Biography

George_Morin

Vocalist, and trumpeter George Morin, is widely considered one of the leading and most recognizable voices in the Latin Jazz, Chicano, and Latin Pop scene, from Texas to California. His music has the West Coast flavor or Jazz suave. George has opened concerts for Arturo Sandoval, David Sanborn, Maynard Ferguson, Al Dimeola, Mongo Santamaria, Nancy Wilson, Stanley Jordan, Michael Brecker, Woody Shaw and recently Chuck Mangione, on the jazz side. Morin is a protégé of the jazz masters Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis. George Morin is considered a legend among Latino trumpet players. On the Vocal side, Morin is a former CBS International Recording Artist. As a vocalist, he has performed in the same line-up with fellow stars Selena Quintanilla, Emilio Navaira, Mazz, and Ram Herera at the Tejano Awards & the Pura Vida Award shows. He has recently won the prestigious “Premios Musica Latina,” award for Mejor Grupo Jazz Latino.

Morin is a superb entertainer. He has entertained people all over the continental United States, Mexico City, and Belize, in Central America. He performed in Hawaii for two years, with the world famous Harvey Ragsdale orchestra and John Malo. He enjoyed playing in Hawaii but he missed his soul food, which is Mexican cuisine. He said, “"it's time to get back to the Mainland. I have been eating way too much white rice over here." He has toured in the past with the Sunglows, Sunny and the Sunliners, and Steve Jordan. With those experiences under his belt, George started touring with his own groups: Bits of Soul, Momentus, George Morin & JazzSuave, and “ George Morin Band. ”

George has been a professional musician all of his adult life. His first gig was with a Latino orchestra from San Antonio. He had just moved to Texas from Oklahoma, where his dad had been stationed. After that gig, the word got around and he was the first call trumpet player and in high demand because of his natural ability to inspire the bands to play at another level, with his high-energy, exciting solos. Jazz was his first love. Then his second love walked in. One day on the Riverwalk, he showed up to do a gig and it turns out that the lead vocalist was a no-show. George told the band leader that he could sing a few tunes, to help him out. He let George sing that night and he has been a lead vocalist ever since. Now, when Morin performs, he brings two audiences to his concerts. His Chicano music fans expect hear him sing and his jazz fans expect to hear him wail on the horn, so he does both. Along with Jazz, he has run the gamut of different musical genres to fill in his calendar of musical dates. He has performed shows from San Antonio, Texas, to Honolulu, Hawaii.

George Morin is fluent in at least five musical languages. He can burn through a Latin Jazz up-tempo, tear up a straight-ahead bebop tune, sooth you with a luscious bolero or ballad, whether it is a vocal or an instrumental, and get your neck bone to jumping with a funky, smooth jazz or R&B tune. He can also make you tirar un “Gríto, let out a (Latino scream),” with one of his rancheras, or cumbias. George has studied with the late, great, trumpeter Woody Shaw. He has also studied with Justo Almario, Luis Gasca, and Morgan King. He has played the major jazz festivals in Texas: Jazz’SAlive in San Antonio, The Houston International Jazz Festival, Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi, The San Antonio Arts and Jazz Festival, St. Mary’s Jazz Fest, and the St. Phillips Jazz Fest. At the oldest jazz festival in the country, "Texas Jazz Festival 2007, " he was given two standing ovations for his great performance. His way with a melody captures his audiences. His inspiration and natural ability led him toward choosing the flugelhorn as his premier instrument, turning to its melodic sound for greater expression. You can hear the Baker influence along with Hubbard’s fire, accentuated with a Latin flare to give him his own, unique style.

George grew up as an Air Force kid. His father was stationed in England, where he was weaned on the beautiful English classics, in his musical background. He also lived in Maine and Oklahoma before moving to San Antonio. His early trumpet influences were Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson, Lee Morgan, and Woody Shaw. His vocal influences are, Ray Charles, Englebert Humperdink, Tom Jones, Luis Miguel, Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross, and Michael McDonald. George says, “recording original tunes is a bomb.” There is nothing like creating a song from scratch; some tasty piano chords, a beautiful melody line, and then trying different phrases and rhythms. A good friend, Richard Davila, once told him that "he, who records most, wins." Morin has been trying to live up to that expectation.

George has recorded six albums. His most recent CD is titled “JazzSuave." It is a smooth Latin jazz CD with ten original songs, one cover song, and one live video. If you play this Enhanced CD on a computer, you can see him performing live with his band, at the Texas Jazz Fest or it will direct you to his website. “Beso Y Beso”, a Latin Pop CD with jazz nuances, precedes this CD. He has just finished recording a new jazz CD, "Jazz Sunshine," due to be released in August, 2009. George is also releasing two new Chicano CD's, "My Heart and Soul," and "Evening Breeze," containing original romantic boleros, ballads, rancheras, and cumbia's. Be on the lookout for these. You can order any of these CD’s from the website www.georgemorin.com, email him at george.morin@yahoo.com, or call the office number 210 913 8592.

Here are some rave reviews about George's music:

"Morin is a handsome vocal balladeer, whose six foot three inch frame, dark mound of hair, and dark mustache make him a striking presence on stage. He is a former CBS International Recording Artist. As a vocalist he has had several number-one hits on his CD’s. George recorded for CBS Records as a Chicano singer, and caused a sensation throughout the Latino entertainment world with his explosive mixture of Chicano, with soul, and jazz solos. It is hard to think of another musician who, in a given show, will cover Luis Miguel, Miles Davis, Michael McDonald; and himself, but that’s exactly what Morin does." (Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Current Magazine).

"George, your musica is muy suave and your talents are unbelievable….wow….all the musica is amazing…I really enjoy your style of play and the arrangements. You have a creative and fresh approach to the musica. As I write this …I just finished listening to your version of Tres Palabras…wow…it reminds me of the arrangement of Luis Perico Ortiz…from one of his early recordings. I think the album is titled Sabor Tropical and it has a picture of him with a parrot on the cover. I need to look in my album library to confirm. Your playing and style remind me of him very much. Also your sound reminds me not only of my friend Dr. Bobby Rodriguez pero the sound of Humberto Ramirez and Ray Vega. Very nice. I also enjoyed the version of Inolvidable….very nice bi-lingual version. Very modern and hip…I like it very much. You know George your musica has a signature sound…what I mean..is that I can hear your influences but…your sound and style is very unique…con mucho soul…and very classy. Your musica needs that exposure. You have a very appealing sound." (Erik, Chico Manqueros, “Gozando Con Chico Show,” EAST LA REVUE, Los Angeles, California, eastlarevue.com).