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Born in Horley, Surrey in 1940, Dick Morrissey went to school in Sutton and was a self-taught musician. He began as a clarinettist in his early teens, but subsequently learned all the saxophones, plus flute. He started work in the jewellery trade but soon turned professional leading his own quartet at the Marquee Club from August, 1960 and later at the Flamingo Club. From the summer of 1961 he did a nine month season in India as part of Ashley Kozak's Quartet that included pianist Harry South. On returning to the UK he resumed with his own quartet, and for a time he was with Michael Garrick (1963), and the Harry South Big Band. He had developed a sound that was a blend of all the players who had influenced him such as Ben Webster, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Hank Mobley and Sonny Rollins. He was also considerably influenced by Tubby Hayes, but his biggest influence was Charlie Parker. It was Parker's music that set him on the path to playing bebop, music which he loved throughout his life. He is quoted as saying "Parker was a genius - that's all there is to it".He had established himself as leader at Ronnie Scott's club, working with Phil Seamen and Harry South. In 1961 he recorded his first solo album, It's Morrissey Man! By the mid-60s, though, a newer breed of musician, linked to Ornette Coleman was emerging and before his 30th birthday, was in danger of dropping off the jazz map, perhaps resigned to a decade or more of studio anonymity. Instead, he adapted his hard, no-nonsense tones to fit various contexts of soul or jazz-rock. By 1970, he was co-leading the group If with guitarist Terry Smith. This group had developed out of a band he formed in 1968 and they were very popular in the USA. They made frequent visits and recorded seven albums for Atlantic Records. He toured around the world with this group until it disbanded in 1974. He returned to America again in 1975 after teaming up with organist Mike Carr. For the next ten years or so until 1985 he worked regularly with Jim Mullen in the Morrissey-Mullen Band playing a highly successful mixture of jazz fusion and funk, without losing sight of their jazz roots. The band only broke up because Morrissey wanted to get back to playing straight bebop, his first love. He also worked with John Burch's quartet. By the late 1980s and early 1990s he was again active as a leader and guesting with various groups. His work was interrupted by ill health in the 1990s and he fought a long battle with cancer before his death in November, 2000. |
 Dick Morrissey (c1963) Derek Ansell writing in Jazz Journal in 2001 said of Dick Morrissey "he conveyed an aura of pleasure in the sheer joy of playing the tenor saxophone and easily transmitted his feelings to the audience. Dick had a rich robust sound on the tenor which, combined with considerable powers of invention and an ability to swing easily and naturally made him one of the very best jazz saxophonists in Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. Although aware of the work of the great players of the past.... he was a powerful and individual stylist on his instrument particularly during the years of his maturity as a soloist between 1976 and up to at least 1994". |
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Dick Morrissey Quartet - April 27th, 1961 (It's Morrissey Man - Fontana TFL5194) (JM1261) Dick Morrissey (ts), Stan Jones (p), Malcolm Cecil (b), Colin Barnes (d). St. Thomas*/Cherry Blue*/A Bench In The Park*/Santicity*/Mildew*/Puffing Billy*/Gurney Was Here*/Happy Feet*/Where Is Love?*/Dancing In The Dark*/Willow Weep For Me*/Jellyroll*. (*Redial CD - It's Morrissey man) Dick Morrissey Quartet - July/August, 1963 (Have you heard - 77LEU12/8) (JMC35) Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Jackie Dougan (d). Down Home*/Skatin'*/The Goblin*/The Celt/Serenata/On The Spot/There And Back/Journey Home*. (*Progressive CD - Kenny Baker's All Stars & The Dick Morrissey Quartet) At this time Johnny Dankworth started to produce albums that were not just a succession of big band jazz tracks, but were themed LPs or suites and the first of them was issued as What the Dickens !, the titles linked to associations with Charles Dickens characters or phrases. Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with featured guests - July 29th and 31st, August 7th, and October 4th, 1963 (Fontana TF5203) Gus Galbraith, Leon Calvert, Kenny Wheeler, Dickie Hawdon (tp), Tony Russell, Eddie Harvey (tb), Ron Snyder or Alf Reece (tu), Johnny Dankworth, Roy East (as,cl), Vic Ash (cl,ts), Art Ellefson (ts,b-cl), Alan Branscombe (p,vib,xyl), Kenny Napper or Spike Heatley (b), Johnny Butts (d). Special guests: Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Tony Coe, Tubby Hayes, Peter King, Ronnie Scott, Bobby Wellins, Dick Morrissey (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Ronnie Stephenson (d), Roy Webster (perc) Prologue/Weller Never Did^/Little Nell^/The Infant Phenomenon/Demdest Little Fascinator/Dotheboys Hall/Ghosts^/David And The Bloaters/Please Sir, I Want Some More/The Artful Dodger/Waiting For Something To turn Up/Fodson And Fogg/The Pickwick Club/Sergeant Buzfuz/Finale. (Sepia RSCD 2016 - What the Dickens) (^Salvo 4CD Box set - I Hear Music - A Celebration of the Life and Work of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth) Dick Morrissey Quartet - January 27th, 1964 (Live at Ronnie Scott's) Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Jackie Dougan (d). There And Back*/Stars Fell On Alabama*/D.M.Blues*/Spirit-feel*. (*Jazz House CD - There and back - Live At Ronnie Scott's) August 20th, 1965 (Live at Ronnie Scott's) Personnel as January 27th, 1964 except Phil Seamen (d) replaces Jackie Dougan. Dick's Theme*. (*Jazz House CD - There and back - Live At Ronnie Scott's) Dick Morrissey Quartet - November 22nd and 29th, 1965 (Storm warning - Mercury 20077MCL) Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d). Storm Warning/What Is There To Say/Come Rain Or Come Shine/Wind Of Change/Get Out Of Town/March On. Harry South Big Band - January 25th, 1966 (Presenting the Harry South Big Band - Mercury 20081MCL) Ian Hamer, Hank Shaw, Les Condon, Albert Hall (tp), Ian Carr (tp,fl-hrn), Rik Kennedy, Chris Smith, Keith Christie, Bill Geldard (tb), Roy Willox, Alan Branscombe (as,fl), Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey (ts), Tubby Hayes (ts,fl), Pete King (bs), Gordon Beck (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d), HarrySouth (ldr). Costa Fortuna/Last Orders/Afterthought/Alone Together. Harry South Big Band - January 26th, 1966 (Presenting the Harry South Big Band - Mercury 20081MCL) Ian Hamer, Hank Shaw, Les Condon, Greg Bowen (tp), Ian Carr (tp,fl-hrn), Johnny Marshall, Chris Smith, Keith Christie, Gibb Wallace (tb), Roy Willox, Alan Branscombe (as,fl), Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey (ts), Bob Efford (ts,fl), Harry Klein (bs), Gordon Beck (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d), HarrySouth (ldr). Six To One Bar/Lush Life/There And Back/North Of The Soho Border. Dick Morrissey Quartet - September 23rd and 25th, 1966 (Here and now and sounding good - Mercury 20093MCL) Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Bill Eyden (d). Off The Wagon/Corpus/Don't Fall Over The Bridge/Sunday Lunch/Little Miss Sadly/El Schtuck. Ian Hamer Sextet - Believed to have been recorded 1966 Ian Hamer (tp,fl-horn), Keith Christie (tb), Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Kenny Napper (b), Bill Eyden (d). What's Her Name?*/Cambridge Crescent*/Tobago*/Corpus*/Chow Mien*. (*Jasmine CD - The Ian Hamer Sextet - Acropolis) Kenny Baker's All Stars - December 9th, 1974 (77 S56) Kenny Baker (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Tommy Whittle, Danny Moss (ts), Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Bill Eyden (d). Sweet Sue*/Out Of Nowhere*/Three Little Words* (DL,DM out)/It Don't Mean A Thing* (DL,DM out). (*Progressive CD - Kenny Baker's All Stars & The Dick Morrissey Quartet) Recorded live at the Bull's Head Inn in Barnes, SW London. The CD is available only from the Bull's Head... Peter King/Dick Morrissey/Martin Taylor - 1987 (Live At The Bull - Bull's Head Music BHM001) Peter King (as), Dick Morrissey (ts), Tony Lee (p), Ian Scott-Taylor (b), Terry Jenkins (d). Bird Feathers*. Tony Crombie (d) replaces Terry Jenkins. They Can't Take That Away From Me*. Dick Morrissey (ts), Martin Taylor (g). They Can't Take That Away From Me*. Dick Morrissey (ts), Tony Lee (p), Martin Taylor (g), Ian Scott-Taylor (b), Terry Jenkins (d). Billie's Bounce*. (*Bulll's Head Music CD - Live at the Bull) |
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