 and toured with Benny Goodman in 1958. Throughout his career, he also played in show bands and with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, in addition to leading his own group.

As a recording artist, Taft Jordan recorded four titles as a leader in 1935 and released albums for Mercury, Aamco, and Moodsville in 1960-1961. Despite maintaining a lower profile in his later years, Jordan's contributions to jazz remain noteworthy, particularly his ability to evolve from an Armstrong sound-alike to a musician with his own distinct style.