Artist: Greg Morgan
Title: Domino
Cat Number: SLAMCD281
Year released: 2009
Format: CD & all digital platforms
Barcode: 5028386028123
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The music on ‘Domino’, led by saxophonist/composer Greg Morgan draws on an ancient tradition: it owes as much to Aeschylus as it does to late-John Coltrane and Albert Ayler.
The expressionism of the music – fragmented rhythms, atonality, deeply-felt melodic beauty – is there to intensify the unity of the drama. The pieces are like disconnected scenes: dialogue, recitative, chorus and aria.
Greg Morgan: tenor and soprano saxophones
Dan Haywood: guitar
Pete French: organ
Chas Ambler: drums, percussion
Jeff Barnes: drums
“Saxophonist Greg Morgan’s austere approach to improvisation yields some startling yet approachable music on Domino…Morgan goes it alone on tenor for the brief “Among the Wheels,” stirringly elaborating a folk-song derived melody and setting up the closing “North Star” by having his last note on tenor morph into French’s almost subliminal organ…Morgan’s clear vision and the total commitment of his sound certainly merit some serious listening.” – Stuart Kremsky, Cadence
“I’ve followed Greg Morgan’s progress with great interest and reliable enjoyment since nominating ‘Spirit Of Light’, his first appearance on Slam, as one of my Radio 3 Impressions records of the year…Morgan has continued to evolve impressively…the only obvious influence here was pre-Moiré Trevor Watts, the mournful melodist of ‘Prayer For Peace’. That lineage is particularly obvious on the lovely title track, which also draws on a certain tradition of modern English pastoral. One can almost imagine it turning up on a Robert Fripp project, or something by Hans Koch…this really is a fascinating record, packed with atmosphere, unflashily clever, emotional without histrionics.” – Brian Morton, Jazz Journal
“There is a sombre, eerie duo for tenor sax and organ which is nice change of pace…Morgan switches to piano for parts of two pieces and plays elegantly on “Morning Land”. This disc seems more like a solo offering at times since only the sax is featured on most of these pieces. The good thing is that Greg Morgan does have a strong tone on both saxes and shines throughout.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Recorded West Orange Studio, Preston, June 2009
All compositions by Greg Morgan