Sam Morgan (musician)
Encyclopedia
Sam Morgan was a New Orleans
jazz
trumpet
player and bandleader
.
The recordings by Sam Morgan's Jazz Band for Columbia Records
in 1927 are some of the best regarded New Orleans classic jazz recordings of the decade, and continue to be influential.
Sidemen in the band included brothers Isaiah Morgan
on trumpet and Andrew Morgan
on tenor sax. Earl Fouche' played alto sax. Trombonist Jim Robinson
later achieved fame working with Bunk Johnson
, George Lewis
], and at Preservation Hall
. Robinson's cousin Sidney Brown {aka Little Jim or Jim Little) was the bassist, and later worked with George Lewis, most notably on the Climax sessions in the 1940s. George Guesnon
was Morgan's banjo
ist from 1930 to 1935.
The "Young Morgan Band" as it was commonly called by fans of the day, was one of the most popular territory bands touring the gulf coast circuit (Galveston, Texas to Pensacola, Florida)
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
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...
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...
player and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
The recordings by Sam Morgan's Jazz Band for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1927 are some of the best regarded New Orleans classic jazz recordings of the decade, and continue to be influential.
Sidemen in the band included brothers Isaiah Morgan
Isaiah Morgan
Isaiah "Ike" Morgan was an American jazz trumpeter.Morgan's was a musical family; he was the brother of Al Morgan, Sam Morgan, and Andrew Morgan. He played in Plaquemines Parish in the early 1910s and then moved to New Orleans...
on trumpet and Andrew Morgan
Andrew Morgan
Andrew Morgan was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist....
on tenor sax. Earl Fouche' played alto sax. Trombonist Jim Robinson
Jim Robinson (trombonist)
Jim Robinson, also known as Big Jim Robinson was an American jazz musician, based in New Orleans, renowned for his deep, wide-toned, robust "tailgate" style of trombone playing, which enabled him to achieve a wide swoop between two notes as he moved the slide—while continually buzzing air...
later achieved fame working with Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
, George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
], and at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically perform jazz in the New Orleans style.Despite the fame of the...
. Robinson's cousin Sidney Brown {aka Little Jim or Jim Little) was the bassist, and later worked with George Lewis, most notably on the Climax sessions in the 1940s. George Guesnon
George Guesnon
Creole George Guesnon was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, composer, and singer....
was Morgan's banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
ist from 1930 to 1935.
The "Young Morgan Band" as it was commonly called by fans of the day, was one of the most popular territory bands touring the gulf coast circuit (Galveston, Texas to Pensacola, Florida)
External links
- Sam Morgan Jazz Band audio of 1927 records on Red Hot Jazz site.