James Morrison (musician)
| James Morrison | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 11 November 1962 Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Jazz, Fusion, Be-bop, |
| Occupations | Multi-instrumentalist, Composer, Arranger, Author |
| Instruments | Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Bassoon, Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Bass Flugelhorn, Bass Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Piano, Guitar, Double Bass, Organ, Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion |
| Years active |
1979–present Make some famous pices?S |
James Morrison AM (born 11 November 1962 in Boorowa, New South Wales) is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having performed on the Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flugelhorn, Bass Flugelhorn, Bass Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Double Bass and Piano. He is also a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels. He performed the opening fanfare at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In 2009, he joined Steve Pizzati and Warren Brown as a presenter on Top Gear Australia.
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[edit] Association with other musicians
Morrison has performed with Dizzy Gillespie (the first Australian to do so), with Don Burrows, as a member of the Don Burrows Band, and with Ray Charles and B. B. King for a 1990 world tour. He has also worked with Ray Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Graeme Lyall, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Jon Faddis, Woody Shaw, Whitney Houston, Arturo Sandoval, Phil Stack, George Benson, Mark Nightingale, and Red Rodney.
In 2005, he was the guest soloist at the 150th anniversary concert of the Black Dyke Band and in 2007, he again appeared as guest soloist at concerts with the band in Manchester and London. In 2003 he founded the band On The Edge together with the German keyboarder and composer Simon Stockhausen (CD released on Morrison Records).
Morrison has also had a long association with Composer and pianist Lalo Schifrin (of Mission Impossible fame) and has recorded a number of CDs on Schifrin's "Jazz Meets The Symphony" series. These include recordings with the London Symphony and the Czech National Symphony.
[edit] Background
Morrison comes from a musical family; his older brother John Morrison is a highly regarded jazz drummer. In 1983 they formed a 13-piece big band, the Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band. John and James have also worked together on many other projects and recordings. His father was a church minister.[1]
The discovery and development of young talented musicians has always been important to Morrison. He found his regular vocalist, Emma Pask, at a school concert, aged 16, and she has since gone on to become an internationally renowned jazz singer. Morrison sponsors yearly scholarships for young musicians, and is actively involved with several youth bands. His association with Generations In Jazz is his main avenue of support for young musicians in Australia.
[edit] Generations In Jazz
The Generations In Jazz (GIJ) is a jazz competition that is open for school big bands from all over Australia. It is a prestigious event for the younger jazz community which is adjudicated by Morrison, Ross Irwin, Graeme Lyall and Ed Wilson. It takes place at Mount Gambier during May annually. It features some of Australia's most exceptional young jazz musicians all competing for either the 'James Morrison Scholarship', the 'City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards' or the 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship'.
In 2011 a vocal choir division was opened, adjudicated by The Idea of North vocal quartet.
There are four separate divisions. Each division is judged by a different musician and that musician also composes the set piece which every band in that division must perform.
For 2009:
- Division One prize - 1st $7000, 2nd $5000 and 3rd $4000 (James Morrison, "The Call")
- Division Two prize - 1st $3000, 2nd $2000 and 3rd $1000 (Graeme Lyall, "7-Up")
- Division Three prize - 1st $750, 2nd $500 and 3rd $250 (Ross Irwin, "Codename Istanbul Angel")
- Division Four prize - Adjudication only ("I Remember Cliff")
Each band must play the set piece, a ballad and then an own choice piece.
[edit] Discography
- 2010 - "Three's Company" - James Morison with Phil Stack and James Muller
- 2010 - Feels Like Spring - James Morrison and The Idea of North
- 2007 - Christmas
- 2007 - The Other Woman - James Morrison and Deni Hines
- 2006 - Gospel Collection Volume II
- 2006 - 2x2 - James Morrison and Joe Chindamo
- 2005 - Gospel Collection
- 2003 - On The Edge - with Simon Stockhausen
- 2002 - So Far So Good
- 2001 - Scream Machine
- 1999 - European Sessions
- 1998 - Three Minds
- 1998 - Quartet
- 1996 - Live At The Sydney Opera House - James Morrison with his Big Band
- 1994 - Live In Paris - James Morrison and The Hot Horn Happening
- 1993 - This Is Christmas
- 1992 - Two The Max
- 1991 - Manner Dangerous
- 1990 - Snappy Doo
- 1989 - Swiss Encounter - James Morrison & Adam Makowicz
- 1988 - Postcards From Downunder
- 1984 - Live At The Winery - James Morrison & The Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band
- 1984 - A Night In Tunisia - James Morrison & The Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band
[edit] Instruments
As well as playing instruments, James Morrison has also had input into the process of creating them. In early 2010 he formed an association with Austrian brass manufacturer "Schagerl" and they have produced a number of "signature" models. These include two series - the custom, hand-made "Meister" series and the intermediate professional "Academica" series. There are trumpets and trombones in both series and a flugel horn and bass trumpet in the Meister series only. Ongoing work will see more new instruments from Morrison and Schagerl, although the Academica series are now available to the public worldwide.
With his new partnership with Schagerl, an Austrian instrument manufacturer, he has designed with Robert Schagerl many new horns including various new trumpet designs, a flugelhorn and trombone. His new most prolific design is his new trumpet called "The Raven". The horn is unique for using both rotary and piston valves in the same system. As he describes in his blog: "The design comes from my wish to have a rotary valve instrument due to the different articulation you get compared to piston valves. I find the rotary sounds more precise and there is a smaller “dead spot” between when you push the valve and when the next note comes out clearly. This is particularly noticeable when playing quickly in the upper register (something I like to do)."
An earlier instrument creation project was to work with designer and robotics expert Steve Marshall, to produce the Morrison Digital Trumpet, a MIDI wind controller that looks and acts like a futuristic version of a regular trumpet. This allows a trumpeter to play electronic sounds in much the same way as a pianist can play an electronic synthesizer.
In addition, Morrison has broadened his love of musical technology to include vocal performing. On his collaboration album The Other Woman which features singer Deni Hines, he wrote a track called '(Tired Of Being) the other woman'. When Morrison performed this track at a performance in Sydney, he revealed his latest piece of music technology. It is a Roland keyboard that has a microphone attached and 'sings' whatever Morrison speaks into the microphone - producing the sound of a choir.
[edit] James Morrison Studios
Morrison has also designed and built his own recording studio, located in Sydney. It is in continual use and has already recorded a vast array of quality Australian jazz musicians including Dan Clohesy, Jake Barden, Don Burrows, Liam Burrows, John Morrison, The Swing City Big Band, The Generations In Jazz Academy Big Band, Graeme Lyall and more. The studio has some of the world's latest and best equipment as well as over 5 different recording rooms. The studio is also split with James Morrison Industry's.
[edit] Trivia
Morrison played the Republican Spanish National Anthem at the Davis Cup Final in Australia in 2003. Instead of playing the current version, he performed the Himno de Riego anthem not heard since the Second Republic era, causing the enraged Spanish Secretary of State for Sport to walk out in anger. Morrison later admitted he had mistakenly learned the incorrect tune due to a mix-up with the names of the songs on a CD, when his computer indentified the Himno de Riego simply as the "Spanish National Anthem".[2] Fortunately an official quickly found a CD of the correct anthem, placating the Spanish and allowing the match to proceed.
James Morrison guested on Spicks and Specks, performed on his trumpet and was disappointed at the reaction. Fellow guest Colin Lane suggested he play the instrument with his backside for extra effect. This sequence was not broadcast.
Morrison played a duet with Australian soap star Craig McLachlan on the 500th episode anniversary show of Neighbours in 1989. He played the trumpet while McLachlan played the electric guitar.
[edit] Radio and TV presenter; Top Gear Australia and Behind The Wheel
- For a number of years, Morrison has been the presenter of the in-flight jazz radio station for Qantas Airways.
- In 1994, James presented Behind The Wheel, a motoring television series on Network Ten. Ten saw the benefits of a series like this and commissioned 18 episodes. It aired on a Tuesday night at 7.30pm to an audience of 2.1 million viewers.
The pilot episode was produced by Tim Kupsch – Producer (ex 60 mins producer) Andy Wallace and James Morrison. Unlike Top Gear, the show ideas and script were largely conceived "on the fly" by James and Tim.
- On 19 December 2008, presenter Charlie Cox announced his departure from Top Gear Australia due to lack of time. Morrison replaced him in the second season,[3][4] alongside Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati. He had appeared as the "Star in a Bog-Standard Car" in episode 6 of the first series.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ James Morrison interview - Bob Rogers Show, Radio 2CH, 09:29 AEDT 15 March 2007.
- ^ Enough Rope James Morrison interview - http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1162748.htm 26 July 2004.
- ^ AUSmotive.com - first retrieved 19 December 2008
- ^ The Daily Telegraph
[edit] External links
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