James Morrison

James Lloyd Morrison AM (born 11 November 1962) is an Australian jazz musician. Although his main instrument is trumpet, he has also performed on trombone, tuba, euphonium, flugelhorn, saxophone, clarinet, double bass, guitar, and piano. He is a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels.

He composed and performed the opening fanfare at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 Morrison and an a cappella group, The Idea of North, won Best Jazz Album, for their collaboration on Feels Like Spring. In 2012 Morrison was appointed Artistic Director of the Queensland Music Festival for the 2013 and 2015 festivals. He was inducted into the Graeme Bell Hall of Fame 2013 at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards. In July 2013 he conducted the World's Largest Orchestra in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, consisting of 7,224 musicians.

Early life and education James Lloyd Morrison was born on 11 November 1962 in Boorowa, a rural farming community, where his father, George Morrison, was a Methodist minister. Morrison comes from a musical family: his mother plays alto saxophone, piano, and organ; his sister is a trumpeter, and his older brother, John Morrison, is a jazz drummer. The family moved to various sites in New South Wales due to his father's ministry before settling in Pittwater.

Music career Morrison Brothers In 1983 James and John Morrison formed the Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band, a 13-piece group. In 1984 the band included James Morrison on trumpet, trombone, and piano, Warwick Alder on trumpet, Peter Cross on trumpet, Paul Andrews on alto saxophone, Tom Baker on alto and baritone saxophones, Jason Morphett on tenor saxophone, Glenn Henrich on vibraphone, Craig Scott on bass, and John Morrison on drums. The band's debut album, A Night in Tunisia, was released in 1984 by ABC Records as part of the Don Burrows Collection. The title track is a jazz standard by Dizzy Gillespie; another track, "Burrows Bossa", was written by Morrison. The album was live at Rothbury Estate Winery.

Morrison played the wrong Spanish national anthem at the Davis Cup final in Australia in 2003. Instead of playing the current anthem, Marcha Real, he performed the Himno de Riego, not heard since the Second Republic era (1931–1939), causing the Spanish Secretary of State for Sport to walk out in anger. Morrison later revealed he had mistakenly learned the incorrect tune due to being given the wrong sheet music. Fortunately an official quickly found a CD of the correct anthem, placating the Spanish and allowing the match to proceed.

Association with other musicians Morrison has performed with Dizzy Gillespie (the first Australian to do so); Don Burrows, Ray Charles, and B.B. King. He has also worked with George Benson, Ray Brown, Cab Calloway, Jon Faddis, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Graeme Lyall, Wynton Marsalis, Mark Nightingale, Red Rodney, Arturo Sandoval, Woody Shaw, Frank Sinatra, and Phil Stack.

In 1990, he recorded the album Snappy Doo with Ray Brown on double bass, Herb Ellis on guitar, Jeff Hamilton on drums, and Morrison on piano, trumpet, trombone (tenor and bass), saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone), and bits of clarinet, flute, flugelhorn, and euphonium. He recorded a sequel, Snappy Too, in 2011 with Hamilton, but Brown and Ellis died in the interim, so Morrison played guitar and bass in addition to all of the other instruments from the first album.

In 1999, he collaborated with Gina Jeffreys and The Idea of North on the song "Blue Christmas", which is included on Jeffreys' album, Christmas Wish. In 2005, he was guest soloist at the 150th anniversary concert of the Black Dyke Band; and in 2009 performed with them as special guest during their Australian tour. In 2007, he again appeared as guest soloist at concerts with the band in Manchester and London. In 2003 he founded the band on the Edge together with the German keyboardist and composer Simon Stockhausen, son of Karlheinz Stockhausen. Morrison has a long association with composer and pianist Lalo Schifrin (composer of the theme from Mission: Impossible) and has recorded albums for Schifrin's "Jazz Meets the Symphony" series. These include recordings with the London and the Czech National symphony orchestras.

He found his lead vocalist, Emma Pask, at a school concert when she was 16, and she became an internationally renowned jazz singer. Morrison sponsors scholarships for musicians and is involved with youth bands. His association with Generations in Jazz has spanned three decades. He was chairman of this organization, which ran one of the largest youth jazz events in the world.

Other activities Radio and TV presenter

For a number of years, Morrison has been the presenter of the in-flight jazz radio station for Qantas Airways. In 1994, James presented Behind The Wheel, a motoring television series on Network Ten. Ten saw the benefits of a series like this and commissioned 18 episodes. It aired on a Tuesday night at 7.30pm to an audience of 2.1 million viewers. The pilot episode was produced by Tim Kupsch, Andy Wallace and James Morrison. alongside Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati. He appeared as the "Star in a Bog-Standard Car" in episode 6 of the first series.

On 18 September 2018, he started to present the Tuesday night specialist show Top Brass for BBC Radio 2, which was moved alongside Sunday Night Is Music Night for series 2 in 2020 and which continues to be broadcast in the United Kingdom at 9pm on a Sunday in 2022.

Instrument production In early 2010 he formed an association with Austrian brass manufacturer Schagerl to produce "signature" models. These include two series – the custom, hand-made "Meister" series and the intermediate professional "Academica" series. There are trumpets and trombones in both series, and the Meister series includes flugelhorn and bass trumpet. His design of a trumpet called "The Raven" uses rotary valves with a long lead pipe usually associated with a piston trumpet. He has also designed an improved superbone, a hybrid trombone that has three valves as well as a slide.

An instrument project with designer and robotics expert Steve Marshall produced the Morrison Digital Trumpet, a MIDI wind controller that looks like a futuristic version of a typical trumpet. It allows a trumpeter to play electronic sounds in much the same way a pianist can play a synthesizer.

On his collaboration album The Other Woman with singer Deni Hines, he wrote a track called "(Tired of Being) The Other Woman". When Morrison performed this track at a performance in Sydney, he revealed his latest piece of music technology. It is a Roland keyboard (VP770) that has a microphone attached and 'sings' whatever Morrison speaks into the microphone, producing the sound of a choir. Award-winning jazz drummer David Jones started lecturing at the academy in 2015.

The academy ceased operations in 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor. the program was undergoing restructuring, with an aim to bring short courses to regional areas in the near future.

Flying Morrison is also a private pilot and the brand ambassador for Australian Air Safaris.

Personal life Morrison met Judi Green, the 1987 Miss Australia winner, at a barbecue before both participated in a celebrity race at the Adelaide Grand Prix.

Awards and honours On 9 June 1997 James Morrison was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia with a citation "for service to music, particularly jazz, and the sponsorship of young musicians".

AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. 2017 In Good Company (with Don Burrows) Best Independent Jazz Album 2018 Midnight Till Dawn Mildlife – Phase Best Independent Jazz Album Album

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Morrison has won two awards from thirteen nominations. 1989 Postcards From Down Under

1990 Swiss Encounter (with Adam Makowicz) 1991 Snappy Doo 1992 Manner Dangerous 1993 To the Max (with Ray Brown) 2002 Scream Machine 2008 The Other Woman (with Deni Hines) 2010 Feels Like Spring (with The Idea of North) 2012 Snappy Too 2016 In Good Company (with Don Borrows)

The Great American Songbook (with BBC Concert Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Harry Morrison, William Morrison & Patrick Danao) James Morrison With His Academy Jazz Orchestra 2018 Ella and Louis (with Patti Austin, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Benjamin Northey)

APRA Music Awards 1990 "Saturday Sailing" Most Performed Jazz Work

Australian Jazz Bells The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells, are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia. 2013 James Morrison Graeme Bell Hall of Fame

Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. James Morrison won ten awards in that time. (wins only) 1988 James Morrison Ricky May Jazz Performer of the Year

James Morrison Jazz Performer of the Year James Morrison Jazz Male Performer of the Year James Morrison Australian Performer of the Year

James Morrison Jazz Performer of the Year James Morrison Jazz Male Performer of the Year 1997 James Morrison Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year 1999 James Morrison Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year 2002 James Morrison Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year 2006 James Morrison Ricky May Jazz Performer of the Year

Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions. Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications AUS A Night in Tunisia Released: 1984 Label: ABC (836375-1) Formats: LP — James Morrison at the Winery Released: 1985 Label: ABC (836374-1) Formats: LP — Postcards from Down Under Released: August 1988 Label: WEA (255697.1/255697.2) Formats: LP, CD 47 Swiss Encounter Released: 1989 Label: WEA (256731.1/256731.2) Formats: LP, CD — Snappy Doo Released: July 1990 Label: WEA (903171211.1/903171211.2) Formats: LP, CD, cassette 17ARIA: Gold Label: Morrison Format: CD — Gospel Collection Volume 2 Released: August 2006 Label: Morrison Format: CD — The Other Woman Released: 13 October 2007 Label: MGM Distribution (JMDH2) Formats: CD, digital download 86 James Morrison Instrumental Released: November 2009 Label: Classic Fox Formats: CD, digital download — Three's Company Released: 2010 Label: Morrison Formats: CD, digital download — Feels Like Spring Released: April 2010 Label: ABC Jazz (2735660) Formats: CD, digital download — Snappy Too Released: September 2012 Label: Morrison (MR 20) Formats: CD, digital download — A to Z of Jazz Released: 2014 Label: ABC Jazz (4704193) Formats: 2×CD, digital download — Chermoula Released: 2015 Label: Morrison Format: Digital download — A Fine Bromance Released: July 2015 Label: Morrison Format: Digital download — In Good Company Released: 20 November 2015 Label: ABC Format: Digital download — Mare Balticum Released: 13 June 2016 Label: Mūsdienu Mūzikas Centrs (CD016) Formats: CD-ROM, digital download — James Morrison with His Academy Jazz Orchestra Released: November 2016 Label: ABC Format: Digital download — The Great American Songbook Released: June 2017 Label: ABC Jazz (4815433) Formats: CD, digital download — Ella & Louis Released: November 2017 Label: ABC Jazz (4816483) Formats: CD, digital download — Midnight till Dawn Released: March 2018 Label: ABC Jazz (6730676) Formats: CD, digital download —