James Lloyd Morrison was born on 11 November 1962 in Boorowa, a rural farming community, where his father, George Morrison,[8] was a Methodist minister.[9][10][11] 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.[10][11][12] The family moved to various sites in New South Wales due to his father's ministry before settling in Pittwater.[11] From the age of seven Morrison practiced on his brother's cornet.[10]
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.[14] The band's debut album, A Night in Tunisia, was released in 1984 by ABC Records as part of the Don Burrows Collection.[15] The title track is a jazz standard by Dizzy Gillespie;[15][16] another track, "Burrows Bossa", was written by Morrison.[15] Also that year he backed Burrows on Burrows at the Winery, playing trumpet, slide trumpet, trombone, and flugelhorn.[17] The album was live at Rothbury Estate Winery.[17] Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band used the same venue for their album Live at the Winery.[18]
Morrison played the wrong Spanish national anthem at the Davis Cup final in Australia in 2003.[19] Instead of playing the current anthem, Marcha Real, he performed the Himno de Riego, not heard since the Second Republic era (1931–1939),[20] 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.[21][22]
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.[24]
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.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28][29]
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.[30][31][32]
For a number of years, Morrison has been the presenter of the in-flight jazz radio station for Qantas Airways.[33] 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.[2] Unlike Top Gear, the show ideas and script were largely conceived "on the fly" by Morrison and Kupsch.[citation needed]
On 19 December 2008, presenter Charlie Cox announced his departure from Top Gear Australia due to lack of time. Morrison replaced him in the second season[34] alongside Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati. He appeared as the "Star in a Bog-Standard Car" in episode 6 of the first series.[citation needed]
On 18 September 2018, he started to present the Tuesday night specialist show Top Brass[35] for BBC Radio 2, which was moved alongside Sunday Night Is Music Night for series 2 in 2020[36] and which continues to be broadcast in the United Kingdom at 9pm on a Sunday in 2022.[37][38]
Instrument production
In early 2010 he formed an association with Austrian brass manufacturer Schagerl to produce "signature" models.[39] 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.[40]
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.[41]
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.[31][32]
James Morrison Academy of Music
In March 2015 Morrison opened the James Morrison Academy of Music in Mount Gambier, South Australia – a tertiary-level, dedicated jazz school offering a degree in jazz performance.[42] Award-winning jazz drummer David Jones started lecturing at the academy in 2015.[43]
The academy ceased operations in 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor. As of September 2023[update] the program was undergoing restructuring, with an aim to bring short courses to regional areas in the near future.[44]
Flying
Morrison is also a private pilot and the brand ambassador for Australian Air Safaris.[45]
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.[8] The couple married in 1988 and they have three sons.[8][46]
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".[47]
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.
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.[52][53]
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.[55]
Year
Nominee / work
Award
Result (wins only)
1988
James Morrison
Ricky May Jazz Performer of the Year
Won
1989
James Morrison
Jazz Performer of the Year
Won
James Morrison
Jazz Male Performer of the Year
Won
James Morrison
Australian Performer of the Year
Won
1990
James Morrison
Jazz Performer of the Year
Won
James Morrison
Jazz Male Performer of the Year
Won
1997
James Morrison
Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year
Won
1999
James Morrison
Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year
Won
2002
James Morrison
Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year
Won
2006
James Morrison
Ricky May Jazz Performer of the Year
Won
Discography
Albums
List of albums, with selected details and chart positions.
^Foster, Michael (14 March 1984). "Music: An uninhibited big band". The Canberra Times. p. 30. Retrieved 17 November 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Gillespie's death a blow to music". The Canberra Times. Associated Press, Australian Associated Press. 8 January 1993. p. 8. Retrieved 19 November 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abBurrows, Don; Morrison, James; Golla, George; Turnbull, Alan; Scott, Craig (1984). "Burrows at the Winery". ABC Records National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
^Foster, Michael (11 November 1985). "Mostly Jazz: Some of the Best". The Canberra Times. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ANDERSON, VICKI (2 April 2015). "Blowing his image". The Press; Christchurch, New Zealand. p. A. 19.
^Adams-Dzierzba, Nicholas (4 May 2019). "COME FLY WITH ME". The Weekend Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. p. 4.
^Wachsmuth, Lisa (26 March 2012). "Can't beat the drum". Illawarra Mercury; Wollongong, N.S.W. p. 46.
^Adie, Kilmeny (25 November 1999). "Gina celebrates the silly season". Illawarra Mercury; Wollongong, N.S.W. p. 34.
^McDONALD, PATRICK (30 July 2009). "Band as bold as brass The famous Black Dyke ensemble heads Down Under". The Advertiser; Adelaide, S. Aust. p. D. 8.
^Shand, John (3 November 2004). "Horns of plenty in festival mix". Sydney Morning Herald; Sydney, N.S.W. p. 16.
^Meacham, Steve (26 May 2004). "The talented Mr Morrison". Sydney Morning Herald; Sydney, N.S.W. p. 34.
^"James Morrison brings triumph and trumpeting to MPAC's 20th birthday celebrations". Mandurah Mail; Mandurah, W.A. 27 May 2017.
^Scott Yanow. "James Morrison". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
^ ab"James Morrison". Australian Jazz Real Book. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
^ ab"ABOUT JAMES". Morrison Enterprises. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
^Akeroyd, Darcie (30 March 2017). "Visit truly instrumental". The Albert and Logan News; Brisbane, Qld. p. 2.