Morgan Jones is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer and educator with degrees from The Juilliard School and USC Thornton School of Music, where he studied both piano and saxophone. He teaches piano students of all levels through his private studio, while continuing to perform, record and compose in multiple genres. Free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman mentored and prepared Morgan to be his replacement as the alto sax soloist for the world premiere of “Concerto for Ornette,” composed by Mr. Coleman’s longtime friend Carman Moore. The New York Times favorably reviewed Morgan’s performance at Alice Tully Hall, which Mr. Coleman attended. Morgan had the honor of playing tenor sax with Aretha Franklin at the Oracle Arena during her historic final tour of California. He can be heard on baritone sax on Panic! At the Disco’s album Pray for the Wicked, including the 4x-platinum single “High Hopes.” Morgan is currently the jazz pianist for the American Contemporary Ballet. He served for several years as the gospel choir director, pianist and organist for Hamilton United Methodist Church and Faith UMC. He regularly plays with funk band Scary Pockets as well as their sister band Pomplamoose, and is a longtime collaborator of singer-songwriter Heather Porcaro. He and Tamir Hendelman often play as a piano duo, presenting original arrangements of Oscar Peterson’s Canadiana Suite and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. He has played with a host of other jazz luminaries including Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Mulgrew Miller, Joshua Redman, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Peter Erskine, Cyrus Chestnut, Jimmy Heath, and Jimmy Cobb. He has performed at the Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Catalina’s, the Blue Whale, Carnegie Hall, and many others. His TV and movie credits include American Idol, The Voice, Glee, N.C.I.S, 10 Things I Hate About You and Burlesque. His original compositions are featured in the indie thriller Mojave, starring Oscar Isaac. Morgan’s passion for music education began at Juilliard, where he studied music pedagogy with Dr. Ed Bilous and taught in New York City public schools through the Morse Teaching Artist Fellowship. As co-chair of the Music and Medicine Initiative with Weill Cornell, he also led symposia on synesthesia, performance anxiety, and perfect pitch. His piano mentors include Tamir Hendelman, Frank Kimbrough, Daniel Pollack, Sergey Smilansky, Alan Pasqua, Russ Ferrante, and Mark Levine.
