Born in Iowa, grown in Missouri, and sprouting throughout the Midwest, Joel Gordon is a saxophonist and educator on a journey to cultivate relationship with music and people. As a musician and teacher, Joel strives to balance life on “both sides of the fence,” working in concert classical and jazz contemporary styles. oel became a bandleader and performing musician at the age of nineteen. With a group of high school and college friends from Kansas City, Joel formed the Trouble Clefs: a big band that convened during summer and winter school breaks. Over the course of three years and twenty-five concerts, the group evolved from entertaining at a backyard pool party to performing at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City, MO. During their run, more than fifty different musicians performed with the Trouble Clefs. Experiencing the connections and community with band members and audiences, Joel was inspired to become a musician and teacher. As a jazz musician, Joel recorded and released a full-length album with Kansas City-based jazz quintet, the Matt Cook Collective entitled “Along Those Lines.” As a part of the Collective, Joel has traveled throughout the Midwest not only playing at regional venues, but also putting on educational clinics for hundreds of public school students. As well, Joel leads his own “chordless” quartet, the Happy Habitat. The group has featured some of the top young saxophonists in the country including Artie Black, Stephen Martin, and Adam Larson. He also regularly performs with the Patrick Lentz Band, KC FLO, and the St. Joe Big Band. Joel studied jazz improvisation with Tim AuBuchon and Matt Otto; additional instructors include Bob Long and Neil Ostercamp. As well, Joel was admitted and attend the week-long residential David Liebman Saxophone Masterclass. Joel is passionate about advancing music through education. As a private studio instructor, Joel’s saxophone students have earned accolades both in the Missouri All-State Concert Band and the Missouri All-State Jazz Ensemble. His private students have also been accepted into and attended nationally-distinguished opportunities including the NAfME All-National Honor Concert Band, Interlochen Saxophone Institute, Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, and NYU’s Broadway Winds Summer Program. As well, Joel continues to develop his teaching curriculum resource, The (Young) Adventure’s Guide to Jazz Improvisation, in use with his students.
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