"from Adams to Zorn, with a nod to Miles, Mingus, Bird and Trane" "Carnival of Souls" is the latest release by Canadian saxophonist and composer Rick Morrison. The album is a combination of contemporary and traditional jazz featuring: pianist Doug Riley (AKA Dr. Music), drummer Mark Kelso, bassist Steve Wallace and guitarist Silvio Simone. The excellent horn arrangements by Rick Wilkins are tightly performed by: John MacLeod-trumpet, Russ Little-trombone, John Johnson-alto sax, Perry White-tenor sax and Bob Leonard on baritone sax. "Carnival of Souls" has been warmly received around the world and has garnered global airplay. December 3rd, 1997 marked the debut of the "Carnival of Souls" Band at the Bamboo Club in Toronto, Canada. The group is a knockout ensemble that would be an excellent addition to the program of any jazz festival. For more information about booking the "Carnival of Souls Band" or "The Rick Morrison Quartet", please contact us at music@rmpsoundstudio.com. R I C K M O R R I S O N Saxophonist, pianist, composer, producer; RICK MORRISON, began playing saxophone at age seven and first performed on television in SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario on CJIC-TV, when he was eleven. As a teenager he honed his skills while playing with local combos and concert bands including the Ottawa based Cooper Brothers. In 1972, RICK was a featured performer on April Wine's album, "On Record". Quickly recognized as a consumate professional, he has recorded and performed with such notable artists as Martha Reeves, Long John Baldry, Roger Whittaker, The Good Brothers, Teenage Head, Ojiji of Messenjah, T.H.P. Orchestra, The Band, The Sattalites, Ronnie Hawkins; plus many more. His own Latin fusion band, RAVIN' won the first Q107 Homegrown Contest. RICK, in addition to performing, has been composing music for over twenty-five years. Rick's compositions have been heard on the T.V. productions of "Parenting" (CBC), "Fifty Plus" (CTV), "Money Workshop" (Independent T.V.), "Newspapers on T.V." (Children's Television Network), "Royal Canadian Air Farce" (CBC-Radio) and the CINAR cartoon production, "The Busy World of Richard Scarry" (currently being aired in over sixty countries). Morrison owns and operates RMP Sound Studio: 24 track Hard Disk and MIDI recording. Acoustically designed 600-sq. ft. studio and 350-sq. ft. control room. Terrific sounding and comfortable rooms. In 1984, the Rick Morrison Project album was released to critical acclaim, and currently, his latest CD, CARNIVAL OF SOULS, is receiving international air play from Osaka to Rio de Janeiro, including the Super Audio Cable Network broadcasting to over 300 cities throughout the U.S.A. and the critics say:...... WILDER PENFIELD III (TORONTO SUN NEWSPAPER) "Rick Morrison's saxophone burns through a break, leaving nothing but smoke and cinders." ED PRESTON, PRESIDENT (TEMBO RECORDS) "Brilliant, dedicated, aggressive, and very talented are adjectives usually reserved for the greats, so there is no hesitation in attaching them to Rick Morrison." CARL BANAS, BROADCASTER (CKFM TORONTO) "A great talent who deserves to be heard and played." LEAD SHEET (DOWNTOWN JAZZ) "... A tenor saxman full of energy and commitment..." WALT GREALIS (R.P.M.) re: "Carnival of Souls" "... various moods, as only a perfectionist on the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones can deliver. The entertaining factor is his fusion of contemporary and traditional jazz." PAUL McGRATH (GLOBE AND MAIL) "Morrison plays as though he has the spirits of Junior Walker and Boots Randolf competing for possession of his fingers and the only way he can stay clear is by playing faster and harder than either ever did." The Carnival of Souls Band is: "Dr. Music", aka DOUG RILEY, musically has done it all. As a producer, arranger and/or pianist/performer, DOUG has worked with the best: from Ray Charles to MoeKoffman;Placido Domingo; David Clayton Thomas, Ringo Starr, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Hill, and Michael Burgess; from smokey jazz clubs, major concert halls, recording studios to live theatre, "DOUG RILEY is the best"...Anne Murray. GEORGE KOLLER has produced and composed music for 12 independent recordings and has played as a sideman on numerous albums. He has toured around the world with LOREENA MCKENNITT, HOLLY COLE, THE SHUFFLE DEMONS, VALDY; to name a few. George's bass can be heard on PETER GABRIEL's "Virtuosity" Soundtrack Album and on cello for ALANNAH MYLES, "A-LAN-NAH". MARK KELSO is every musician's number one drummer. His list of performances include theatre ("TOMMY"; "LES MISERABLES"; "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN:" etc.), jazz greats (RANDY BRECKER, JOE SEALY, PETER APPLEYARD, + + +). MARK is comfortable with all styles of music and his talent is sought out for TV jingles, radio shows movie sound tracks and live performances internationally. Guitarist, HUGH BROCKIE, got his musical training in Edmonton where he was a featured performer with the TOMMY BANKS ORCHESTRA. Now Toronto based, HUGH, has shared the stage with BEARFOOT, JERRY SCHEFF, DAVID FOSTER, and ANDRE GAGNON. He continues to write and produce in his Toronto studio. Trumpet player, STEVE McDADE, has performed with THE BOSS BRASS for the past nine years. He is also a member of the popular Latin jazz band, MANTECA. As a well respected musician, Steve has lent his talents to many theatre productions, dozens of albums, jingles, and movie and TV sound tracks. Steve currently teaches trumpet in the Humber College music program. Trombonist, RUSS LITTLE, has arranged, conducted, and performed for TV, theatre and stage for over 20 years. He has worked, throughout the world, with COUNT BASIE, THE BOSS BRASS, THE WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRAS, LIGHTHOUSE, etc. As musical director RUSS' credits include SCTV, Miss Canada, Circus, Black Hallelujah, Too Outrageous, Deadly Hunter, and many more. Hailing from Vancouver, PERRY WHITE relocated to Toronto in 1982, where he has become an integral part of the music community. As a diverse saxophonist, Perry has performed as a sideman for FREDDY STONE, SHUFFLE DEMONS, CLAUDE RANGER, BARRY ROMBERG, DAVE YOUNG, amongst others. Perry is an active studio musician and also leads his own jazz combos. Saxophonist, JOHN JOHNSON, has become one of the most sought after studio musicians in Canada. His sound has been heard with MANTECA, THE BOSS BRASS, and the legendary DOC SEVERINSON, amongst many others. JOHN has been featured on numerous albums and jingles. His talents have enhanced the orchestra pits of countless theatrical productions. Carnival of Souls is receiving airplay on these stations around the world 1) COCALA FM Osaka Japan 2) WEAR Syracuse, New York U.S.A. 3) CKMS Waterloo, Ontario Canada 4) CKLN Toronto, Ontario Canada 5) CJAM Windsor, Ontario Canada 6) CFMU Hamilton, Ontario Canada 7) WCBN Ann Arbor, Michigan U.S.A. 8) Radio Proglas Czech Republic 9 ) CJLX Belleville, Ontario Canada 10) CKWR Waterloo, Ontario Canada 11) CBAA 130 station network Australia 12) NRK Oslo - national network Norway 13) Radio Munda Rio de Janeiro Brazil 14) WITR Rochester, New York U.S.A. 15) CHMR Hamilton, Ontario Canada 16) CKCU Ottawa, Ontario Canada 17) CJSF Vancouver, B.C. Canada 18) 91.5 Rhythm & Jazz Australia 19) Radio Kolor Poland 20) Radio Grupo 24 station network Guatemala 21) CKUA Edmonton, Alberta Canada 22) CKRL Quebec City, Quebec Canada 23) Super Audio Cable Network 300 stations - Colorado U.S.A. 24) Radio Slovenija (3 million listeners) Slovenija 25) C.B.C. national network Canada 26) CHRW London, Ont. (chart#4) Canada 27) Radio Tatry (chart #15) Slovakia 28) 2MC-FM Australia 29) CFRC-FM Kingston, Ontario Canada 30) CRSG-FM Montreal , Quebec Canada 31) CFRU-FM Guelph, Ontario Canada 32) CKCU-FM Ottawa, Ontario Canada 33) NRK P-1 Olso(national network) Norway 34) Deutschland Radio Koln (national network) Germany 35) Deutschvilla Radio Koln (worldwide shortwave) Germany 36) WDR Koln (Europe's largest radio station) Germany 37) 2NCR Australia 38) RADIO PULSAR Paris France 39) RADIO Moreeni Finland 40) JazzRadio Berlin Germany 41) RADIO AF Sweden 42) RTBF Belgium 43) Radio Centraal Belgium 44) Europa Milan Milan Italy 45) Radio Delta 2000 Italy 46) FIP Paris (Network) France 47) JazzTime Nurnberg Nurnburg Germany 48) JAZZFM Manchester England 49) Radio France Inter Paris (Network) France review by: IAN MCINTOSH (AOR Basement website - SCOTLAND) RICK MORRISON - "Carnival of Souls" This is not your usual AOR fare, but readers with a broad musical taste (and after all "AOR" does imply a wide range of styles) will find this an interesting project. RICK MORRISON is a Canadian saxophone player and his album is definitely jazz fusion although guitars are provide by ex Simon Chase and current Blood Red Flower man, Silvio Simone, and drummer Mark Kelso's name is familiar even if I can't remember which bands he used to be in. Right from the opening short "Invitation" you know this is real jazz fusion with saxophones used extensively, and like many jazz projects the mix (courtesy of the hugely experienced Terry Brown) is incredible. "The Way of the Flame" is the first full track and is vaguely like Gamalon's album with Ernie Watts (but way more jazzy) mixed with the eastern flavour of Al DiMeola. Very cool and intellectually stimulating. The songs drag you further and further into Rick's world and by "Journey" you're reveling, albeit quite surprisingly, in how cool his sax playing is. Think my favourite track is possibly "Doobop" where you'll marvel in the sheer range of sounds a sax can produce. This is modern jazz with a real point to it. Overall I'm reminded of Avenue Blue (but without Jeff Golub's soulful guitar) and fellow Canadians Five After Four. For listeners with an open mind and a desire to have their horizons expanded!!!!