Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon is a world-renowned jazz trombonist, arranger, composer, band leader, and music educator. Born in Waynesboro, Georgia, he attributes a religious and musical background and his father, Lucius Gordon, a classical pianist and teacher, as influencing the early direction of his music. Wycliffe developed an interest in jazz at age 13 after listening to an extensive jazz record collection bequeathed to his family by an aunt. He is a veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, an original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor’s “Jazz at the Kennedy Center” Series. Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz. His compositions have been performed by ensembles including The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, The Brass Band of Battle, and in programs throughout the US and abroad. His arrangement of the theme song to National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe. Wycliffe has worked with David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Rene Marie, Dianne Reeves, Anat Cohen, Ricky Skaggs, Arturo Sandoval, Doc Severinsen, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Shirley Horn, Joe Henderson, Eric Reed, Randy Sandke and Branford Marsalis, to name a few. A dedicated and inspirational educator, Gordon presents master classes, clinics, workshops, children’s concerts, and lectures to students from elementary schools to universities world-wide. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2018 “Louie Award” by the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the 2017 International Trombone Association Award, recognizing the highest level of creative and artistic achievement, the ASCAP Plus Award four times for his contributions as a composer, and the Downbeat Magazine “Best Trombone” Award six times.