The light went on when I heard Phil [woods] play, and I went like, "That is why I'm playing the instrument." So… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There's a famous story about Dizzy [Gillespie] and Art Blakey taking him aside, and spending a whole night-long talk with [Phil Wood],… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I was [ on Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition] with Ralph Bowen, and Joel Frahm, Jimmy Greene, John Ellis. You can't play… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
A guy like Scott [Robinson] plays the whole history of music on every instrument you've ever heard of. He's just kind of… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I never got to play with Art [ Blakey], but he was kind and spoke to me a number of times. He… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Phil wood] put on some [Igor] Stravinsky and say to follow the score, tell me to play me the opening to the… — 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
Earlier that year [1996], Ronnie Scott came to Visiones when I was playing with Maria and he hired me to come and… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Sometimes you think "Okay, well I'm going to play my horn, and I'm going to study Charlie "Bird" Parker solos or [John… — 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
![“The light went on when I heard Phil [woods] play, and I went like, "That is why I'm playing the instrument." So I got very inspired, I started going to clubs through a friend's mom in the city, again, another person who just completely opened all these doors for me and it was amazing how kind she…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/844/jon-gordon-1655_cities_the-light-went-on-when-i-heard-phil-wood_443064.jpg)
![“There's a famous story about Dizzy [Gillespie] and Art Blakey taking him aside, and spending a whole night-long talk with [Phil Wood], "Man we believe in you. You can play. So don't be walking around with a frown on your face or whatever, getting yourself into trouble. You have got a gift, and…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca5/jon-gordon-1655_art_there-s-a-famous-story-about-dizzy-gille_486307.jpg)
![“I was [ on Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition] with Ralph Bowen, and Joel Frahm, Jimmy Greene, John Ellis. You can't play the saxophone better than any of those guys play. So many of those things that those guys could do I wish I could do now, let alone then.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3bb/jon-gordon-1655_competition_i-was-on-thelonious-monk-international-s_843648.jpg)
![“A guy like Scott [Robinson] plays the whole history of music on every instrument you've ever heard of. He's just kind of an unparalleled genius.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/901/jon-gordon-1655_genius_a-guy-like-scott-robinson-plays-the-whol_915968.jpg)
![“I never got to play with Art [ Blakey], but he was kind and spoke to me a number of times. He said, "You know, the people who are working 40 hours a week. Those are the ones who are really paying dues. Sitting at a desk doing the same thing every day. We're really blessed to do what we do."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8e3/jon-gordon-1655_art_i-never-got-to-play-with-art-blakey-but_1156100.jpg)
![“[Phil wood] put on some [Igor] Stravinsky and say to follow the score, tell me to play me the opening to the Rite of Spring. Or, "I'm going to play you some 20th century obscure classical composer you don't know". Or, "Let's listen to some Charles Ives, let's sight read some Bartok violin duets"…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee1/jon-gordon-1655_20th-century_phil-wood-put-on-some-igor-stravinsky-an_1463042.jpg)
![“Earlier that year [1996], Ronnie Scott came to Visiones when I was playing with Maria and he hired me to come and play in his club in London, which I was gratified by. That allowed me to make some more connections.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/493/jon-gordon-1655_clubs_earlier-that-year-1996-ronnie-scott-came_2252458.jpg)
![“Sometimes you think "Okay, well I'm going to play my horn, and I'm going to study Charlie "Bird" Parker solos or [John Coltrain] or whatever." But as [Phil Wood] said to me, "Man, Bird listened to everything."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f4e/jon-gordon-1655_bird_sometimes-you-think-okay-well-i-m-going_2575076.jpg)
![“Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums [were in Sweet Basil]. All those guys really took care of me.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/400/jon-gordon-1655_basil_ernie-hayes-jimmy-lewis-and-either-belto_200776.jpg)