A fine tenor saxophonist who was an underrated journeyman throughout much of his career, Gordon Brisker was always known for his reliability and adaptability.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 6, 1937, he started off playing piano as a child, and when he was a teenager he studied clarinet and tenor at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Brisker played locally (including with the Ralph Marterie Orchestra) before attending the Berklee School of Music. He toured for six months with the Al Belletto Sextet and, after gigging back home with Bill Berry, he became a member of the Woody Herman Orchestra during 1960-1963. Brisker spent a period living in New York City after the Herman association ended, freelancing with Louis Bellson, Gerry Mulligan, and others. After some time back in Cincinnati writing and performing for local television shows, he moved to Los Angeles. Brisker became a busy studio musician by day, gigging in clubs at night. He returned to Boston to teach at Berklee during 1983-1985 (and to write arrangements for the Herb Pomeroy Orchestra) before moving back to Los Angeles. His more notable career associations included Anita O'Day, Bobby Shew, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, and leadership of his own bands.

In addition to recordings in support of the aforementioned and other major recording artists, Brisker headed his own record dates for the Sutra, Sea Breeze, Discovery, and Naxos labels. In the mid-'90s, Brisker moved to Australia, where he joined the staff of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He spent six years in Sydney, and returned to Cincinnati in 2001.

Gordon Brisker died of pancreatic cancer on September 10, 2004 at a hospice in the city of his birth; he was 66 years old.

Scott Yanow -All Music Guide