Joe Morris
Joe Morris was born in New Haven, Connecticut on September 13, 1955. At the age of 12 he took lessons on the trumpet for one year. He started on guitar in 1969 at the age of 14. He played his first professional gig later that year. With the exception of a few lessons he is self-taught. The influence of Jimi Hendrix and other guitarists of that period led him to concentrate on learning to play the blues. Soon thereafter his sister gave him a copy of John Coltrane's OM which inspired him to learn about Jazz and New Music. From age 15 to 17 he attended a student run alternative High School called The Unschool in downtown New Haven next to the campus of Yale University. Taking advantage of the open learning style of the school he spent most of his time day and night playing music with other students, listening to ethnic folk, blues, jazz, and classical music on record at the public library and attending the various concerts and recitals on the Yale campus. He worked to establish his own voice on guitar in a free jazz context from the age of 17. Drawing on the influence of Coltrane, Miles Davis, Cecil Taylor,Thelonius Monk, Ornette Coleman as well as the AACM, BAG, and the many European improvisers of the '70s. Later he would draw influence from traditional West African string music, Messian, Ives, Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Lyons, Steve McCall and Fred Hopkins. After high school he performed in rock bands, rehearsed in jazz bands and played totally improvised music with friends until 1975 when he moved to Boston.
Read moreTags
Album Review
- Shamanism by Hrayr Attarian
- Out of the Hole by Glenn Astarita
- Studio Sessions Vol. 3 by John Sharpe
In Pictures
Album Review
- Counteract This Turmoil Like Trees And Birds by John Sharpe
In Pictures
Album Review
- Shock Axis by Mark Corroto
- Balance by Glenn Astarita
- Plymouth by Claudio Bonomi
- Plymouth by Glenn Astarita
October 27, 2020
October 09, 2015
Red Piano Records To Release "Cosmopolitan Greetings" From Frank...
March 06, 2015
Guitarist Joe Morris Joins Forces With Keyboardist Jamie Saft & Drummer...
September 03, 2014
Avant-Garde Icon Wadada Leo Smith Joins Forces With Jamie Saft, Joe...
March 12, 2014
Jamie Saft And Joe Morris Join Forces Once Again For Sonic Mayhem On...
August 24, 2013
Free Jazz Tenor Sax Titan Ivo Perelman Joins Joe Morris & Balazs Pandi...
October 29, 2011
Matthew Shipp and Joe Morris - Broken Partials (Nottwo, 2011) ****
October 13, 2011
Matthew Shipp and Joe Morris - Broken Partials (Not Two, 2011)
July 20, 2011
Joe Morris and Agusta- Ferna Ndez - Ambrosia (Riti Records, 2011) ****