Jeff Morrison Quartet

Jeff was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and adopted by a military family, his father a Navy officer. At eight months of age, they moved to Phoenix, AZ where he was raised and lived until his late 20's. Jeff was drawn to music as early as he can remember, and tried to take a vinyl LP record with him on his first day of school. Jeff began playing the alto saxophone at the age of 11, and spent 3 years in the Phoenix Boys Choir where he learned the discipline of long rehearsals and a heavy schedule of concerts throughout the city and state, performing classical pieces as well as folk and popular music. It wasn't until after high school did he hear the sound of John Coltrane, which made such an enormous impact that he immediately devoted all of his time to learning the tenor saxophone tradition, hitting every record store in town and getting lessons from as many local professional jazz musicians as he could. Some of the locals that took him under their wings were Jim "Zeke" Zoeckler, Dave Cook, Charles Lewis, Darryl Larson, Tony Malaby, and Brian Sjoerdinga who became a close friend and 'big brother'. Jeff attended Phoenix College and Arizona State University where he spent some time in the jazz program, but spent more time at a local hangout called "The Melody Lounge", sitting in every Monday night with Dave Cook's "New Vanguard" Quintet until he was able to take over the tenor spot full time with the band. The repertoire was primarily the classic be-bop compositions of Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet, Art Blakey, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk.

Jeff currently resides in Chicago, his home for the past 12 years. He has performed with his own groups and with the city's top musicians at venues such as The Green Mill, Green Dolphin Street, Pops For Champagne, Andy's, and makes the trip up to The Estate in Milwaukee from time to time. His third CD release, a quartet recording featuring pianists Rick Germanson and Steve Einerson, will be coming out soon.

Gear

Selmer Super Balanced Action Tenor Saxophone Yanigasawa Bronze Alto Saxophone Conn Soprano Saxophone

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