Not one to be typecast by a decidedly mainstream background that included stints with Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orch., Wycliffe shows more sides to a versatility first hinted at by the the sounds of his album "The Gospel Truth". This new work finds his trombone in a number of settings, from funk to Ellington & even an impressive solo display. Joining him is Ryan Kisor, Victor Goines & Herb Harris.

On his eighth Criss Cross leader date, Wycliffe Gordon (awarded 2012 Trombonist of the Year by both the DownBeat Critics Poll and the Jazz Journalists' Asssociation) distills his exhaustive knowledge of the oeuvre of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on a wellcrafted, ten-piece program spanning a timeline from 1927 (Creole Love Call) to 1967 (The Intimacy of the Blues).

Wycliffe Gordon's fourth Criss Cross release features tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake and drummer Bill Stewart, who appeared also on the trombonist's critically acclaimed 2002 recording, "United Soul Experience" (CRC #1224), plus Hammond B3 organist Sam Yahel and guitarist Peter Bernstein. The mixture of familiar and new company fuels Gordon's prodigious talents as a composer, arranger, and soloist. Utilizing various combinations of instruments, he creates an eclectic yet coherent program out of funky jazz grooves, blues, and ballads.

This is trombonist Wycliffe Gordon's fifth outing as a leader on Criss Cross and perhaps his most personal statement. Augmenting a strong roots-to-modern jazz sextet with a gospel choir from Georgia, his home state, Gordon presents a joyful noise, referencing the vocabularies of Armstrong, Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton with an eye keenly honed in on the present day. In the band: Marcus Printup on trumpet, Victor Goines on saxes and clarinet, Eric Reed on piano with bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Alvin Atkinson Jr..

On Wycliffe Gordon's eighth effort as a leader for Criss Cross the multi-talented former Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra trombonist who they call Cone teams up with versatile trumpeter Terell Stafford (aka Staff) in a brassy quintet with a smoking rhythm section that features label regulars, pianist Mike LeDonne and Kenny Washington (back from Gordon's previous date) and the gifted young bassist David Wong, making his first Criss Cross appearance. The players all shine, both individually and as a cohesive unit, on a appealing swing-to-bop program comprised of jazz originals and classics, standards and blues.

Wycliffe Gordon's sixth effort for Criss Cross features the trombonist with the biggest sound around in a program comprised predominantly of original blues. Gordon demonstrates his mastery of that most versatile African American art form, playing slow, fast, sad, reverent and raucous variations, accompanied by his regular working trio of Jazz Messengers alumnus Johnny O'Neal at the piano and the New Orleans rhythm team of bassist Reginald Veal, and drummer Herlin Riley. Joining the quartet, making his Criss Cross debut, is Muskegon Heights and Michigan tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard, whose deep dark soulful tone perfectly complements the similarly endowed leader.

This debut Atlantic release teams the 2 finest jazz trombone players of their generation: Wycliffe Gordon, part of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Ron Westray, also a Lincoln Center member, known for his work with pianist Marcus Roberts. With a performing cast that includes Marcus Roberts, bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Herlin Riley, these 11 tracks (recorded in New Orleans) span a wide range of traditional styles - from blues to be bop to New Orleans swing.

After his successful gospel and mainstream albums, trombone star Wycliffe Gordon presents his new all-star band on "United Soul Experience" playing some groovy, soul-oriented, hard swinging jazz. The band features new star tourist Seamus Blake, David Kikoski on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass and Bill Stewart on drums.

“In the jazz tradition, the jam session played and continues to play a vital role in the musical community. In that spirit, Steeplechase, a label built on tradition, has come up with a jam session series, pairing veteran players with up-and-comers as a way of spreading the word about musicians on the label.” (Matthew Miller – Allabout jazz).