If you think your best days are behind you, they are. If you think your best days are ahead of you, they… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
When [Charlie Parker] saw the young guys, especially the ones that were scuffling... "Did you eat today?" And if you hadn't eaten,… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
If you go with that spirit, good things will come for you. If you go into it with an assumption that you're… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
If you want to make [your own way in music] it as a player, which is very difficult, as Art Blakey said… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Phil [Wood] was very passionate. Very committed. He felt very blessed that the people that cared about him and took him aside...… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two… — 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… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Bill Charlap and I recorded a tune that Jack [Montrose] wrote and had brought to a date with Bob that was untitled.… — 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… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I got to talk to people like Mel [Lewis] and Milt Hilton and Benny Carter and Clark Terry and... Jay McShann. I… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I don't know that there was a moment, like one specific moment where I was like "Ugh. Now what do I do?"… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I remember [Joe] Lovano came around to me at that time [of Monk competition]. And I had taken some lessons with Joe… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Love takes time. It's a process not a goal. Love is something that needs to be nurtured. But if there is one… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Did you know you can take your bus anywhere you want to go? Say yes three times with me. Yes, yes, yes.… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
The more energy you spend worrying about the people who didn't get on your bus, the less you will have for the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I have worked in the homes of many successful people and have seen firsthand that everyone fails in life, but failure can… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Phil [Wood] said to me in the car going back, he said, "Look man, you better know why you're playing this music.… — 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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A true leader doesn't lead to gain power. They lead to empower and give power away. — Jon Gordon Copy Share
We had Bob's [Gordon] records, and he's on Clifford Brown's first record as a leader. I believe it was Clifford Brown's first record as… — Jon Gordon Copy Share
Another classical music teacher from Performing Arts that I've stayed in contact with is Jonathan Strasser. — Jon Gordon Copy Share
![“When [Charlie Parker] saw the young guys, especially the ones that were scuffling... "Did you eat today?" And if you hadn't eaten, he'd take you and buy you some lunch.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/jon-gordon-1655_charlie_when-charlie-parker-saw-the-young-guys-e_1498226.png)
![“If you want to make [your own way in music] it as a player, which is very difficult, as Art Blakey said to me, "We're blessed to have the opportunity to do this." So just keep that in mind.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jon-gordon-1655_art_if-you-want-to-make-your-own-way-in-musi_1827416.png)
![“Phil [Wood] was very passionate. Very committed. He felt very blessed that the people that cared about him and took him aside... if he was out of line or drinking too much, being too surly.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jon-gordon-1655_blessed_phil-wood-was-very-passionate-very-commi_1490080.png)
![“If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys [Phil Woods and Charles McPherson].” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png)
![“Bill Charlap and I recorded a tune that Jack [Montrose] wrote and had brought to a date with Bob that was untitled. Bob [Gordon] really loved it and asked if he would mind if they dedicated it to Sue and call it "For Sue."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/jon-gordon-1655_bills_bill-charlap-and-i-recorded-a-tune-that_1290613.jpg)
![“I got to talk to people like Mel [Lewis] and Milt Hilton and Benny Carter and Clark Terry and... Jay McShann. I just found myself in some circumstances, on some gigs or sometimes in clubs, with the ability to talk to some of these people. Just being around their energy and being around that…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/jon-gordon-1655_ability_i-got-to-talk-to-people-like-mel-lewis-a_3052492.jpg)
![“I remember [Joe] Lovano came around to me at that time [of Monk competition]. And I had taken some lessons with Joe and I had seen Joe on the scene. He had always been so great to me, such and inspiration and so kind. One lesson that I had with Joe was just amazing. I'm just such a fan and an…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/jon-gordon-1655_admirer_i-remember-joe-lovano-came-around-to-me_2231915.jpg)
![“Phil [Wood] said to me in the car going back, he said, "Look man, you better know why you're playing this music. Because I've known too many who lived and died for it. And if you're not trying to change the world, I'm not interested."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/jon-gordon-1655_car_phil-wood-said-to-me-in-the-car-going-ba_1411056.png)