Joshua Morrison Biography

​

"Scalding Swing" - thejazzmann.com

 

Joshua Morrison is a drummer based in London, UK. Born in London, 1985. With both parents keen amateur musicians and jazz lovers he was exposed to the music at an extremely young age. He started formal study at age 7 through the Haringey Youth Music program (completing tours of the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain before he had left school) then later at Camden Music Jazz Workshops and WAC. At 14 he began working professionally. At 17 he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

 

He has played with many of the UK's finest Jazz musicians. A few of the names he has appeared with include saxophonists Alex Garnett, Dave O'Higgins, Brandon Allen, Osian Roberts, Luca Stoll, Nathaniel Facey, George Crowley, Martin Speake, Sam Braysher, Christian Brewer, Karen Sharp, Jim Tomlinson, Mark Crooks, Trish Clowes, Benn Clatworthy, Vasilis Xenopoulos; trumpeters Richard Turner, Steve Fishwick, Freddie Gavita, Jay Phelps, Damon Brown; flautist Gareth Lockrane; vocalists Stacey Kent, Atila, Anthony Strong, Anita Wardell, Sara Dowling; guitarists Colin Oxley, Phil Robson, Ofer Landsburg, Nigel Price, Hannes Riepler, Dave Preston, Ant Law; vibists Nat Steele, Lewis Wright; pianists Rob Barron, Gabriel Latchin, Graham Harvey, Kit Downes, Kate Williams, Barry Green, Rick Simpson, Matyas Gayer; bassists Tom Farmer, Calum Gourlay, Simon Woolf.

 

He has also had the good fortune to work with several top American artists during their visits to the UK, such as saxophonists Grant Stewart and Eric Alexander. As well as leading European musicians such as Italian pianist Andrea Pozza.

 

From 2012 - 2021 he worked with vocalist Stacey Kent. He appears on her 2013 release, 'The Changing Lights' (Parlophone/Warner) and 'I Know I Dream' (Sony) released 2017.

 

He has appeared at many of the world's finest Jazz clubs, including Ronnie Scott's (London) Birdland (NYC), Blue Note Tokyo, Duc Des Lombards (Paris), Fasching (Stockholm) and Blue Note Milan.

 

Festivals he has appeared at include: North Sea Jazz Festival (NL), Marciac Jazz Festival (FR), Montreal Jazz Festival (CAN), Jazz à Juan (FR), Jazz à Vienne (FR) and Jazz Middleheim (BL)

​

He considers himself lifelong student of the music and has a deep passion for the Jazz tradition. Some of his biggest influences include Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Billy Higgins, Arthur Taylor, Louis Hayes, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Mel Lewis, Al Harewood and many, many more.