The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
We had a great educator [in the school band], a man named Larry Laurenzano. He was tough, but we knew that he… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I finally got to junior high and I got to start saxophone. There were a few of us that were in the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I asked all through third, fourth and fifth grade, when they were asking kids to be in the band, to be in… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
A tenor player named Bud Revels there at the time. A lot of really nice associations amongst the students. Garry Dial was… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I would sit in at a jazz brunch [at sweet Basil] with Eddie Chamblee, who was a great tenor player. Really a… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I went in [Sweet Basil band] and played with them, maybe half the gig for almost eight years or more. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[My mother told me] stories about Nat King Cole, and Miles Davis, and seeing pictures in later years with band leaders like… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Sometimes I would go on Sundays and play with Doc Cheatham. I was also playing in a band of teenagers led by… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Hearing Phil [wood] a lot, those few years especially when I was going to hear music and Tom Harrell was in the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I did do an off-Broadway show for about 15 months. '91 and '92. It was nice to have a steady paycheck for… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Justin [Di Cioccio] was [at Laguardia School of Arts]. He later took over at Manhattan. But I knew Justin through the McDonald's… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Walk down Forest Ave to Joey's Pizza like we used to do after performances, which doesn't exist anymore. We had a sense… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Manhattan School Of Music] didn't' have a jazz undergraduate program at the time so I played a semester in the big band.… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
We still talk about [school band]. Almost 40 years later. It's like people are talking about, "Man we need to have a… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I got to perform the [Jaques] Ibert Concertino Da Camera with a brilliant pianist at school named Chunga. I got to perform… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.” — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
It's very unlikely you're a genius, but, if you're ready to work at it hard and you want to listen to music all the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet some amazing… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I just lucked into a lot of good people man. In my life and through friends, and in the music, that really embraced me… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Every morning you have a choice. Are you going to be a positive thinker or a negative thinker? Positive thinking will energize you. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I was occasionally getting calls for some things. But I would say, 22 to 29 was a lot of scuffling. Hoping to get called… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There are a lot of people that impacted me. I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There's a lot of good people out here that want to help you grow and to help the music to continue to grow and… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums [were in Sweet Basil]. All those guys really took care of… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
![“We had a great educator [in the school band], a…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7dd/jon-gordon-1655_band_we-had-a-great-educator-in-the-school-ba_592776.jpg)
![“I went in [Sweet Basil band] and played with them,…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec8/jon-gordon-1655_band_i-went-in-sweet-basil-band-and-played-wi_1506826.jpg)
![“[My mother told me] stories about Nat King Cole, and…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e42/jon-gordon-1655_band_my-mother-told-me-stories-about-nat-king_1548773.jpg)
![“Hearing Phil [wood] a lot, those few years especially when…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ef/jon-gordon-1655_band_hearing-phil-wood-a-lot-those-few-years_2009771.jpg)
![“Justin [Di Cioccio] was [at Laguardia School of Arts]. He…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/275/jon-gordon-1655_art_justin-di-cioccio-was-at-laguardia-schoo_2555432.jpg)
![“[Manhattan School Of Music] didn't' have a jazz undergraduate program…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/196/jon-gordon-1655_band_manhattan-school-of-music-didn-t-have-a_2867269.jpg)
![“We still talk about [school band]. Almost 40 years later.…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a1a/jon-gordon-1655_band_we-still-talk-about-school-band-almost-4_2935248.jpg)
![“I got to perform the [Jaques] Ibert Concertino Da Camera…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01e/jon-gordon-1655_band_i-got-to-perform-the-jaques-ibert-concer_3097906.jpg)
