James Morrison (musician)
Encyclopedia
James Morrison AM
(born 11 November 1962 (though James Morrison vigorously contests the year) in Boorowa, New South Wales
) is an Australia
n jazz
musician
who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet
playing. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having performed on the Clarinet
, Soprano Saxophone
, Alto Saxophone
, Tenor Saxophone
, Baritone Saxophone
, Flugelhorn
, Bass Flugelhorn, Bass Trumpet
, Trombone
, Euphonium
, Tuba
, Double Bass
and Piano
. He is also a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels. He 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
.
(the first Australian to do so), with Don Burrows
, as a member of the Don Burrows Band, and with Ray Charles
and B. B. King
for a 1990 world tour. He has also worked with Ray Brown
, Wynton Marsalis
, Graeme Lyall
, Frank Sinatra
, Cab Calloway
, Jon Faddis
, Woody Shaw
, Whitney Houston
, Arturo Sandoval
, Phil Stack
, George Benson
, Mark Nightingale
, and Red Rodney
.
In 2005, he was the guest soloist at the 150th anniversary concert of the Black Dyke Band
and 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 keyboarder and composer Simon Stockhausen (CD released on Morrison Records).
Morrison has also had a long association with Composer and pianist Lalo Schifrin (of Mission Impossible fame) and has recorded a number of CDs on Schifrin's "Jazz Meets The Symphony" series. These include recordings with the London Symphony and the Czech National Symphony.
The discovery and development of young talented musicians has always been important to Morrison. He found his regular vocalist, Emma Pask
, at a school concert, aged 16, and she has since gone on to become an internationally renowned jazz singer. Morrison sponsors yearly scholarships for young musicians, and is actively involved with several youth bands. His association with Generations In Jazz
is his main avenue of support for young musicians in Australia.
(GIJ) is a jazz competition that is open for school big bands from all over Australia. It is a prestigious event for the younger jazz community which is adjudicated by Morrison, Ross Irwin, Graeme Lyall
and Ed Wilson. It takes place at Mount Gambier during May annually. It features some of Australia's most exceptional young jazz musicians all competing for either the 'James Morrison Scholarship', the 'City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards' or the 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship'.
In 2011 a vocal choir division was opened, adjudicated by The Idea of North
vocal quartet.
There are four separate divisions. Each division is judged by a different musician and that musician also composes the set piece which every band in that division must perform.
For 2009:
Each band must play the set piece, a ballad and then an own choice piece.
With his new partnership with Schagerl, an Austrian instrument manufacturer, he has designed with Robert Schagerl many new horns including various new trumpet designs, a flugelhorn and trombone. His new most prolific design is his new trumpet called "The Raven". The horn is unique for using both rotary and piston valves in the same system. As he describes in his blog: "The design comes from my wish to have a rotary valve instrument due to the different articulation you get compared to piston valves. I find the rotary sounds more precise and there is a smaller “dead spot” between when you push the valve and when the next note comes out clearly. This is particularly noticeable when playing quickly in the upper register (something I like to do)."
An earlier instrument creation project was to work with designer and robotics expert Steve Marshall, to produce the Morrison Digital Trumpet, a MIDI wind controller that looks and acts like a futuristic version of a regular trumpet. This allows a trumpeter to play electronic sounds in much the same way as a pianist can play an electronic synthesizer
.
In addition, Morrison has broadened his love of musical technology to include vocal performing. On his collaboration album The Other Woman which features 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 that has a microphone attached and 'sings' whatever Morrison speaks into the microphone - producing the sound of a choir.
James Morrison guested on Spicks and Specks, performed on his trumpet and was disappointed at the reaction. Fellow guest Colin Lane
suggested he play the instrument with his backside for extra effect. This sequence was not broadcast.
Morrison played a duet with Australian soap star Craig McLachlan
on the 500th episode anniversary show of Neighbours
in 1989. He played the trumpet
while McLachlan played the electric guitar
.
The pilot episode was produced by Tim Kupsch – Producer (ex 60 mins producer) Andy Wallace and James Morrison. Unlike Top Gear, the show ideas and script were largely conceived "on the fly" by James and Tim.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 11 November 1962 (though James Morrison vigorously contests the year) in Boorowa, New South Wales
Boorowa, New South Wales
Boorowa is a farming town in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Boorowa had a population of 1,070 people. It is located in a valley 243 km west of Sydney and 487 m above sea-level...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
playing. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having performed on the Clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, Soprano Saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, Alto Saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, Tenor Saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, Baritone Saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, Flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, Bass Flugelhorn, Bass Trumpet
Bass trumpet
The bass trumpet is a type of low trumpet which was first developed during the 1820s in Germany. It is usually pitched in 8' C or 9' B today, but is sometimes built in E and is treated as a transposing instrument sounding either an octave, a sixth or a ninth lower than written, depending on the...
, Trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, Euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, Tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
, Double Bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and Piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He is also a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels. He performed the opening fanfare at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. In 2009, he joined Steve Pizzati and Warren Brown
Warren Brown (cartoonist)
Warren Brown is an Australian cartoonist and television presenter.He has been an editorial newspaper cartoonist since 1986. He is currently cartoonist for the Sydney's Daily Telegraph, for which he also writes a weekly motoring column....
as a presenter on Top Gear Australia
Top Gear Australia
Top Gear Australia was an Australian motoring television series based on the BBC series Top Gear.The show premiered on SBS One on 29 September 2008 at 7:30 pm AEST, with its first season consisting of 8 episodes...
.
Association with other musicians
Morrison has performed with Dizzy GillespieDizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
(the first Australian to do so), with Don Burrows
Don Burrows
Donald Vernon Burrows, AO, MBE is an Australian jazz and swing musician, playing the clarinet, saxophone, and flute....
, as a member of the Don Burrows Band, and with Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
for a 1990 world tour. He has also worked with Ray Brown
Ray Brown (musician)
Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Graeme Lyall
Graeme Lyall
Graeme William Lyall , is a Western Australian saxophonist, composer and arranger. He became a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2003: "For service to music as Artistic Director of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, and as a musical director, composer and...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, Jon Faddis
Jon Faddis
Jon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator renowned for both his highly virtuosic command of the instrument and for his expertise in the field of music education...
, Woody Shaw
Woody Shaw
Woody Shaw was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and band leader, often referred to as the "last innovator" in the jazz trumpet lineage...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval is a jazz trumpeter and pianist. He was born in Artemisa, in the newest renamed Artemisa Province, Cuba....
, Phil Stack
Phil Stack
Phil Stack is the bassist and one of the founding members of the Australian band, Thirsty Merc. Born in 1977, Stack grew up with his three older sisters in the New South Wales city of Dubbo. Stack is an accomplished jazz and rock musician within Australia. He is also a regular performer, playing...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Mark Nightingale
Mark Nightingale
Mark Daryl Nightingale is an English jazz trombonist.Nightingale began on trombone at age nine, and played in the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestrain his teens. He attended Trinity College of Music from 1985-88...
, and Red Rodney
Red Rodney
Robert Roland Chudnick , who performed by the stage name Red Rodney, was an American bop and hard bop trumpeter.-Biography:...
.
In 2005, he was the guest soloist at the 150th anniversary concert of the Black Dyke Band
Black Dyke Band
The Black Dyke Band, formerly the Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and best-known brass bands in the world. The band has won many prizes and competitions over the years...
and 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 keyboarder and composer Simon Stockhausen (CD released on Morrison Records).
Morrison has also had a long association with Composer and pianist Lalo Schifrin (of Mission Impossible fame) and has recorded a number of CDs on Schifrin's "Jazz Meets The Symphony" series. These include recordings with the London Symphony and the Czech National Symphony.
Background
Morrison comes from a musical family; his brother John Morrison is a highly regarded jazz drummer. In 1983 they formed a 13-piece big band, the Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band. John and James have also worked together on many other projects and recordings. His father was a church minister.The discovery and development of young talented musicians has always been important to Morrison. He found his regular vocalist, Emma Pask
Emma Pask
Emma Pask is an Australian jazz vocalist. She is best known for her work with big bands and her continuing collaboration with noted Australian virtuoso James Morrison.-Background:...
, at a school concert, aged 16, and she has since gone on to become an internationally renowned jazz singer. Morrison sponsors yearly scholarships for young musicians, and is actively involved with several youth bands. His association with Generations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz is an annual weekend Jazz Festival held in Mount Gambier, Australia.It is held in May and brings together many of Australia’s most talented young jazz musicians to participate in and compete for the 'James Morrison Scholarship', 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship the 'City...
is his main avenue of support for young musicians in Australia.
Generations In Jazz
The Generations In JazzGenerations In Jazz
Generations In Jazz is an annual weekend Jazz Festival held in Mount Gambier, Australia.It is held in May and brings together many of Australia’s most talented young jazz musicians to participate in and compete for the 'James Morrison Scholarship', 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship the 'City...
(GIJ) is a jazz competition that is open for school big bands from all over Australia. It is a prestigious event for the younger jazz community which is adjudicated by Morrison, Ross Irwin, Graeme Lyall
Graeme Lyall
Graeme William Lyall , is a Western Australian saxophonist, composer and arranger. He became a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2003: "For service to music as Artistic Director of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, and as a musical director, composer and...
and Ed Wilson. It takes place at Mount Gambier during May annually. It features some of Australia's most exceptional young jazz musicians all competing for either the 'James Morrison Scholarship', the 'City of Mount Gambier National Stage Band Awards' or the 'Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship'.
In 2011 a vocal choir division was opened, adjudicated by The Idea of North
The Idea of North
The Idea of North are an Australian a cappella vocal ensemble, founded in Canberra in 1993. The group's name is taken from radio broadcasts of pianist Glenn Gould....
vocal quartet.
There are four separate divisions. Each division is judged by a different musician and that musician also composes the set piece which every band in that division must perform.
For 2009:
- Division One prize - 1st $7000, 2nd $5000 and 3rd $4000 (James Morrison, "The Call")
- Division Two prize - 1st $3000, 2nd $2000 and 3rd $1000 (Graeme Lyall, "7-Up")
- Division Three prize - 1st $750, 2nd $500 and 3rd $250 (Ross Irwin, "Codename Istanbul Angel")
- Division Four prize - Adjudication only ("I Remember Cliff")
Each band must play the set piece, a ballad and then an own choice piece.
Discography
- 2010 - "Three's Company" - James Morison with Phil StackPhil StackPhil Stack is the bassist and one of the founding members of the Australian band, Thirsty Merc. Born in 1977, Stack grew up with his three older sisters in the New South Wales city of Dubbo. Stack is an accomplished jazz and rock musician within Australia. He is also a regular performer, playing...
and James Muller - 2010 - Feels Like Spring - James Morrison and The Idea of NorthThe Idea of NorthThe Idea of North are an Australian a cappella vocal ensemble, founded in Canberra in 1993. The group's name is taken from radio broadcasts of pianist Glenn Gould....
- 2007 - Christmas
- 2007 - The Other Woman - James Morrison and Deni HinesDeni HinesDohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines is a solo R&B artist who had chart success in the 1990s in Australia and New Zealand. She is the daughter of Marcia Hines....
- 2006 - Gospel Collection Volume II
- 2006 - 2x2 - James Morrison and Joe ChindamoJoe ChindamoJoe Chindamo is an Australian pianist and composer residing in Melbourne. In 2009, "Something Will Come to Light" , written by Chindamo, won the 'Jazz Work of the Year' at the Australasian Performing Right Association Awards, his "Moments and Eternities" was also nominated.His music has been used...
- 2005 - Gospel Collection
- 2003 - On The Edge - with Simon Stockhausen
- 2002 - So Far So Good
- 2001 - Scream Machine
- 1999 - European Sessions
- 1998 - Three Minds
- 1998 - Quartet
- 1996 - Live At The Sydney Opera House - James Morrison with his Big Band
- 1994 - Live In Paris - James Morrison and The Hot Horn Happening
- 1993 - This Is Christmas
- 1992 - Two The Max
- 1991 - Manner Dangerous
- 1990 - Snappy Doo
- 1989 - Swiss Encounter - James Morrison & Adam MakowiczAdam MakowiczAdam Makowicz born Adam Matyszkowicz is a Polish-Canadian pianist and composer living in Toronto. He performs jazz and classical piano pieces, as well as his own compositions...
- 1988 - Postcards From Downunder
- 1984 - Live At The Winery - James Morrison & The Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band
- 1984 - A Night In TunisiaA Night in Tunisia"A Night in Tunisia" is a musical composition written by Dizzy Gillespie in 1942 while he was playing with the Earl Hines Band. It has become a jazz standard....
- James Morrison & The Morrison Brothers Big Bad Band
Instruments
As well as playing instruments, James Morrison has also had input into the process of creating them. In early 2010 he formed an association with Austrian brass manufacturer "Schagerl" and they have produced a number of "signature" models. 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 a flugel horn and bass trumpet in the Meister series only. Ongoing work will see more new instruments from Morrison and Schagerl, although the Academica series are now available to the public worldwide.With his new partnership with Schagerl, an Austrian instrument manufacturer, he has designed with Robert Schagerl many new horns including various new trumpet designs, a flugelhorn and trombone. His new most prolific design is his new trumpet called "The Raven". The horn is unique for using both rotary and piston valves in the same system. As he describes in his blog: "The design comes from my wish to have a rotary valve instrument due to the different articulation you get compared to piston valves. I find the rotary sounds more precise and there is a smaller “dead spot” between when you push the valve and when the next note comes out clearly. This is particularly noticeable when playing quickly in the upper register (something I like to do)."
An earlier instrument creation project was to work with designer and robotics expert Steve Marshall, to produce the Morrison Digital Trumpet, a MIDI wind controller that looks and acts like a futuristic version of a regular trumpet. This allows a trumpeter to play electronic sounds in much the same way as a pianist can play an electronic synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
.
In addition, Morrison has broadened his love of musical technology to include vocal performing. On his collaboration album The Other Woman which features singer Deni Hines
Deni Hines
Dohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines is a solo R&B artist who had chart success in the 1990s in Australia and New Zealand. She is the daughter of Marcia 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 that has a microphone attached and 'sings' whatever Morrison speaks into the microphone - producing the sound of a choir.
James Morrison Studios
Morrison has also designed and built his own recording studio, located in Sydney. It is in continual use and has already recorded a vast array of quality Australian jazz musicians including Dan Clohesy, Jake Barden, Don Burrows, Liam Burrows, John Morrison, The Swing City Big Band, The Generations In Jazz Academy Big Band, Graeme Lyall and more. The studio has some of the world's latest and best equipment as well as over 5 different recording rooms. The studio is also split with James Morrison Industry's.Trivia
Morrison played the Republican Spanish National Anthem at the Davis Cup Final in Australia in 2003. Instead of playing the current version, he performed the Himno de Riego anthem not heard since the Second Republic era, causing the enraged Spanish Secretary of State for Sport to walk out in anger. Morrison later admitted he had mistakenly learned the incorrect tune due to a mix-up with the names of the songs on a CD, when his computer indentified the Himno de Riego simply as the "Spanish National Anthem". Fortunately an official quickly found a CD of the correct anthem, placating the Spanish and allowing the match to proceed.James Morrison guested on Spicks and Specks, performed on his trumpet and was disappointed at the reaction. Fellow guest Colin Lane
Colin Lane
Colin Stuart Lane is a comedian and actor, best known for being one-half of former comedy duo, Lano and Woodley.-Lano and Woodley:...
suggested he play the instrument with his backside for extra effect. This sequence was not broadcast.
Morrison played a duet with Australian soap star Craig McLachlan
Craig McLachlan
Craig McLachlan is an Australian actor and singer. He appeared in shows such as Sons and Daughters, Neighbours, Bugs and Home and Away.-Biography:...
on the 500th episode anniversary show of Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
in 1989. He played the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
while McLachlan played the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
.
Radio and TV presenter; Top Gear Australia and Behind The Wheel
- For a number of years, Morrison has been the presenter of the in-flight jazz radio station for Qantas AirwaysQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
. - In 1994, James presented Behind The Wheel, a motoring television series on Network TenNetwork TenNetwork Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
. 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 – Producer (ex 60 mins producer) Andy Wallace and James Morrison. Unlike Top Gear, the show ideas and script were largely conceived "on the fly" by James and Tim.
- On 19 December 2008, presenter Charlie CoxCharlie Cox (racing)Charlie Cox , a motorcycling commentator, was brought up in the Sydney suburb of Gymea.-Racing career:His background is based on 4 wheels rather than 2. He raced in the National Saloon Car Cup in Britain using a Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1993 and 1994, winning several races. He also won the...
announced his departure from Top Gear AustraliaTop Gear AustraliaTop Gear Australia was an Australian motoring television series based on the BBC series Top Gear.The show premiered on SBS One on 29 September 2008 at 7:30 pm AEST, with its first season consisting of 8 episodes...
due to lack of time. Morrison replaced him in the second season, alongside Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati. He had appeared as the "Star in a Bog-Standard Car" in episode 6 of the first series.
See also
- 20th century brass instrumentalists
- List of trumpeters
- List of jazz trumpeters