Search - Jim Brass Plus Morris :: Montage

Comments by Jim

Jim Morris | Glendale, CA United States | 11/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some have suggested that the category of this CD should be Chamber Jazz because it includes some classical elements sometimes. It is clearly mostly jazz performed by some of the best musicians in Los Angeles.The forerunner of Brass Plus was a classical brass quintet, The Contemporary Brass Quintet started by me In New York In the sixties.From the very beginning that group included jazz in all the concerts we played in places like The Lincoln Center Library Auditorium and The Metropolitan Museum to the amazed and pleased reaction of the audiences.When I moved to California I decided to focus more on Jazz. Bobby Shew, the first trumpet player in Brass Plus was an absolutely incredible contributor. He wrote rhythm parts for my existing library and composed and arranged new material. We were off and running.Over the years some of the finest players in Los Angeles became band members and they in turn wrote new material. A kind of momentum became obvious as great compositions and arrangements attracted great players.The MAMA Foundation, created by Gene Cerwinsky, invited us to record for them and we became one of their earliest artists. They encouraged us to record whatever we wanted. This is the result. Sit back and be prepared to hear a new sound.Jim Morris"