Podcast 376: A Conversation with Carol Morgan

One of the most enjoyable parts of these blogs and podcast is the opportunity to introduce music fans to an artist they may have overlooked or not yet appreciated. Podcast 376, my conversation with trumpeter Carol Morgan fits that bill. Although she has released five CDs as a leader, she was just recently tabbed a “Rising Star” from Downbeat magazine.  Her latest CD, Retroactive, on the Blue Bamboo label, deftly shuffles two different recording sessions. The first, recorded in New York, allowed Ms. Morgan the chance to live out a musical fantasy and record with guitarist Mike Stern. The second session hails from Houston, where Carol joins forces with producer Chris Cortez on guitar, Keith Vivens on bass, and Jeff Sipe on drums.   Our conversation was lively as Ms. Morgan pulled no punches in dealing with issues from how she became inspired to play jazz to sexism on the bandstand to the recent controversy involving the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Musical selections from Ms. Morgan’s new CD Retroactive  include her originals “Stern Language” and “Melody’s Milieu”, and cover of “Tea for Two”.