Jon Gordon, a native New Yorker and saxophonist, was born to a musical family. He began playing saxophone at the age of ten. He also studied private saxophone and was a winner of numerous competitions including the Julius Grossman, Goldman Band and Performing Arts Concerto. He was a soloist with the Julius Grossman Orchestra, Goldman Band, and the Performing Arts Orchestra. Jon discovered Jazz music through a friend in his twenties. After a friend played him a Phil Woods record, he began to sit in with Eddie Chamblee at Sweet Basil. He attended Manhattan School of Music from 1984 to 1988. Jon started to sit in on Charles McPherson’s and Phil Woods’s sessions, Mike Stern, Jacky Terreson, and other musicians. He also worked professionally with Red Rodney (Roy Eldridge), Barney Kessel (1984-1988), Al Grey, Eddie Locke (1982-1988), Mike LeDonne (20), Mel Lewis, Doc Cheatham), Larry Goldings (1965), Ben Monder, Peter Bernstein, Leon Parker (1984-1988) He has been a part of the T.S.A., Clark Terry and Maria Schneider’s musical projects. Monk, TanaReid and Bill Mays of The Vanguard Orchestra, Ray Barreto, Mark Turner and Chico Hamilton have worked with him. Pops Orchestra, and many other artists. Jon is also a regular member of Jazz Nativity. Other featured artists include Tito Puente and Ron Carter, Dave Brubeck. Slide Hampton and Harold Nicholas are some others. Jon has led his own bands at numerous European, Canadian, and U.S. jazz festivals, clubs, including Ronnie Scott’s, The Pizza Express (London), The Sunside and The Sunset (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. The Wolftrap festiival. He has also performed as a sideman in dozens of clubs, festivals, and concert halls all over the world. Recent N.Y. performances include stints at Birdland, Birdland, Iridum and Smalls, Jazz Standard, Jazz Standard at the 92nd St. Y, JVC Jazz Festival at the Village Vanguard, Fat Cat, and The Charlie Parker Festival. Jon was awarded the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in November 1996. This important event was judged by Wayne Shorter and Jackie McLean, Joe Lovano (Jimmy Heath), Jimmy Heath, and Joshua Redman. from www.jongordonmusic.com
