Jazz Articles about Joe Morris

Ivo Perelman: Shamanism

by Hrayr Attarian
December 23, 2020

Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman's impressive oeuvre is marked by its creator's singular talent of balancing intellectual rigor and passionate abandon. Perelman's improvisation-heavy pieces are dynamic and intricately constructed, sometimes resembling tone poems in their evocative nature. His 2020 Shamanism consists of ten of these which are imbued with sublime spirituality. Joining Perelman on this superlative release are long-time collaborator pianist Matthew Shipp, and guitarist Joe Morris. After Shipp's brief and haunting solo, “Prophets and Healers," the title track ...

Noah Kaplan Quartet: Out of the Hole

by Glenn Astarita
October 4, 2020

This is the third installment of saxophonist, composer Noah Kaplan's quartet for the hatology (now ezz-thetics) label amid an eight-year delay between the time the sessions were completed and the issuance of the album. For example, this live outing recorded at Firehouse 12 in Connecticut was consummated in 2012 and released in 2020. But in the liners, Kaplan states that a “quartet reunion gig in 2017 reminded him of the previously unreleased material's growth and substance" warranting a release of ...

Morris / Gauci / Lane: Studio Sessions Vol. 3

by John Sharpe
May 11, 2020

There is a surprise in store on Brooklyn tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci's Studio Sessions Volume 3. Not only is celebrated erstwhile guitarist and bassist Joe Morris an unexpected face alongside the reedman, but this time out he features on an unfamiliar instrument, seated behind the drum kit for the two lengthy excursions into uncharted territory. However, it is not all new; bassist Adam Lane, one of Gauci's most regular collaborators who regularly anchors the hornman's quartet, completes the line up. ...

Forlì Open Music 2019

by Luciano Rossetti
December 5, 2019

Eloping With The Sun: Counteract This Turmoil Like Trees And Birds

by John Sharpe
August 3, 2017

After a 14 year gap since the eponymous debut (Riti, 2003) comes the second release from the ongoing trio known as Eloping With The Sun. Perhaps the reason for the hiatus lies in the illustrious participants' other commitments. Bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake share a storied history, both apart and together as the engine room of choice for many, while guitarist Joe Morris, not only teaches at NEC, and runs his own label, but also performs on bass. ...

Something Else! Festival Hamilton 2017

by Frank Rubolino
July 10, 2017

The Something Else! Festival of Creative Music in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada reached the four-year milestone in June 2017 by offering four days of exciting music by North American, European, and Asian musicians. Zula Music and Arts Collective presented the festival that played at three acoustically friendly venues with both afternoon and evening offerings. A unique feature of this festival was the use of ad hoc groups selected by curator Cem Zafir from various members of the regularly performing acts. These ...

Joe Morris: Shock Axis

by Mark Corroto
August 21, 2016

I am applying for a NEA grant to test my theory that you can judge an album by it's cover. For instance, The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St (RSR, 1972) and The Clash's London Calling (CBS, 1979) are two albums where you just knew what to expect by gazing at the covers. In the jazz world, Sonny Clark's Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958) and John Zorn's Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman give away the contents of ...