Bud Gordon has been a musician since grade school and has performed in many musical settings over the years.
Bud grew up in Los Angeles and attended Eagle Rock H.S. with well known Jazzer Musicians Bassist Scott Colley, Guitarist Larry Koonse, legendary Trumpeter Roger Ingram, Rock Star Guy Allison, Bassist David Stone, Drummer Carlos Vega and many others who attended school in the hidden burg with the now legendary music program led by John T. Rinaldo.
After graduation Bud had a hectic summer auditioning for Ray Charles, preparing for the Monterey Jazz Festival All-star band that would back George Duke, Thad Jones, Benny Golson, Kenny Burrell and John Stowell on performances of music commissioned for the band.
The successful audition resulted in Bud joining The Ray Charles Orchestra as First Trumpeter on a band filled with jazz legends, decades-long Charles associates, and musicians whose names would become world known in subsequent years.
After touring, Bud freelanced in L.A. in a number of Jazz, Salsa, Funk, and Pop/rock bands. During this time he also performed in a variety of recording situations, including recording some of the first music and sound for the ground breaking cartoon “Ren & Stimpy“.
After moving to Colorado Springs, Bud joined the Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band, performed in musical productions at the FAC’s Repertory Theater (including “Oklahoma!”, “Peter Pan”, “Sweet Charity”, “42nd Street”, Sondheim‘s “Assassins” and Andrew Lloyd Weber‘s “Evita” and “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” among many others), performed the musical “Chicago” and with Frank Sinatra tribute artist Steve Lippia at the Pikes Peak Center, and has created world class music with the area’s finest musicians.
With drummer and percussionist Dennis Bueno, Bud co-founded Colorado Springs Salsa band Orquesta Sabroso. Here’s “La Pixina Caliente” with music by John LeFebvre and words by Julio Garcia. The great arrangement, hinting at Tower of Power at the end, is by John.
Bud has performed at the Red Note Jazz Festivals in Colorado Springs both with his own latin jazz sextet and as a member of ensembles led by Brad Eastin and Alan Joseph. With his current group, Bud has refocused on the jazz classics that inspired his love for jazz and the urge to create. Along with jazz and funk standards, the group performs contemporary, latin-infused jazz with sophisticated harmonies and a crackling three-horn front line.
Below: Recording of “RE: Person I Knew” at Frankie’s in Pueblo with Kim Stone on bass, Sam Panunnzio on piano, Jerry Crockwell on drums, and Butch Eversole on alto saxophone.
The Colorado Springs FAC Rep Theater production of 42nd Street
Some more from the Ray Charles Orchestra and the 1979 tour that I was part of. Both cuts are from Austin City Limits recorded in November of that year. First, “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning” from the musical Oklahoma.
Below is “Some Enchanted Evening” from the musical “South Pacific”.
Contact Bud here: bud@unconventionalwisdomjazz.com or on Facebook.