Jon Gordon & John Hasselback Quintet

Jon Gordon: alto saxophone

John Hasselback, Jr.: trombone

Lisa Hasselback: piano

Paul LaDuca: bass

John Bacon, Jr.: Drums

A native New Yorker, saxophonist and composer Jon Gordon was born into a musical family and began playing at age ten. He attended Performing Arts High School (known as the “Fame School). While still a high school student, Jon began sitting in regularly with Eddie Chamblee at Sweet Basil and started lessons with Phil Woods. As a college student in New York City, he began playing Charles McPherson, Doc Cheatham, Phil Woods, Mike Stern, Red Rodney, Roy Eldridge, Barney Kessel, Al Grey, Eddie Locke, Mike LeDonne, Mel Lewis, Larry Goldings, Ben Monder, Peter Bernstein, Leon Parker, and many more.

Jon is the 1996 winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Since the early 1990’s, Jon has worked with Maria Schneider, Ron McClure, Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, T.S. Monk, Rufus Reid, Aretha Franklin, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bill Charlap, Ray Barreto, Mark Turner, George Colligan, Chico Hamilton, Jimmy Cobb, Ben Riley, Harry Connick jr., Bob Mintzer, Bill Mobley, Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, Max Weinberg, The N.Y. Pops Orchestra, The Carolina Philharmonic, The Winnipeg Symphony orchestra, among many others. Jon also appears regularly as a member of the Jazz Nativity, whose other featured artists have included Tito Puente, Ron Carter, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Savion Glover, Slide Hampton, Harold Nicholas and others.

Jon has performed world-wide as a leader and sideman at numerous  European, Canadian and U.S. jazz festivals and clubs.  Recent N.Y. appearances include Dizzy’s, The Kitano, Smalls, Birdland, The Iridum, The Jazz Standard, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y, the JVC Jazz Festival, the Village Vanguard, Fat Cat, The Charlie Parker Festival, and others. He has been recognized  in many Down Beat polls in multiple saxophone categories and the composition category since the late 90s. His 1997 release, “Along The Way”, was selected by Peter Watrous of the NY times as the 2nd best jazz release of 1997. Jon’s 2008 CD, “Within Worlds” was selected by Down Beat as one of the top jazz recordings of the decade. His 2009 recording, “Evolution”, was selected by several jazz journalists and publications as one of the best CDs of the year, as was his 2021 CD, “Stranger Than Fiction”. It was also nominated for a JUNO award for best jazz release of 2021. His most recent  recording, “7th Ave South”, was released in 2024. Jon currently divides his time between a busy playing schedule in New York City and teaching as Professor at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg.

John Hasselback, Jr.

Trombonist John Hasselback, Jr. has been very active performing across the United States and Europe. He is a highlighted soloist on recordings with Gap Mangione, Kenny Wheeler, and Don Menza. “Menza Lines,” recorded live in Los Angeles at the “Stratospheric” celebration of Maynard Ferguson’s 75th birthday, was selected as one of the top releases of 2005 by the critics of Jazz Times Magazine. John was a featured member of the Don Menza Quintet, performing in Munich Germany, and has also been a member of the Ron Carter “Great Big Band,” playing at Birdland in New York City.  He is a member of the Dameronia Legacy All Stars, and has performed across Europe and New York City with this band along with fellow sidemen Gary Smulyan, Dick Oatts, Jon Gordon, Joe Magnarelli and the late Jim Rotondi.