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Willie Morris III

Willie L. Morris III came to the University in 1993 after teaching for four years at the University of Alabama. He had previously served on the faculty at Alcorn State University for two years. Dr. Morris holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from East Carolina University, a Master of Arts degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Morris has performed at the 1997 World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain, and at the 1996 and 1998 North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference and at other regional conferences. He was invited to perform at the 2000 World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada. At the University of Dayton Dr. Morris teaches saxophone performance and is the director of the Dayton Jazz Ensemble. He also serves as the associate director of athletic bands and coordinates jazz studies. Dr. Morris has been active as a performer, educator, and clinician since he began his college years. He has been a concerto/aria finalist at each university he attended, and he has performed as a soloist across the country and in South America. Dr. Morris is also active as a marching band clinician, drill designer and color guard instructor.


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Album Review

Josh Lawrence: And That Too

Read "And That Too" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Less than ten seconds into “Grit," the opening track of Josh Lawrence's latest chapter as a leader for Posi-Tone Records, the trumpeter uncorks a jaw-dropping solo. Set in a brisk, no-nonsense tempo, it does not so much eclipse the music that follows as it sets the tone for the record by declaring that And That Too is playful and deadly serious. Lawrence's rich, full-bodied tone is the entryway to over two minutes of unadulterated invention. Every note ...

2
Album Review

Something Blue: Personal Preference

Read "Personal Preference" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Marc Free produced the second edition of Something Blue to encourage “a wider audience of new listeners" to jazz by presenting “a focused program of concise performances to provide maximum enjoyment." These goals are congruent with Free's trust in his artists. The eleven tracks of Personal Preference do not smack of compromise or a nebulous artistic focus. Free has assembled a band of players with ties to the label who boldly stride through the bop/hard bop/post-bop continuum, utilizing elements from ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Personal Preference

Posi-Tone Records
2023

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And That Too

Posi-Tone Records
2023

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Call Time

Posi-Tone Records
2022

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