JOE MORRIS
Joe Morris calls the guitar "really an unruly piece of machinery." And, "The people who have managed to do something relevant with it have all manipulated it into something new." Joe Morris has been able to do just that. And along the way he has crafted a unique musical language. No chord chomping here. His is a linear style, yet his solos take off in any and all directions.
An encounter with John Coltrane's Om threw Joe into the world of improvised jazz. Morris located to Boston in 1975. Six years later Morris formed his own record label, Riti. Listening to these early recordings it is obvious that his style was already established.
Joe has great respect for the work of Derek Bailey. He not only admires his playing, but also his ability to put people together to make adventurous music. Thus Joe has also put together challenging combinations: duets with William Parker and Matthew Shipp;, a trio with Ken Vandermark and Hans Poppel;, a quartet with Shipp, Parker, and Whit Dickey; his quartet with Mat Maneri; a trio with Mat and father Joe Maneri. Combinations not to be taken lightly! High energy music, microtonality; free improv, earthy funk. "To do something really modern with the guitar, you have to understand the connectedness and validity of all the different approaches to being an improvisor that are out there. You can't pick one narrow road to go down and think that's the true path."
SELECTED RECORDINGS
A Cloud of Blackbirds (with Mat Maneri)/Joe Morris Quartet (AUM)
Antennae/Joe Morris Trio (AUM)
Illuminate/Joe Morris-Rob Brown Quartet (LEO)
Invisible Weave/Joe Morris-William Parker (No More)
Thesis/Joe Morris-Matthew Shipp (Hatology)
Elsewhere/Joe Morris Quartet with Shipp, Parker & Dickey (Homestead)
Three Men Walking/Joe Morris-Mat Maneri-Joe Maneri (ECM)
You Be Me/Joe Morris Quartet (Soul Note)
Wraparound/Joe Morris Trio (Riti LP only)
Human Rites/Joe Morris Trio (Riti LP only)
Sweatshop/Joe Morris Trio (Riti)
Flip & Spike/Joe Morris Trio (Riti)
Symbolic Gesture/Joe Morris Trio (Soul Note)
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For Sweetnighter info call Alan (215.665.1170) or Craig (215.925.3150)
or email aek1@erols.com.
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designed by Alan Lankin
last update 17 October 1999
