| Education |
Mike Morris started playing the
clarinet at age 7 while living in Chicago. At age 15 in high school,
he became interested in the saxophone. When he heard the great saxophonist
Phil Woods, he fell in love with jazz. Then when he heard Charlie
Parker, he knew he had to learn to play jazz seriously. He began
reading theory books and teaching himself to read and play chords.
He then formed a dance band and played at high school dances.
Later Mike attended San Jose City College, learning fundamental theory
and adding the flute to his repertoire. Then he went to Monterey
Peninsula College to study jazz theory and composition with Jerry
Coker. During this time, he began composing and learning to arrange
for ensembles of various sizes. In the meantime, he had studied with
Frank Leal, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Charles Lloyd, and Charlie Mariano,
and attended a Stan Kenton Summer Jazz Camp. |
| Performing and
Teaching Experience |
| While at Monterey Peninsula College,
Mike began working with various local bands. Soon he got a job in
Lake Tahoe with a show band at Harrah's Club, where he stayed for
two years. Next he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra, which he traveled
with for over a year. Directly from Kenton he was hired by the Woody
Herman Band, and soon after he went with the Harry James Band to
New Orleans to play the Mardi Gras in 1970. (He was the tenor soloist
with all three bands.)
After leaving Harry James, Mike auditioned for the Rowan and Martin "Laugh-in
show" on TV. He got the job and worked the last six months
of the show. Then he moved to San Francisco to play and record
with Mark Levine. He also played in and recorded with Blue Mitchell's
Band. Around the same time, he worked with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra,
Boz Scaggs, Isaac Hayes, Manhattan Transfer, and many other local
salsa bands and jazz groups. Mike continues to play with local
bands around the Bay Area.
|
| At CSMA |
| Mike has been a member of the CSMA
Music Faculty since 1989, teaching private clarinet and saxophone
lessons, as well as Basics of Jazz Improv. |
| Teaching Philosophy and Approach |
| "I believe in giving my
students a strong foundation on their instrument so that first of
all they know their instrument very well. Also, I identify their
goals-what they want to achieve, style of music they prefer, and
their personal preferences-in order to help them achieve these goals." |
| Personal |
|
| Website: |
|
