Morrison, James (1962-…), is an Australian jazz musician who plays a wide range of instruments. He is a trumpeter as well as a virtuoso performer on the trombone, flugelhorn, euphonium, tuba, saxophone, and piano.
Morrison began playing the cornet at the age of 7 and formed his own band at the age of 9. He has played professionally since the age of 13 and has performed with many of the world’s best jazz musicians. He made his United States debut at the Monterey Jazz Festival and followed this appearance with performances at the major European festivals.
Morrison performed with American trumpet legend Dizzy Gillespie at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1987. In 1989, he toured the world with the Philip Morris Superband. The following year, he toured the world again, this time with the American blues musicians Ray Charles and B. B. King. Morrison has also played with other American jazz greats, such as guitarist George Benson, singer Cab Calloway, and trumpeters Wynton Marsalis and Woody Shaw.
In 1992, Morrison recorded Two the Max with the American bassist Ray Brown and then toured with the Ray Brown Trio. In 1993, Morrison recorded Jazz Meets the Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra. He later performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. In the mid-1990’s, Morrison formed a band called the Hot Horn Happening and toured the world with the group. Morrison later formed the James Morrison Quartet, which included his brother, John, on the drums.
Morrison’s recordings include The European Sessions (1999), featuring a jazz quartet with the American drummer Ali Jackson, the French bassist Pierre Boussaguet, and the Australian guitarist Peter Zografakis; and Three Minds (1998), a three-CD set exploring different styles of jazz. In the 1990’s, Morrison established his own recording label, Morrison Records, through which he promotes the work of Australian jazz musicians.
Morrison has done much to encourage young jazz musicians in Australia. He is a patron of 6 youth bands and of several orchestras, and also visits schools, teaching and performing with children in their school bands. He has established an annual competition for Australian school stage bands, bringing together bands from throughout Australia for a weekend to compete and to hear established jazz musicians. The same event also includes the final round of competition for the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship for young musicians.
Morrison was born in Boorowa, a town northwest of Canberra in New South Wales, Australia. He studied at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music and he taught there in the early 1980’s. In 1997, Morrison was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to the arts in Australia. The Order of Australia is Australia’s highest award for service to the country or to humanity.
