Gordon Goodwin is obsessed. As a three time Emmy Award winner and a double Grammy nominee, you would think that Goodwin had fulfilled his dreams and achieved all of his goals. But, that isn't the case - not by a long shot. You see, Gordon Goodwin can't stop writing music. It's his passion, his siren, and, yes, his obsession. Enjoying a rich and varied career as a composer, arranger, conductor and musician, he has done it all in a never-ending pursuit of his muse.
Most recently, this search led him to release "Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band ‘Swingin' For the Fences'" and has garnered him two Grammy nominations as a result.
Goodwin is especially proud of this new record because he got to work with his 18-piece ensemble, The Big Phat Band, and was able to collaborate with some of the leading jazz musicians on today's scene, including Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Daniels, Eric Marienthal, Brandon Fields, Dan Higgins and Carl Verheyen. With the production team of Goodwin, Jon Baker and Dan Savant, they explore a wide range of styles from jazz and salsa to funk and blues. "I never wanted to be boxed into one genre or style" he proclaims, "and always liked different kinds of music from R&B to classical."
Indeed, for as long as he can remember, Goodwin has heard an array of musical arrangements in his head. Not just snippets or melody lines, mind you, but whole compositions from beginning to end. This almost preternatural talent brought him into the world of music and to the attention of music supervisors and producers.
Over the years, Goodwin has scored countless television programs, jingles and films. He also composed and arranged scores for theme parks including Disney World, Epcot Center and Universal Studios, as well as personally conducting metropolitan orchestras. He has written for, recorded and performed with superstars and icons including Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, Mel Torme and David Foster, to name a few.
Looking at Goodwin's musical resume one wonders if he ever sleeps. Pages of accomplishments and accolades leads to the inescapable conclusion that Gordon Goodwin is either a classic overachiever or a phenomenal genius. Ask him about it, though, and you'll get an entirely different perspective. "It surprises me," he reveals, " because I don't feel any different than when I started out." According to him, the reason is simple. "Music is the point of it all. There's always another tune to write, or a gig to play. And, honestly, I get off on the process of doing it more than the accolades."
So, what's next for this gifted maestro? He reflects, "My ultimate vision is to make big band music so accessible that even a non-jazz person can be moved by the energy and be able to get into it." If Goodwin's past experience is any indication, he'll probably be able to do more than that. In fact, it could be much more. Gordon Goodwin may, single-handedly, bring big band music back into the mainstream.
