Wycliffe Gordon

Biography

Musical ambassador and interpreter of America’s music, Wycliffe Gordon experiences an impressive career touring the world performing hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz receiving great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. His unmatched modern mastery of the plunger mute and his exceptional technique and signature sound, has solidified Gordon a place in musical history known as one of the top trombonists of his generation.

The Critics seem to agree. Most recently, Jazz Journalists Association named him “2022 Trombonist of the Year” for the unprecedented 15th time, and his Downbeat Critics Poll for “Best Trombone” award count is at “six” (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). In 2019, Wycliffe was presented the “Sonny Award” by the Suncoast Jazz Festival for his commitment to education, and he received the coveted “Louie Award” presented by the Louis Armstrong Museum, for his dedication and commitment to the music of Louis Armstrong. In 2017, he was presented with the “International Trombone Association Award”, which recognizes the highest level of creative and artistic achievement. In 2015, Wycliffe was presented the Satchmo award from the Sarasota Jazz Club, received the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize presented by the Swing Jazz Culture Foundation, and was named Artist of the Year (2015) by the Augusta Arts Council. He is also a past recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Vanguard Award, among others.

Wycliffe Gordon tours regularly as a soloist and leading his own band headlining at legendary jazz venues, festivals and performing arts centers throughout the world. The group represented the US on a US State Department tour to Sri Lanka where they premiered a new piece written especially for the occasion by Wycliffe for the people of Sri Lanka’s 70th anniversary. Wycliffe has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music and is commissioned frequently. Musicians and ensembles of every caliber perform his music throughout the world and his arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe. His show “Jazz a la Carte” was named one of the five best moments in jazz by the Wall Street Journal. Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor’s “Jazz at the Kennedy Center” Series. He’s also a member of the Jazz Cruise “Hall of Fame.”
Gordon’s recordings are a model of consistency and inspiration. In 2016, he released his 21st solo CD recording titled “I Give You Love”—a follow up album to his very popular “Hello Pops: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong” cd. He also released “Within These Gates of Mine,” an original soundtrack and film score for the 1920’s silent film “Within Our Gates” by African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. His arrangements are frequently heard in film and television, including “Race” the biopic of track legend Jesse Owens, “NCIS: New Orleans”, “Manhattan”, and the Netflix show “White Rabbit Project”.

Other releases, “Somebody New,” a big band album featuring the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra, his “Hello Pops, A Tribute to Louis Armstrong” cd and “The Intimate Ellington: Ballads and Blues” continue to get rave reviews. His musical expertise is sought out by artists across the globe and has been captured on numerous projects and performances with other artists including most recently with Marcus Miller and David Sanborn. Others include Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Rene Marie, Dianne Reeves, Anat Cohen, Ricky Skaggs, Arturo Sandoval and Doc Severinsen to name a few.

In addition to performing, composing and recording, Gordon is one of Americaʼs most persuasive and committed music educators, and serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University in Augusta, GA. In addition, he continues as Visiting Artist in Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in Phoenix, and will return for NYO Jazz at Carnegie Hall this coming summer.

He has published several books including “This Rhythm On My Mind” with accompanying CD released in 2012 and “Sing It First”—Wycliffe’s own unique approach to playing the instrument, released in 2011. 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.

Wycliffe Gordon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has his own line of Wycliffe Gordon Pro Signature Mouthpieces by Pickett Brass, including the “Wybrid.” His musical compositions including works for trombone ensemble and big band are available for purchase on his website. For additional information visit http://www.wycliffegordon.com.

SPECIALTIES:
Jazz improvisation
Breathing
Jazz, gospel, pop, R & B, blues

LANGUAGES:
English