Jazz Articles about Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon And Eric Reed: We

by C. Michael Bailey
June 1, 2002

Concerto for Wycliffe?

In classical music, this would be termed a trombone recital. Wycliffe Gordon, arguable the finest trombonist practicing, joins uber-pianist Eric Reed for an assembly of standards, originals and spirituals. The duet is pentultimately the most spare of formats to play within. This spareness is relieved to a degree by Reed's pungently orchestral approach to the piano. I cite his playing on “The Lord's Prayer," “Precious Lord Take My Hand," and “He Looked Beyond My Fault," where he ...

The Herbie Nichols Project: Strange City

by C. Andrew Hovan
December 1, 2001

Since 1992, the Herbie Nichols Project has been dedicated to performing the music of a gentleman who in his lifetime was sadly neglected but who left behind a body of work just as idiosyncratic and distinctive as that of Thelonious Monk. Following their two previous releases, Dr. Cyclop’s Dream and Love Is Proximity, the group now makes their debut on the Palmetto label with Strange City, a program made up almost exclusively by tunes that Nichols never recorded himself. Arguably, ...

The Herbie Nichols Project: Strange City

by Mark Corroto
November 1, 2001

The Herbie Nichols Project releases its third recording of the one-time lost genius, Herbie Nichols. Co-led by bassist Ben Allison and pianist Frank Kimbrough, the HNP was created as part of the Jazz Composers Collective, a non-profit musician-run organization, to present original music. By choosing the work of Nichols, Allison and Kimbrough have re-ignited interest in a true genius of modern music.Herbie Nichols, born in 1919 in New York of immigrant parent from St. Kitt and Trinidad, was ...

Wycliffe Gordon: The Search

by Jack Bowers
September 1, 2001

Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who has been honing his chops of late with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, puts them to exceedingly good use on his second impressive album in a row for Germany’s splendid Nagel–Heyer label. Gordon has to be on his toes, as he’s pushed hard on a number of selections by his invited guests, several of whom are (or were) colleagues in the LCJO — saxophonists Victor Goines, Ted Nash and Walter Blanding Jr.; trumpeter Marcus Printup, trombonist ...

Wycliffe Gordon: The Search

by Dave Nathan
February 1, 2001

Nagel Heyer knows a good thing when it sees or rather, hears it. It has brought trombonist Wycliffe Gordon to the studio or captured him at live performances several times during the year, either, as here, as a leader or as a sideman with other Nagel Heyer jazz artists. Judging from the play list expand Gordon's recorded output. Consequently, the CD's agenda includes not only some classic standards, but modern music by Thelonious Monk, a couple of blues things and ...

Wycliffe Gordon: The Search

by Dave Nathan
February 1, 2001

Nagel Heyer knows a good thing when it sees or rather, hears it. It has brought trombonist Wycliffe Gordon to the studio or captured him at live performances several times during the year, either, as here, as a leader or as a sideman with other Nagel Heyer jazz artists. Judging from the play list expand Gordon's recorded output. Consequently, the CD's agenda includes not only some classic standards, but modern music by Thelonious Monk, a couple of blues things and ...

Wycliffe Gordon: The Search / Uptown Lowdown

by C. Michael Bailey
January 1, 2001

Wycliffe Gordon accepts the trombone mantle from Al Grey and turns in his best performances to date.

Just when I was prepared to anoint Uri Caine's Goldberg Variations the best disc to cross my path this year, Nagel-Heyer sends me their much-anticipated release by Wynton Marsalis-Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and additional discs containing performances by that same hornman. A remarkable thing about Marsalis is that he can teach and limit at the same time. While I love his and his band's ...