It's astonishing to hear the variety of sounds Louis Jordan coaxed from the 12-bar phrase. Though his music was a foundation for future genres like rock ‘n' roll and soul, it stands on its own as expertly orchestrated big band music; dense, velvety brass and woodwind chords liquidate into smooth guitar licks and whirling organs in compositions like “Teardrops from My Eyes” and “Reet Petite and Gone.”