Willie Morris | Attentive Listening Review

by Darnell Jackson

Hailing from St. Louis, saxophonist and composer Willie Morris emerges as a fresh and exciting force on the modern jazz scene. With a deep-rooted appreciation for the jazz musicians that have flourished in his city, Morris brings a dynamic and unique perspective to his craft.

At this early stage of his career, Willie has already been blessed with remarkable opportunities that have allowed him to perform and record alongside a diverse and distinguished lineup of artists. Collaborating with esteemed musicians such as Randy Brecker, John Clayton, Jason Marsalis, and Montez Coleman, Morris has immersed himself in a wide range of musical settings, expanding his artistic horizons and offering a rich and varied musical journey for his listeners.

Documenting his talent, Willie’s debut album, Conversation Starter (Posi-Tone 2023), served as a platform for showcasing his abilities. The album strongly showed Willie’s musical ideas by teaming up with an ensemble consisting of Patrick Cornelius, Jon Davis, Adi Meyerson, and EJ Strickland.

Now, with his sophomore release, Attentive Listening, Morris embarks on an immersive sonic journey, exploring the concepts of focused perception and deep musical interaction. Released on March 1, 2024, this album reveals Morris’ sincere dedication to his pursuit of musical expression. Collaborating with the rhythm section of pianist Jon Davis, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Rudy Royston, Morris crafts an auditory program that leaves an indelible impression on the listener.

“Water Fountain Of Youth” opens the album with a grounding reference reminiscent of Coltrane’s modal period. The robust solos are rich in melodic development and harmonic colors, while Cornelius’s approach complements Morris perfectly; his focus on developing each idea before moving on to the next is first-rate.

“Terminal Lucidity” shows Davis’s strong contribution. His accompaniment and contribution can be heard and felt. The composition is well-written, evoking the poignant moments of clarity often experienced shortly before death. The various sections bring interesting colors and sonics.

“The Imitation Game” is a Morris original with a memorable melody set to an up-tempo swing feel. Davis, Cornelius, and Morris perform stirring solos. “To Worlds Unknown” is Morris exploring a contemporary jazz piece. Kozlov and Royston’s chemistry fuels the setting in a manner that feels good and inspires the rest of the ensemble.

“Delusion Of Understanding” returns to a more modal sound; this track allows the ensemble to explore varied harmonic colors. Morris’ solo is a standout, balancing activity and emotion, with effective upper-register wails following his long, snaking lines. “Leaving Paradise” (P. Cornelius) is a bossa nova highlighting the ensemble’s strong communication and ability. Cornelius’s alto flute playing is especially captivating. “Moving Right Along” moves back to a contemporary jazz feel that shows Davis’ talents as a composer.

Joe Henderson’s “La Mesa” shows the historical starting place of this ensemble as each member’s approach to jazz can be traced to this era’s harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic characteristics. This historical significance adds a layer of depth and richness to the ensemble’s music, inviting the audience to appreciate the complexity and evolution of jazz. “Et Tu, Caribou?” (P. Cornelius) is a moment for Morris and Cornelius to shine as they both deliver excellent solos. “Daly Minor Blues” (J. Davis) ends the album with a duet between Morris and Davis, both deeply immersed in the blues, with Morris blending influences from soul-blues tenors like Stanley Turrentine and post-bop hues of Joe Henderson with his own sinuous clusters.

Attentive Listening invites us to immerse ourselves in a sonic experience celebrating the hidden power of openness. Willie Morris continues to build his reputation as one of today’s creative tenor saxophonists and composers, delivering a listening experience that resonates with the roots of jazz’s past while moving the genre forward with an interesting assimilation of the vocabulary.