James Morrison | |
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Morrison, performing at Sunset Jazz, Skycity Casino, Darwin, in August 2008
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Background information | |
Born |
Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia |
11 November 1962
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, jazz educator, artistic director, TV presenter |
Instruments | Trumpet; saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone; clarinet, flugelhorn, bass trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, double bass, piano, guitar |
Years active | 1983–present |
Labels | ABC Music |
Associated acts | Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band |
Website | jamesmorrison |
James Lloyd Morrison AM (born 11 November 1962) is a multi-instrumental Australian jazz musician. Widely known for his trumpet playing, he has also performed on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, clarinet, flugelhorn, bass trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, 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. In 2009, he joined Steve Pizzati and Warren Brown as a presenter on Top Gear Australia. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 Morrison and a cappella group, The Idea of North, won Best Jazz Album, for their collaboration on Feels Like Spring. In 2012 Morrison was appointed as 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, comprising 7,224 musicians.
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. The JM Academy is affiliated with the University of South Australia and offers an innovative approach to jazz education through integrated learning and a very hands on approach.