“The streets weren't paved with gold and Rose petals [when I was young]. "Do I have a horn to sell this month to pay my rent, or what am I going to do?" It was what it was.” YoungPayStreetsMonthsGoldSellsRoseHornsPetalsRose Petals Author:Jon Gordon
“I saw a nice interview with Dave Binney recently. He was saying, "Man it was never easy. It's not like 'Oh wow, the good old days.' What, when certain people couldn't vote?" There was more work for musicians in the '40s, '50s, '60s. But I don't think it was ever easy.” PeopleThinkingMenCertainEasySawsNiceMusicianVoteInterviewsWowOld DaysDaveGood Old Days Author:Jon Gordon
“[Winning the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition]definitely opened some doors.” WinningDoorsCompetitionInternationalMonkSaxophone Author:Jon Gordon
“Earlier that year [1996], Ronnie Scott came to Visiones when I was playing with Maria and he hired me to come and play in his club in London, which I was gratified by. That allowed me to make some more connections.” YearsPlayConnectionsClubsLondon Author:Jon Gordon
“I had played some festivals with people and met and been around some good people, for sure. But what I say to my friends and students, anything like that with a grant or a competition, it involves a great deal of luck.” PeopleDealsStudentsMetsMy FriendsLuckCompetitionGrantsGood PeopleFestivals Author:Jon Gordon
“The best thing you can do is just go and have fun with [competition].” FunCan DoCompetitionHaving FunBest Things Author:Jon Gordon
“I was [ on Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition] with Ralph Bowen, and Joel Frahm, Jimmy Greene, John Ellis. You can't play the saxophone better than any of those guys play. So many of those things that those guys could do I wish I could do now, let alone then.” PlayGuyWishCompetitionInternationalMonkJimmySaxophone Author:Jon Gordon
“Many of the people I'm gratified to see have gotten acclaim like Mark Turner or Bill Charlap. Ed Simon or Maria Schneider or Jim McNeely or Scott Robinson. Ken Peplowski, who is a friend and somebody I admire a lot.” PeopleMarkBillsAdmireTurnerAcclaim Author:Jon Gordon
“A guy like Scott [Robinson] plays the whole history of music on every instrument you've ever heard of. He's just kind of an unparalleled genius.” KindPlayWholeGuyHeardGeniusInstrumentsHistory Of Music Author:Jon Gordon