Wycliffe Gordon
Wycliffe
Gordon has 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.
His trombone playing mixes powerful, intricate runs with sweet notes
extended over clean melodies, and has been hailed by The New York Times
as “masterful”. Gordon received the Jazz Journalists Association
2000 Critics’ Award for Best Trombone and has also earned the 2001
Jazz Journalists Association Award for Best Trombone.
In addition to a thriving international solo career, he tours and headlines
with his own ensemble at legendary jazz venues throughout the country.
Gordon is formerly a veteran member of Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra, and The Gully Low Jazz Band. Gordon’s extensive
performance roster has included gigs with Dizzy Gillespie, Nat Adderly,
Harry “Sweets” Edison, Joe Henderson, Al Grey, Branford Marsalis,
Tommy Flanagan, Shirley Scott, Lionel Hampton, and Shirley Horn, to name
just a few.
Gordon is rapidly becoming one of America’s most persuasive and
committed music educators. Currently serving as a member of the faculty
of the Jazz Studies Program of the School of Music at Michigan State
University. Gordon has also been appointed to the faculty of the newly
established Jazz Studies Program at the Juilliard School. His work with
young musicians and audiences from elementary schools to universities
all over the world include master classes, clinics, workshops, children’s
concerts and lectures, and is powerful evidence of his unique ability
to relate musically to people of all ages.
Born on May 29, 1967 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 to his parents led
to his first trombone. A year later, an aunt bequeathed Gordon her jazz
record collection, and so began his love of acoustic music.