In addition to a thriving solo career, he tours regularly leading the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet headlining at legendary jazz venues throughout the country. Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and The Gully Low Jazz Band. Gordon's extensive performance experience includes gigs with Dizzy Gillespie, Nat Adderley, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Joe Henderson, Al Grey, Clark Terry, Branford Marsalis, Tommy Flanagan, Shirley Scott, Lionel Hampton, and Shirley Horn, to name just a few. Additionally, Gordon has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center series.

Gordon's musical prowess has been captured on numerous recordings, including five solo CDs and three co-leader CDs. His latest solo effort, United Soul Experience, was released in October 2002. Gordon is featured on numerous recordings with The Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and numerous others as evidenced in an extensive discography. Gordon is also featured on a to-be-released recording, produced by George Avakian, of previously unrecorded songs by Louis Armstrong.

Wycliffe Gordon is also a gifted composer and arranger. He was commissioned to compose a vibrant new score for the 1925 classic silent film Body and Soul (notable as the screen debut of Paul Robeson), which was premiered at The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra's 2000-01 season opening night performance at Avery Fisher Hall.

Gordon's compositions have been performed by The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and The Wynton Marsalis Septet, and included in programs at Carnegie Hall, The Gershwin Festival in Switzerland, Jazz Aspen/Snowmass, and as a part of PBS's Marsalis on Music series. The 2000-01 Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra's concert season brought premieres of compositions by Gordon for a variety of ensembles, including jazz bands, symphonic bands, and concert and gospel choirs in Russia, New York, and The University of Scranton.

Gordon's television appearances have been on the 1999 Grammy Awards, in the PBS special documentary Swingin' with the Duke, and in two new Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts – Uptown Blues, Ellington at 100 (a collaboration between The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and The New York Philharmonic) and Big Train with The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Gordon also appeared in Ken Burns' documentary series, Jazz. Television appearances also include A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert and Live from Lincoln Center. He has also appeared with the Wynton Marsalis Septet in the feature film Tune In Tomorrow, starring Peter Falk, Keanu Reeves and Barbara Hershey.

Gordon is rapidly becoming one of America's most persuasive and committed music educators. Currently serving on the faculty of the newly established Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School and serves as Artist-In-Residence at the School of Music at Michigan State University. His work with young musicians and audiences from elementary schools to universities all over the world is extensive, and includes masterclasses, clinics, workshops, children's concerts and lectures — powerful evidence of his unique ability to relate musically to people of all ages.

Born on May 29, 1967 in Waynesboro, Georgia, Gordon was first introduced to music by his late father, Lucius Gordon, a classical pianist and teacher. His interest in the trombone was sparked at age twelve by his elder brother who played the instrument in his junior high school band. Egged on by sibling rivalry, Gordon's relentless pleading to his parents led to his first trombone. A year later, an aunt bequeathed Gordon her jazz record collection, and so began his passion for jazz music.