City College Center for the Arts & Jazzmobile in cooperation with New Heritage Theatre Group

Celebrate International Jazz Day with special guest

Wycliffe Gordon’s International All Stars & Friends

Wycliffe Gordon: A Musical Ambassador of Jazz

Wycliffe Gordon, a world-renowned trombonist, composer, and educator, has captivated audiences globally with his hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz. Celebrated for his masterful use of the plunger mute, exceptional technique, and signature sound, he is recognized as one of the top trombonists of his generation.

His accolades include being named “Trombonist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association an unprecedented 13 times and earning multiple Downbeat Critics Poll honors. He has also received the Louie Award from the Louis Armstrong Museum, the Sonny Award for jazz education, and the International Trombone Association Award.

A former member of Wynton Marsalis’s Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Gordon continues to lead his own ensembles, headlining prestigious festivals and venues worldwide. He has performed and composed for major films, television shows, and theatrical productions, including his acclaimed show Jazz à la Carte. His arrangement of NPR’s All Things Considered theme is heard daily across the globe.

Gordon’s extensive discography includes I Give You Love, Hello Pops: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, and Within These Gates of Mine, a film score for Oscar Micheaux’s silent classic (commissioned by Jazzmobile, Inc.). His collaborations span jazz, classical, and popular music, working with luminaries such as Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Dianne Reeves, and Arturo Sandoval.

Beyond performing, Gordon is a dedicated educator, serving as Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University and a Visiting Artist at Arizona State University. His instructional books and masterclasses inspire musicians worldwide. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he also designs signature mouthpieces with Pickett Brass.