Wycliffe Gordon To Perform At Joy Of Jazz

Posted by TROPICS MAGAZINE on July 10 2012, 00:59am

Categories: #Culture & Entertainment

Wycliffe Gordon To Perform At Joy Of Jazz

The renowned musician will be making his second visit to South Africa to perform at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz which will be staged in Newtown, from August 23 to 25.

He joins an impressive list of international performers which includes mater musician Earl Klugh, celebrated jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, R&B veteran Clarence Carter, pianist Eddie Palmieri and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Gordon's last trip to this country was in 2006 when he came over as part of a musical initiative. He was the youngest member of the US Statesmen of Jazz (a touring ensemble featuring senior musicians) and in many of his performances he continues to serve as a musical ambassador for the US State Department.

Over the years Gordon has been highly honoured for his work. He received the Jazz Journalists Association Award/Trombonist of the Year last year, and was a recipient of the award on five previous occasions.

He also won the Jazz Journalists Association Critics' Choice Award for Best Trombone in 2000. He has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Flanagan, Shirley Horn, Joe Henderson, Eric Reed, Randy Sandke and Branford Marsalis, as well as top musicians from both the swing and traditional jazz worlds.

One of his career highlights, he said, was his stint with the Wynton Marsalis Sextet and playing music with the calibre of musicians in the band.

Wycliffe Gordon performs on the Dinaledi Stage on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25.