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Wycliffe Gordon enjoys an extraordinary career as a
performer, conductor, composer, arranger, and educator,
receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike.
Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging,
straight-ahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of
state to elementary school students. Gordon received the
Jazz Journalists Association 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002 and 2001
Award for Trombonist of the Year, and the Jazz Journalists
Association 2000 Critics’ Choice Award for Best Trombone.
In addition to a thriving solo career, he tours regularly
leading the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, headlining at legendary
jazz venues throughout the world. Gordon is a former veteran
member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Lincoln Center Jazz
Orchestra and has been a featured guest artist on Billy
Taylor's "Jazz at the Kennedy Center" Series. Gordon’s
extensive performance experience includes work with many of
the most renowned jazz performers of the past and present.
Gordon’s musical prowess has been captured on numerous
recordings, including nine solo CDs and three co-leader CDs.
His latest recordings, “Boss Bones” and “You and I” are
scheduled for release in June 2008. Gordon is featured on
numerous recordings with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra, and many others as evidenced in his
extensive discography.
Wycliffe Gordon is also a gifted composer and arranger. He
was commissioned to compose a vibrant new score for the 1925
classic silent film "Body and Soul" (notable as the screen
debut of Paul Robeson), which was premiered at the Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra’s 2000-01 season opening night
performance at Avery Fisher Hall. Gordon's "I Saw the
Light," a musical tribute to Muhammad Ali, was commissioned
and premiered by the Brass Band of Battle Creek in March
2004. Both works are scheduled for release on DVD in summer
of 2008.
Gordon’s compositions have been performed by the Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra, the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the
Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, the Brass Band of Battle Creek and
numerous other ensembles, and performed in programs
throughout the U.S. and abroad including concert halls in
New York, Los Angeles, Aspen, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Germany, London, Finland and Switzerland. Two of
Gordon’s arrangements are also featured as a part of the PBS
series "Marsalis on Music." Recent concert seasons have
included premieres of compositions by Gordon for a variety
of ensembles both in the Unites States and internationally.
The first in a series of print editions of his big band,
small ensemble and choir compositions will be available by
fall of 2008.
Gordon’s television appearances have included the Grammy
Awards, the PBS special documentary "Swingin’ with the
Duke," and two Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts with the
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra – "Uptown Blues, Ellington at
100" (a collaboration with the New York Philharmonic) and
"Big Train." Gordon also appeared in Ken Burns’ documentary
"Jazz." Other television appearances include "A Carnegie
Hall Christmas Concert" and "Live from Lincoln Center: The
Juilliard School at 100 Years." Gordon is featured in BET's
13-part series "Journey with Jazz at Lincoln Center" and was
guest artist and commentator in NPR affiliate WVIA's special
program on Tommy Dorsey (along with the late Skitch
Henderson, just days before Henderson's death). Gordon also
appeared with the Wynton Marsalis Septet in the feature film
"Tune In Tomorrow" starring Peter Falk, Keanu Reeves and
Barbara Hershey.
Gordon is
rapidly becoming one of America’s most persuasive and
committed music educators. His work with young musicians and
audiences from elementary schools to universities all over
the world is extensive, and includes master classes,
clinics, workshops, children’s concerts and lectures —
powerful evidence of his unique ability to relate musically
to people of all ages. Gordon is currently working on a
collection of trombone quartets, trios and duos to be
entitled "Trombone Majesty," with expected publication in
fall 2008. In addition, his first method book "Basic
Training, Exercises and Suggested Studies by Wycliffe
Gordon," a compilation of the materials, exercises and
approaches he uses in his teaching and in his own practice
regimen, will be released in August 2008.
Gordon
teamed with trombonist Joseph Alessi of the New York
Philharmonic and students in both of their studios at
Juilliard in creating and presenting the master class "Two
Sides of the Slide" for Jazz at Lincoln Center. The master
class is available in its entirety as part of a streaming
video series offered by the Education Department of Jazz at
Lincoln Center.
Gordon is the youngest member of the U.S. Statesmen of Jazz,
and in many tour performances has served and continues to
serve as a musical ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
Born in Waynesboro, Georgia, Gordon was first introduced to
music by his late father, Lucius Gordon, a classical pianist
and teacher. His interest in the trombone was sparked at age
twelve by his elder brother who played the instrument in his
junior high school band. Egged on by sibling rivalry,
Gordon’s relentless pleading of his parents led to his first
trombone. A year later, an aunt bequeathed the Gordon Family
her jazz record collection, and so began his passion for
jazz music.
Mr. Gordon endorses Greg Black mouthpieces and Yamaha
Trombones.
For more information visit
www.wycliffegordon.com |
