There are many ways to think about chords in jazz. Most of the published ones show voicings as "things." Things like shells, A and B, inversions, etc.
But there's another way to chords through Bach and voice leading and counterpoint. I've posted an introduction on my blog:
http://www.polishookstudio.com/2013/09/jazz-piano-voice-leading-fred-hersch.html- with examples from Bach and a link to a Fred Hersch masterclass in Downbeat where he talks about Bach chorales and voice leading.
Voiced leading in jazz through Bach and Fred Hersch