High Definition (Joe Morris album)

High Definition is an album by American jazz musician Joe Morris which was recorded in 2007 and released on the Swiss hatOLOGY label. Morris plays double bass instead of guitar. It was the debut recording by his Bass Quartet featuring trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum, saxophonist Allan Chase and drummer Luther Gray. Chase played previously with the rhythm section composed of Morris and Gray on pianist Steve Lantner's quartet.[1]

High Definition
Studio album by
Released2008
RecordedDecember 15, 2007
StudioFirehouse 12, New Haven
GenreJazz
Length53:25
LabelhatOLOGY
ProducerJoe Morris
Joe Morris chronology
Rebus
(2007)
High Definition
(2008)
Elm City Duets
(2008)

Reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Down Beat     [2]

The All About Jazz review by Glenn Astarita states "With the undeniably synergistic interplay of the ensemble, Morris pursues a striking balance between ultra-modern mainstream, and avant-garde tinged progressive jazz."[3]

In his review for The New York Times, Ben Ratliff notes that "High Definition is more traditional than most of Mr. Morris's albums, and not only because it recalls 50-year-old sources. It's also because Mr. Morris is more conventional as a bass player than he is as a guitarist."[4]

The Down Beat review by Peter Margasak says that "the real accomplishment on High Definition is how Morris fits invisibly in the group flow, particularly with drummer Luther Gray. Together, they mete out an imperturbable pulse."[2]

Track listing

edit
All compositions by Joe Morris
  1. "Skeleton" – 8:21
  2. "Morning Group" – 8:22
  3. "Land Mass" – 7:50
  4. "Topics" – 6:53
  5. "Bearing" – 4:31
  6. "All-In_One" – 8:13
  7. "Super Spot" – 3:51
  8. "The Air Has Color" – 5:18

Personnel

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ High Definition at HatHut
  2. ^ a b Margasak, Peter. High Definition review. Down Beat May 09: page 86. Print.
  3. ^ Astarita, Glenn. High Definition review at All About Jazz
  4. ^ Ratliff, Ben. High Definition review at The New York Times