Saxophonist Joel Gordon is a professional performer and educator with over a decade of experience in both fields.
As a performer, Joel has worked in a variety of settings. In the world of classical music, Joel recorded and toured with {très} – the ensemble has performed throughout the United States on concert series, university guest recitals, and conference programs such as the American Single Reed Summit and International Saxophone Symposium. In the jazz community, Joel keeps an active performance schedule around the Heathland, leading his own groups including the Happy Habitat and the 18-piece Northland Big Band. As a sideman, Joel has performed and recorded with groups such as Brass and Boujee, Legerdemain, Matt Cook Collective, Vine Street Rumble, and Wing Walker Orchestra. As well, Joel works regularly with commercial bands including Lost Wax and KC Flo. Joel studied saxophone with Bob Long, José Zayas Cabán, Matt Otto, Neil Ostercamp, Randall Smith, and Tim AuBuchon and was a fellow in the Dave Liebman Saxophone Masterclass.
As an educator, Joel has been successful in roles including Platte County School District band teacher, KC Metro All-District honor jazz band clinician, Southwest Baptist University Jazz Festival guest artist, Kansas City Saxophone Workshop ensemble staff, and in several other adjudicating and coaching settings. Joel’s saxophone students have earned chairs in All-State Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles in both Kansas and Missouri and also have earned accolades with nationally distinguished programs including the NAfME All-National Honor Band, Interlochen Saxophone Institute, Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, Music for All “Honor Band of America,” and National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Jazz. As well, Joel directs an auditioned-based youth saxophone ensemble in the Kansas City Metro; the group was selected and performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) conference and the Missouri Music Education Association (MMEA) conference, collaborating with prominent saxophonists including Chad Lilley, Michael Shults, Shelley Washington, and Zach Shemon.
Currently, Joel lives in Kansas City, MO with his wonderful wife Megan and delightful daughters Ellie and Shiloh where the Gordons strive to spend as much time as they can together enjoying the outdoors and making music.
Joel Gordon 