Gordon Brisker (November 6, 1937 in Cincinnati, Ohio[1] – September 10, 2004)[2] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Gordon Brisker
Birth nameGordon Brisker
Born(1937-11-06)November 6, 1937
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2004(2004-09-10) (aged 66)
GenresJazz
Instrument(s)Saxophone, Piano

Brisker began on piano as a child, and studied reed instruments at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.[1] He played with Ralph Marterie before enrolling in the Berklee College of Music.[1] Following this he worked with Al Belletto, Bill Berry, and Woody Herman (1960–63),[1] then moved to New York City, where he played with Louie Bellson[1] and Gerry Mulligan. After a short time back in Cincinnati, Brisker then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked extensively as a studio musician. From 1983 to 1985, Brisker taught at Berklee,[1] and during this time also arranged for Herb Pomeroy; after 1985 he returned to Los Angeles. He recorded extensively with Anita O'Day[1] and Bobby Shew among others, and recorded several albums under his own name. In the 1990s, Brisker moved to Australia and taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Brisker died of pancreatic cancer on September 10, 2004, at the age of 66.[2]

Discography

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  • Collective Consciousness (Sutra, 1980)
  • Cornerstone (Sea Breeze, 1983)
  • About Charlie (Musicraft, 1985)
  • New Beginning (Discovery, 1987)
  • The Gift (Naxos, 1996)
  • My Son John (Naxos, 2001)
  • Child's Play (Jazzgroove, 2004)

With Woody Herman

References

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Footnotes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who’s Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b Nolan, Clancy (20 September 2004). "Jazz Saxophonist and Composer Gordon Brisker Dies". Playbill.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
General references