Gordon Jackson

Gordon Jackson brings serious musical chops with a story that spans from Chicago’s music scene to Florida’s stages. Born to British immigrants on Long Island, Gordon grew up in the Windy City during the electric 1980s, where he cut his teeth on piano before discovering his true calling with brass and strings.

In high school, Gordon was that guy leading the brass section on trumpet, French horn, and baritone – but it was when he picked up guitar and bass that things really clicked. By college, he was deep into jazz bass, jamming with drumming legends Louie Bellson and Ed Shaughnessy at Lake County College. His talent caught attention fast, landing him tours across the country with The Rio Grande Band and eventually a full ride to Eastern Illinois University.

At EIU, Gordon was everywhere – performing with nearly every ensemble on campus, gigging with the Danville Symphonic Orchestra, rocking out with Charlotte’s Horse, and bringing the blues with Rev. Roberts Blues Band. He wasn’t just playing; he was teaching too, running jazz combo classes and promoting the local scene. The university recognized his impact with their Distinguished Graduate Award in 1999, followed by a Masters in Jazz Studies.

These days, you’ll find Gordon holding down the low end at Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Florida, playing everything from contemporary worship lead guitar to orchestral upright bass alongside his wife Katrina, who leads both traditional and contemporary worship. When he’s not making music, Gordon is spending time with family, savoring good whiskey, hanging out with friends, and running tech operations at ClearEdge Marketing – because apparently, he likes to keep busy.