Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Percy France told me, similarly, he and Bird used to hang out. They were good buddies. And he said, "Man, we'd just… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I left school December of 1988. I was 21 at the time. And I hadn't quite finished my degree because I had… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
One time, I think it was my third lesson third or fourth lesson. Kim Parker and he picked me up at the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There are great jazz educators that I meet all the time. I met a guy named Paul Luchessi who has a high… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Charlie "Bird" Parker] would sit down and ask [Phil Wood], "What do you think about this whole secondary Viennese school with Schoenberg,… — 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] 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
I didn't have time to deal with practicing in a way that I would have liked to. I wish I could have… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Larry [ Laurenzano] said to me one day near the end of junior high, "Jon, are you Jewish?" I said, "No." And… — 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
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
A lot of musicians have said things to me like, "Music saved my life". And "I'm standing on the shoulders of dozens… — 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
![“One time, I think it was my third lesson third or fourth lesson. Kim Parker and he picked me up at the bus station. And she just said, "Phil [Wood] has been up all night. He's heartbroken. Bud Johnson died last night." And Bud Johnson, like Zoot [Sims] and Al [Cohn] had been mentors to him.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f59/jon-gordon-1655_all-night_one-time-i-think-it-was-my-third-lesson_948959.jpg)
![“[Charlie "Bird" Parker] would sit down and ask [Phil Wood], "What do you think about this whole secondary Viennese school with Schoenberg, Berg and Webern? Are you listening to that music and what do you feel about it?" These were the conversations that he was having. And he also said, what he…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d1a/jon-gordon-1655_asks_charlie-bird-parker-would-sit-down-and-a_1110923.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] 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/img-quotes/815/jon-gordon-1655_car_phil-wood-said-to-me-in-the-car-going-ba_1411056.jpg)
![“Larry [ Laurenzano] said to me one day near the end of junior high, "Jon, are you Jewish?" I said, "No." And he said, "Well neither am I. I'm not sure of Caesar DiMauro, but he teaches at the JCC and I got you a scholarship there."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d1/jon-gordon-1655_ends_larry-laurenzano-said-to-me-one-day-near_1728956.jpg)
![“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/img-quotes/b0c/jon-gordon-1655_art_if-you-want-to-make-your-own-way-in-musi_1827416.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)