Joe Morris (guitarist)

Morris was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 13, 1955.[1] He switched from trumpet to guitar at the age of fourteen.[1] He was self-taught.[2] His interest in jazz began two years later, after attending a John McLaughlin concert and listening to John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Pharoah Sanders recordings.[1]

Morris moved to Boston in 1975, "where his unique approach was not initially accepted in the then-prevalent modal jazz scene. Despite this temporary setback, and some time spent playing guitar in Europe, he developed a pivotal collaborative relationship with multi-instrumentalist Lowell Davidson, whose unique sound explorations inspired him to further develop his own original approach to music making".[2] Morris formed his first trio in 1977.[1]

In 1981 Morris formed his own record company, Riti, for his own recordings.[2] He has led a group called Sweatshop, the sextet Racket Club, and quartets featuring, separately, Mat Maneri, Jamie Saft, and Rob Brown.[1]

In 1994 he became the first guitarist to lead his own session for Black Saint/Soul Note, with Symbolic Gesture.[2] He has continued to record extensively for many labels such as Knitting Factory, AUM Fidelity, and Hathut.[2] In addition to leading his own groups, he has recorded and performed with, among others: Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Joe Maneri, and Ivo Perelman.[1][2]

He has lectured and conducted workshops throughout the US and Europe.[2] He is a former member of the faculty of Tufts University Extension College and is on the faculty at New England Conservatory in the jazz and improvisation department.[3]

Morris cites as influences Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy, Leroy Jenkins, Thelonious Monk, Jimi Hendrix, and West African string music.[3] Morris has created his own approach to playing and composing.[2] "He usually incorporates a clean tone of the bebop lineage for his single-note-driven improvisations".[2] He also plays banjolele.[1]

• Morris, Joe. Perpetual Frontier / The Properties of Free Music. Riti Publishing, 2012.

• Official site
• A Fireside Chat With Joe Morris at All About Jazz
• Interview: Joe Morris by Phil Freeman at Burning Ambulance