Famed Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and Southern Miss Brass Faculty Offer Free Live-Stream to Public

Thu, 10/01/2020 - 09:00am | By: Mike Lopinto

The brass faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi will be joined by internationally renowned virtuoso trombonist Wycliffe Gordon in a live streaming event set for Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.

The panel discussion will be streamed free-of-charge on the School of Music’s Facebook page at facebook.com/USMSchoolofMusic. Anyone viewing the live-stream will be able to comment and hopefully be addressed as part of the broadcast.

“Having this sort of access to discuss various topics from music, to jazz, to life experiences, is an amazing opportunity” said Dr. Ben McIlwain, associate professor of trombone and event organizer. “It has been a goal of mine to have him on the Southern Miss campus ever since I arrived in Hattiesburg and I am glad that we are able to have him on our virtual campus this fall. Wycliffe is an amazing musician and advocate for goodness and joy in all he does.”

Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at the Kennedy Center" Series. Gordon is also one of Americaʼs most persuasive and committed music educators; he is visiting artist in jazz studies at the Arizona State University in Phoenix, and is director of jazz studies at Augusta University in Augusta, Ga.

In addition to an extremely successful solo career, Gordon tours regularly leading his quintet known as Wycliffe Gordon and His International All-Stars, headlining at legendary jazz venues and performing arts centers throughout the world. He is commissioned frequently and has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music.

Musicians and ensembles of every caliber perform his music throughout the world and his arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe.

Wycliffe Gordon has an impressive career touring the world performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Jazz Journalists Association named him “2019 Trombonist of the Year” for the 12th time and Downbeat Critics Poll named him “Best Trombone” for six years.

In 2018, he received the “Louie Award” honoring his dedication and commitment to the music of Louis Armstrong, and received the International Trombone Association Award in 2017, which recognizes the highest level of creative and artistic achievement. In 2015, Gordon was presented the Satchmo award from the Sarasota Jazz Club, received the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize presented by the Swing Jazz Culture Foundation, and was named Artist of the Year (2015) by the Augusta Arts Council. He is also a past recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Vanguard Award, among others.

The Southern Miss brass faculty participating in the discussion are also excited about this opportunity.

“This online session will prove to be a 2020 highlight for both the faculty and students,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Adams, assistant professor of horn, while Dr. TJ Tesh, assistant professor of trumpet recalls, “Listening to Wycliffe Gordon’s playing has dropped my jaw so many times, I have scar tissue on my chin. Just incredible playing.”

For more information, please contact Ben McIlwain at ben.mcilwain@usm.edu.