Home » Jazz Musicians » Carol Morgan

Carol Morgan

Carol Morgan is a jazz trumpeter, composer, educator and author who resides in NYC. Originally from Texas, she is a Juilliard graduate who has worked with many remarkable teachers including Chris Gekker, Mark Gould, Ingrid Jensen, and Dennis Dotson.

Carol's discography includes five CD's as a leader. Retroactive (2013) includes many of her original compositions and features Mike Stern and Chris Cortez among a cast of New York and Houston musicians. A 2011 release, The Carol Morgan Quartet CD, Blue Glass Music received 4 1/2 stars in a DownBeat magazine review. The Carol Morgan Trio CD, Opening, with Harvie S and Rich DeRosa was signed by Blue Bamboo Music and released in early 2010. Other session work includes solo outings, Classic Morgana and Passing Time with the Carol Morgan Quintet, as well as filling side-person roles on releases by DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra, The Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, NPR's The Engines of Our Ingenuity, Thomas Helton, Henry Darragh and Calvin Owens. As a composer she has been commissioned by DiverseWorks, the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, the Arch-diocese of Houston/Galveston and St. Thomas Presbyterian Church, Houston. In 2008, Carol authored what is now a highly-regarded method for jazz improvisation—a textbook entitled The Practicing Improviser.

Currently, Carol's performing ensembles include the Carol Morgan Trio, Retroactive (with Chris Cortez, Corin Stiggall and E.J. Strickland), the Carol Morgan Quartet (featuring Joel Frahm, Martin Wind and Matt Wilson), is a member of the New York-based DIVA Jazz Orchestra and Gingerbred (led by Brad Linde). Recent performing venues include Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Small's Jazz Club, Fat Cat, The Blue Note, The 55 Bar, The Kitano, The Iridium, The Bar Next Door, Blues Alley (DC), The Atlas (DC), Bohemian Caverns (DC), Scullers Jazz Club (Boston), the Playboy Jazz Festival (The Hollywood Bowl, LA), Marians Jazz Room (Bern, Switzerland), The Lionel Hampton Jazz Club (Paris), The Elephant Room (Austin), The Deer Head Inn (Delaware Gap, PA) and World Cafe' Live (Philadelphia).

Carol's goal as an artist and teacher is to help people enjoy music more.

Awards

"Rising Star"—DownBeat 2013

Gear

Bach trumpet and mouthpiece; Getzen flugel; SKB single case;


Tags

2
Radio & Podcasts

Carol Morgan, Matt Wilson and More

Read "Carol Morgan, Matt Wilson and More" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


This particular episode has vocalists, classic bebop, and a familiar track from the freeform fays of '70s FM radio. Musicians heard on the show include Carol Morgan, Matt Wilson, Deanna Witkowski, Bud Powell, and David Sanchez. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Billy Mohler “Equals" from Anatomy (Contagious Music) 00:52 {David Sanchez “Ill Wind" from Travesia (Columbia) 7:59 Host Speaks 13:01 ...

7
Album Review

Carol Morgan: Post Cool: Vol 1 The Night Shift

Read "Post Cool: Vol 1 The Night Shift" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Trumpeter Carol Morgan is an innovative musician with an explorative sense and a unique and easily recognizable style. On the first installment of her Post Cool: Vol. 1 The Night Shift she tackles bop-based, nocturnal themed, pieces that she and her quartet exquisitely interpret. Morgan and her sidemen deftly deconstruct trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's famous “A Night In Tunisia," exposing its ingeniously crafted structure, and infuse it with modernistic elements. Morgan and tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm interchange their roles ...

6
Album Review

Carol Morgan Quartet: Carol Morgan Quartet - Post Cool Vol. 1 The Night Shift

Read "Carol Morgan Quartet - Post Cool Vol. 1 The Night Shift" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


New York City-based trumpet player--composer Carol Morgan...wait a minute. This introduction would be all well and good...but, Carol Morgan did not originally come from New York City...She came from...Texas. Morgan might be considered the Godmother of “Houston Jazz Mafia," a group of young (and not so young) musicians that includes multi-instrumentalists Henry Darragh and Alisha Pattillo, pianists Bob Henschen, Joe LoCascio, and Paul English, singers Melissa Darragh, Tianna Hall, Jacqui Sutton, Raquel Cepeda, and Danielle Reich, guitarists Paul Chester, Mike ...

7
Album Review

Carol Morgan: Retroactive

Read "Retroactive" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


After two well-behaved, straight-ahead, and positively reviewed recordings-- Opening (Blue Bamboo Music, 2010) and Blue Glass Music (Blue Bamboo Music, 2011)--Texas-cum-New York City trumpeter Carol Morgan decides to take a walk on a wilder side with Retroactive: a mostly electronic affair prominently featuring guitarists Mike Stern and Chris Cortez as well as one Jeff Sipe (Apt. Q258) on drums. Always a serious music maker, Morgan lets her copious red hair down and has fun. Her open bell ...

127
Album Review

Carol Morgan: Blue Glass Music

Read "Blue Glass Music" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Trumpeter Carol Morgan is an improviser par excellence, having literally written the book on it, and her style has matured fast over the course of five years and four albums. Blue Glass Music showcases the trumpeter's explorative solos, which are often edgy, like on “I Love You," complemented by Joel Frahm's bluesy tenor and taking the trend of thought where she leaves off and bringing it full circle to the melody. This ethereal dance of the horns ...

317
Album Review

Carol Morgan: Blue Glass Music

Read "Blue Glass Music" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Trumpeter Carol Morgan's Blue Bamboo debut, Opening (2010) was received uniformly, with accolades from all quarters. The Texas-native cum Manhattan-ite exploded out of Julliard following the tutelage of trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, and seemed to be everywhere at once. Morgan has been a constant in the DIVA Jazz Orchestra (with Sharel Cassity), and fronting her quintet, Carol Morgan's Case Study, featuring pianist Helen Sung and guitarist Mike Moreno, and her organ trio, Morgana' Organic Trio, featuring Akiko Tsuruga. ...

3,467
Album Review

Carol Morgan Trio: Opening

Read "Opening" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Trumpeter Carol Morgan has a smile as big as her Texas home, and chops expertly informed by Ingrid Jensen, among others, at Juilliard. She has been a fixture in the DIVA Jazz Orchestra (with Sharel Cassity). Additionally, Morgan heads the quintet, Carol Morgan's Case Study, featuring pianist Helen Sung and Guitarist Mike Moreno, and Morgana' Organic Trio, featuring Akiko Tsuruga. Opening is a trio recording, with bassist Harvie S and drummer Rich DeRosa. Piano-less trios are not ...

Read more articles
839

Recording

Two for the Trumpet: Thrilling New Releases by Carol Morgan and Mikrokoleltyw (2010)

Two for the Trumpet: Thrilling New Releases by Carol Morgan and Mikrokoleltyw (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By PicoThroughout all of the history of jazz, trumpet players were always in the vanguard: Armstrong, Gillespie, Davis, Bowie, I could go on. The common theme with the two fresh offerings go beyond the fact that they are led or co-led by trumpeters; these are releases that in some form or another challenges the conventions of mainstream jazz. And each leader takes a differing approach in pushing their music out toward the edges. Which is precisely ...

155

Radio

Carol Morgan is Chartbound at JazzWeek

Carol Morgan is Chartbound at JazzWeek

Source: Kari-On Productions

Carol Morgan is a jazz trumpeter, composer, author and college professor residing in Manhattan. Originally from Texas, she is a Juilliard graduate who has worked with many remarkable teachers including: Chris Gekker, Mark Gould, Ingrid Jensen, and Dennis Dotson. Carol's discography includes two CDs as a leader, Classic Morgana and Passing Time with the Carol Morgan Quintet, as well as filling side person roles on releases by DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra, NPR's “The Engines of Our Ingenuity," Henry ...

160

Radio

Carol Morgan is Chartbound at JazzWeek 2nd Week in Promotion

Carol Morgan is Chartbound at JazzWeek 2nd Week in Promotion

Source: Kari-On Productions

Carol Morgan is a jazz trumpeter, composer, author and college professor residing in Manhattan. Originally from Texas, she is a Juilliard graduate who has worked with many remarkable teachers including: Chris Gekker, Mark Gould, Ingrid Jensen, and Dennis Dotson. Morgan is Chartbound at the national jazz radio chart Jazzweek, her 2nd week in radio promotion. Chartbound at Jazzweek w/e 4/12/2010 Playdate Playdate (Posi-Tone) Ehud Asherie Modern Life (Posi-Tone) Antoinette Montague Behind The Smile (In The Groove/Allegro) Jazz At Lincoln Center ...

"4 1/2 stars"—James Hale, DownBeat

"A few months ago, I was lucky enough to have attended a set by Carol Morgan’s jazz trio at the prestigious Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City. I was immediately impressed by her confidence and maturity as a soloist and a bandleader. Her willingness to explore less-travelled pathways in her improvisation and simultaneously sound easy and flowing marks her as an important voice on the trumpet."—Joel Frahm, Anzic Records Recording Artist

“She moves from brassy assertive playing to great delicacy: Carol Morgan is someone to hear and to admire.”—Michael Steinman, Cadence magazine

Read more

Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Credentials/Background

Lessons open for students of all experience levels and ages. Currently available for teaching improvisation for any instrumentalist or vocalist. Credentials: MM The Juilliard School, 1994; BM The University of TX, 1991. Experience: 8 years full-time college music professor; 25 years private teaching as a free-lance musician. Carol is currently a Teaching Artist for the New York Pops. ONLINE and face-to-face instruction available.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Five Recent Masterclass Topics: Listening for Brass Players; Discovering Music without the Sheet: Teaching Beginning Improvisation; Your Shed: How to Practice Improvising; Rhythmic Emphasis: Groove-based performance; Online Teaching Possibilities: A glass-half-full glance for the creative educator. Carol has previously given master classes and/or performed as a guest artist at the following institutions among others: University of the Arts (Philadelphia), Western Connecticut State U, Texas Tech U, Texas State U, High School for the Performing Arts (Houston), University of Houston, Texas Southern U., Brazosport College, College of St

Read more

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Retroactive

Blue Bamboo Music
2013

buy

Blue Glass Music

Blue Bamboo Music
2011

buy

Opening

Blue Bamboo Music
2010

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.