www.derekbrownsax.com
Innovative “BeatBox Sax” creator Derek Brown will make a stop on his “FiftyFifty” Tour to open for Wycliffe Gordon and join the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble for an after party at Bar Figaro following the concert.
Wycliffe Gordon is an internationally acclaimed trombonist and interpreter of America’s music - jazz. He has 21 solo recordings and is a former longtime member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The Jazz Journalists Association recently named him “2018 Trombonist of the Year” for the 11th time.
Wycliffe Gordon
Wycliffe will be performing big band classics and swinging originals accompanied by the Jazz Masterworks Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Gardiner.
Wycliffe Gordon has had 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’s place in music history as one of the top trombonists of his generation. The critics seem to agree. Most recently, Jazz Journalists Association named him “2018 Trombonist of the Year” for the 11th time, and Downbeat Critics Poll named Wycliffe “Best Trombone” again for 2018 (2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). In January, Wycliffe received the coveted “Louie Award” presented by the Louis Armstrong Museum, for his dedication and commitment to the music of Louis Armstrong, and the International Trombone Association Award in 2017, 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.
In addition to an extremely successful solo career, Gordon tours regularly leading his quintet, Wycliffe Gordon and His International All-Stars, headlining at legendary jazz venues and performing arts centers throughout the world. This year they 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.
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 David Sanborn on several concert tours. 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 Artist-in-Residence at Augusta University in Augusta, GA. In addition, he has been named Visiting Artist in Jazz Studies at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD, and will help lead the inaugural music camp for Carnegie Hall—NYC Jazz this summer. Last year he returned as artist-in-residence at the James Morrison Academy in Australia and continued with Centrum and Vail music camps.
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. His musical compositions including works for trombone ensemble and big band are available for purchase on his website. For additional information visit www.wycliffegordon.com.