Primary Instrument: Sax, alto
A native New Yorker, saxophonist and composer Jon Gordon was born into a musical family and began playing at age ten. In addition to private saxophone studies he attended Performing Arts High School and won numerous competitions, among them the Julius Grossman, the Goldman Band and the Performing Arts Concerto competition. This led to performances as a soloist with the Grossman orchestra, Goldman Band and the Performing Arts Orchestra. In his mid-teens Jon’s love for Jazz began to bloom?”he began sitting in regularly with Eddie Chamblee at Sweet Basil and started lessons with Phil Woods. From 1984-88 he attended Manhattan School of Music. During this time Jon began working professionally including gigs with Red Rodney, Roy Eldridge, Barney Kessel, Al Grey, Eddie Locke, Mike LeDonne, Mel Lewis, Doc Cheatham and many others.
Since that time, he has worked with Maria Schneider, Ron McClure, Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, T.S. Monk, Tana Reid, Bill Mays, The Vanguard orchestra, Bill Charlap, Ray Barreto, Mark Turner, George Colligan, and the N.Y. Pops Orchestra, among many others. Jon also appears regularly as a member of the Jazz Nativity, whose other featured artists have included Tito Puente, Ron Carter, Dave Brubeck, Savion Glover, Slide Hampton, and Harold Nicholas. Jon has led his own groups at various European , Canadian and U.S. jazz festivals and clubs including, Ronnie Scott's and The Pizza Express (London), The Sunside, The Sunset, and La Villa (Paris), The Brecon Jazz Festival (Wales), The Oslo Jazz Festival, The Ottowa Jazz Festival, The Royal Caribbean Floating Jazz Festival, Savannah on Stage, The Savannah Jazz Festival, and The Wolftrap festival. He has performed as a sideman at dozens of other festivals, clubs and concert halls around the world. Recent appearances include stints at the Blue Note, Birdland, Iridum, Smalls, the Jazz Standard, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y, the JVC Jazz Festival, the Village Vanguard, Fat Cat, And The Charlie Parker Festival. In November of 1996, Jon won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Judges for this important event were Wayne Shorter, Jackie McLean, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Heath and Joshua Redman.
“Gordon has embraced the history of his instrument, carrying with it the ability to extend music as a universal language”-Wayne Shorter
...”a masterful young altoist with a brilliant future ahead of him”.-Joe Lovano
“Not only a great soloist, but also possesses a gorgeous tone”-Kenny Washington
“One of the finest musicians of his generation and deserves a great deal more recognition than he has recieved from the jazz media”.-Ken Dryden review of “Contrasts
Down Beat Critics Poll-Jon Gordon picked as one of the altoists deserving of wider recognition.
Jon Gordon's “The Things You Are” is a masterpiece!-AMG Review
“On his first Artistshare project, “The Things You Are”, Gordon proves that he is indeed one of the most accomplished saxophonists of his generation.”-New York Jazz Guide review
Mr. Gordon is a smart, self assured young alto saxophonist- a wizard in the post bop language.-Ben Ratliffe, N.Y.Times
Possibilities-w/John Scofield, Kevin Hays, Peter Washington, and Bill Stewart 2000 Doubletime Jazz
The Things We Need-w/Peter Bernstein, Mike Le Donne, Dennis Irwin, Eddie Locke, Kenny washington, and Ronnie Mathews-1999 Doubletime Jazz
Currents-w/Ben Monder, Ed Simon, Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart and adam Cruz 1998 Doubletime Jazz
Along The Way-w/Mark Turner, Kevin Hays, Joe Martin, and Billy Drummond 1997 Criss Cross
Witness-w/Tim Hagans, Mark Turner, Bill Charlap, Sean Smith, and Tim Horner 1996 Criss Cross
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Primary Instrument:
Sax, alto
Location:
New York, NY
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
New School, Manhattan School of Music, Purchase college, C.C.N.Y., et al. I am available for lessons but
recommend the teaching packages available on my website which include books I've written for students,
lectures, interviews, recordings, and other teaching info.
