​ ​Phil Morrison - Past Board MemberBassist/composer Phil Morrison learned to play the drums while serving with the U.S. Air Force in Japan but after discharge, the bass became his instrument of choice. In his hometown of Boston, around the same time that Ornette Coleman was causing a stir nationally, saxophonist Sam Rivers was also spearheading a new musical direction. His group included pianist Hal Galper, drummer Tony Williams or Steve Ellington and bassist Phil Morrison. That period was very significant in Phil's development as a jazz bassist.    Some years later, an innovative electric jazz group was put together by vibist Monty Stark featuring John Abercrombie on guitar, Vinnie Johnson on drums & Phil on bass. This group went on to record for Ahmad Jamal's record label(AJP Records) and did a TV soundtrack consisting of children's songs written by Hoagy Carmichael who also starred in the series. This cd "Now" by Stark Reality was re-released in 2003 by Stone's Throw Records. The show was called "Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop" and was produced by Hoagy's son, Hoagy Jr. and WGBH-TV in Boston.  The popular group "Black Eyed Peas" sampled Phil's bassline from that recording("Comrades") and used it in their "Monkey Business" cd "Audio Delite...."     Currently Phil Morrison and Keith Williams are co-leaders of a group called the "World Unity Jazz Ensemble" (WUJE) and have recorded in and frequently travel to China & Japan.  WUJE MySpace   This group features international musicians and instruments and has recorded two cds which are available from this site "China Skies" & "Hollow Reed".  The "Hollow Reed" cd features the world renowned erhu artist (Chinese violin), Jiebing Chen. http://www.jiebingchen.com .     Although Phil spent quite a few years residing in Atlanta, Georgia, he now enjoys living on the coast of Georgia, where he composed   the official song for that area called "Take Me To The Coast of Georgia". It can be heard on the promotional music video http://www.bgivb.com, performed by The Phil Morrison Trio featuring Keith Williams.