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Stephen Morley's High 5
Stephen Morley's High 5 Growing up in Melbourne, Stephen began playing music at an early age. After studying French horn at high school, he took up…
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Growing up in Melbourne, Stephen began playing music at an early age. After studying French horn at high school, he took up guitar for several years before returning to the horn and graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts. Further studies followed in Chicago, including with renowned pedagogue Arnold Jacobs. In 2002 Stephen was awarded a fellowship at MusicOmi international residency for musicians. He returned to New York the following year, where he studied jazz horn with Tom Varner and John Clark, thanks to a grant from the Ian Potter Foundation. Stephen has performed with many different musicians and groups. In Melbourne he formed the Stephen Morley Quintet. He was a member of Peter Knight’s 5+2, and is a member of Oynsemble, co-led by Ted Vining and Adrian Sherriff. After moving to Sydney, Stephen formed Squall, and the group’s first CD was released in 2007 on Rufus Records.
He has also performed internationally, in New York with pianist Ursel Schlicht and saxophonist Blaise Siwula, and in Cologne, Germany with tuba player Carl Ludwig Heubsch and pianist Antonnis Annisegis.
Read our review of Squall on Rufus Records
“It’s hard to pick out just five, but here goes, in no particular order”
1. JOE LOVANO, BILL FRISELL, PAUL MOTIAN - Village Vanguard, NY, 2002
This trio was just outstanding. Watching the way these players worked together, it seemed to be so much about listening, creating the space and time for the music; and to get to see them at the Vanguard - fantastic. One thing that really sticks in my mind about this gig is the way they created and used the space of the trio, stretching, pulling back, and letting the music dictate terms.
2. DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET - Sydney Opera House 2007
I’ve been listening to Dave Holland for a long time now, and seeing the band play was fantastic. This was a great gig on so many levels; the way the band worked together, the compositions, the solos, everything was just so on the money. It’s always inspiring to see just how good it can get.
3. HENRY THREADGILL, TED DANIEL, BOB STEWART, NEUMAN E. BAKER - Music Omi, NY, 2002
This was a performance during my stay at Music Omi in New York, a two week residency. Henry and the other musicians came up and stayed overnight, so it was not only the gig, but the chance to hang with these great musicians that makes this so memorable. The gig was a completely free set, and the way it unfolded from the first note was a beautiful thing to hear and see.
4. PAUL CUTLAN COLTRANE PROJECT - Sound Lounge, Sydney, 2006.
Paul Cutlan, Andrew Robson, Alister Spence, Lloyd Swanton, Toby Hall. I’m a huge fan of Coltrane’s music, especially the later works. There is such an intensity and direction, and this gig had all that in such a strong way. This music takes real commitment to perform in the right spirit, and the band just took off and nailed it. Rather than one particular moment, and there were many, my lasting impression is of everyone in the band hitting it, and running with it all the way.
5. DAVE DOUGLAS -Wangaratta Jazz Festival, 2002
I really enjoy Douglas’ compositions as well as his playing. Technically, he was all over the trumpet, and the rhythm section especially seemed to move through a huge range of textures and rhythmic structures. This gig really opened my ears to the possibilities of the quintet.
