Wycliffe Gordon & Friends
Emelin Theatre presents Birdland Jazz
Wycliffe Gordon & Friends
Saturday, February 28, 2026 @ 8pm
Save $10 on Tickets on Fall/Winter Performances
CODE: FRIDAY10
“Gordon’s musical imagination is vast, and he brings a warmth and humanity to everything he plays.”
– DownBeat Magazine
Acclaimed worldwide for his versatility as a composer, arranger, bandleader, vocalist, and instrumentalist, Wycliffe Gordon stands as one of the most influential figures in modern jazz. His artistry extends far beyond the trombone—Gordon is celebrated for his “deeply swinging, soulful presence” and being “a showman with an ear for tradition and a gift for connecting with audiences.”
For over three decades, Gordon has been named “Trombonist of the Year” fifteen times by the Jazz Journalists Association and honored repeatedly in the DownBeat Critics Poll. His arrangement of the theme for NPR’s All Things Considered is heard around the globe daily, and his compositions—ranging from chamber works to orchestral scores—are performed internationally.
Major milestones in his career include:
- Veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet (1989–1995)
- Original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (1995–2000)
- Featured guest artist on Billy Taylor’s “Jazz at the Kennedy Center” Series
- Performed alongside such greats as: Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Simon, Lionel Hampton, Joe Henderson, and many more
Gordon has over 300 recordings to his name and on stage, he leads with charisma, humor, and improvisation—drawing audiences into a night of blues, swing, spirituals, and originals that feel both timeless and freshly alive.
Offstage, Gordon is equally influential as an educator, serving as Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University and mentoring young musicians around the world.
Expect a guaranteed lively night with Wycliffe Gordon & Friends.
Emelin Theatre presents Birdland Jazz is pleased to be partnered with these Industry-Leading Musical Instrument Companies:
