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Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.

ALBUM REVIEW October 31, 2009

Jon Gordon: Evolution

Read "Evolution" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

Evolution, from saxophonist and composer, Jon Gordon, is a fine record. It sparkles with mature ideas, unbridled creativity, and soul-searching profundity. There is also polished musicianship throughout. This is where the special quality of the music of this record lies--that it is not just built on an ediface of ideas suggested by its title, but on the superb development and delivery of these through an extravagantly aural suite. To that extent this work is not unlike some others including the ...

ALBUM REVIEW July 19, 2008

Jon Gordon: Within Worlds

By Budd Kopman

Alto saxophonist Jon Gordon, despite having a discography going back to 1992, remains underappreciated as a leader. Hopefully, Within Worlds will correct that and introduce him to a larger audience. The album presents Gordon's distinct musical personality and thus has the feel of an integrated work, despite containing sessions ranging from 2002 to 2007. The sessions are not only disparate in time, but in configuration, using familiar players in three different trios and one quintet.

ALBUM REVIEW February 6, 2008

Jon Gordon: Within Worlds

By Ken Dryden

Jon Gordon is easily one of the top alto saxophonists of his generation. He is well-versed in bop, though his eleventh CD as a leader (and second for ArtistShare) covers a lot of new ground, compiling music from several different sessions and focusing exclusively on his stimulating originals. His quintet session with pianist Kevin Hays, guitarist Ben Monder, bassist Joe Martin and drummer Bill Stewart actually predates the debut of the ArtistShare label, but these tracks are ...

ALBUM REVIEW November 1, 1999

Jon Gordon: The Things We Need

By C. Andrew Hovan

Although he placed in the Thelonious Monk saxophone competition a few years back, alto man Jon Gordon has yet to receive the dues he's owed as a rooted mainstream player. He's been active on the New York scene for close to a decade, recorded a number of times as a sideman for Criss Cross, led three of his own dates for the same, and is now making his debut on Double-Time. In a slightly unsettling way however, The Things We ...