2005 -2024 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc
Frank Gordon (September 27, 1938 - December 27, 2023)
trumpeter, composer after graduating from Milwaukee's North Division High School in Jan 1957 he
went to N.Y.C. for a few months, then to Milwaukee for a few months and then back to N.Y.C. to study
with Donald Byrd who, along with Cannonball Adderley convinced him to go back to Milwaukee and
enroll in Wisconsin Univ. in 1963-6. He moved to Chicago c. 1966 and enrolled in Roosevelt Univ.,
where he completed his B.A. in 1970. He earned an M.A. at Governors State University in Park Forest,
Ill. in 1977. During these years in Chicago he became an AACM member and also studied privately with
Bunky Green, Donald Byrd, Eddie Harris, and Muhal Richard Abrams (the latter continuing on and off
into 1985).
He moved to N.Y.C. in 1976 to join the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Band. He has recorded and toured
America, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Cuba with Lena Horne, Illinois Jacquet, the Charli Persip band,
Art Blakey, Muhal Richard Abrams, David Murray, Hank Mobley, Charlie Haden, Clifford Jordan, Quincy
Jones, Eddie Harris, the Duke Ellington band, Sam Rivers, and with his own groups. He won four NEA
grants to present concerts of his music including one with 16 strings at Merkin Hall, Manhattan, in
1988. In November 1997 three of his compositions, which were commissioned by the AACM, were
premiered by the S.E.M. String Ensemble in N.Y. He has taught trumpet since (1992) at Rutgers
University in Newark, and at the New School, Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps, and in public schools. He
was a founding member of Ebony Brass. He also typesets music professionally on computer and his
music notation appears in books of Lewis Porter, Jackie McLean and others. In 1999 he moved to
Savannah, Georgia, where he has taught music appreciation at Armstrong Atlantic State University.
He appears in the films Texas Tenor: The Illinois Jacquet Story; the Cotton Club; Thad Jones/Mel Lewis
Live at the Domicile; Lena Horne on Broadway.
Biography from Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians at jazz. com
aacm new york
aacm new york
Frank Gordon (September 27, 1938 -
December 27, 2023)
trumpeter, composer after graduating from
Milwaukee's North Division High School in Jan
1957 he went to N.Y.C. for a few months, then
to Milwaukee for a few months and then back
to N.Y.C. to study with Donald Byrd who, along
with Cannonball Adderley convinced him to go
back to Milwaukee and enroll in Wisconsin
Univ. in 1963-6. He moved to Chicago c. 1966
and enrolled in Roosevelt Univ., where he
completed his B.A. in 1970. He earned an M.A.
at Governors State University in Park Forest, Ill.
in 1977. During these years in Chicago he
became an AACM member and also studied
privately with Bunky Green, Donald Byrd,
Eddie Harris, and Muhal Richard Abrams (the
latter continuing on and off into 1985).
He moved to N.Y.C. in 1976 to join the Thad
Jones/ Mel Lewis Band. He has recorded and
toured America, Europe, Canada, Mexico and
Cuba with Lena Horne, Illinois Jacquet, the
Charli Persip band, Art Blakey, Muhal Richard
Abrams, David Murray, Hank Mobley, Charlie
Haden, Clifford Jordan, Quincy Jones, Eddie
Harris, the Duke Ellington band, Sam Rivers,
and with his own groups. He won four NEA
grants to present concerts of his music
including one with 16 strings at Merkin Hall,
Manhattan, in 1988. In November 1997 three
of his compositions, which were commissioned
by the AACM, were premiered by the S.E.M.
String Ensemble in N.Y. He has taught trumpet
since (1992) at Rutgers University in Newark,
and at the New School, Jamey Aebersold Jazz
Camps, and in public schools. He was a
founding member of Ebony Brass. He also
typesets music professionally on computer and
his music notation appears in books of Lewis
Porter, Jackie McLean and others. In 1999 he
moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he has
taught music appreciation at Armstrong
Atlantic State University.
He appears in the films Texas Tenor: The Illinois
Jacquet Story; the Cotton Club; Thad
Jones/Mel Lewis Live at the Domicile; Lena
Horne on Broadway.
Biography from Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians
at jazz. com
2005 -2023 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc
2005 -2024 AACM New York City Chapter, Inc