Joe Gordon

Joseph Henry Gordon (May 15, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts – November 4, 1963, in Santa Monica, California) was an American jazz trumpeter.

His first professional gigs were in Boston in 1947; he played with Georgie Auld, Charlie Mariano, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker (1953–55 intermittently), Art Blakey (1954), and Don Redman.

In 1956 he toured the Middle East with Dizzy Gillespie's big band; he was a soloist on "A Night in Tunisia". Following this he played with Horace Silver.

After moving to Los Angeles, he recorded with Barney Kessel, Benny Carter, Harold Land, Shelly Manne (1958–60) and Dexter Gordon.

He recorded as a bandleader for two sessions, and appeared on one recording with Thelonious Monk.

He died in a house fire on November 4, 1963.

Discography

As leader

• 1955: Introducing Joe Gordon (EmArcy)
• 1961: Lookin' Good! (Contemporary)

As sideman

With Art Blakey

• Blakey (EmArcy, 1954)

With Donald Byrd

• Byrd's Eye View (Transition, 1955)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• World Statesman (Norgran, 1956)
• Dizzy in Greece (Verve, 1957)

With Barney Kessel

• Some Like It Hot (Contemporary, 1959)

With Harold Land

• West Coast Blues! (Jazzland, 1960)

With Shelly Manne

• Son of Gunn!! (Contemporary, 1959)
• At the Black Hawk 1 (Contemporary, 1959)
• At the Black Hawk 2 (Contemporary, 1959)
• At the Black Hawk 3 (Contemporary, 1959)
• At the Black Hawk 4 (Contemporary, 1959)
• At the Black Hawk 5 (Contemporary, 1959 [1991])
• Shelly Manne & His Men J.A.T.P./ Yesterdays (Pablo, 1960, Release 2003)

With Thelonious Monk

• Thelonious Monk at the Blackhawk - with Charlie Rouse and Harold Land (Riverside, 1960)

With Herb Pomeroy

• Life Is a Many Splendored Gig (Roulette, 1957)

With Horace Silver

• Silver's Blue (Columbia, 1956)

With Jimmy Woods

• Awakening!! (Contemporary, 1962)

With Various Artists

• West Coast Days - Live At The Lighthouse (Fresh Sound)