Morrie Louden's Page

Morrie toured the world for many years with pop icons: Engelbert Humperdinck, Barbra Streisand, The 5th Dimension, and Paul Anka, to name just a few. He also performed with The New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall. After relocating to New York in 2005, Morrie played in Jazz clubs by night and composed by day. His 2007 release, “Time Piece” featured jazz greats Adam Nussbaum and Gary Novak on drums, Bob Sheppard and Seamus Blake on saxophone, Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Edward Simon and Mike Eckroth on piano, Lionel Leouke on guitar, and the sensual voice of Gretchen Parlato. Gil Goldstein did the string and horn arrangements.

Just two weeks after its release, “Time Piece” hit the Jazz Billboard Charts and remained there for eight months, from May thru December of 2007.
“Time Piece” was selected Top Ten Jazz Albums of the Year by writers Ken Franckling, Phillip Booth, Ed Blanco and BradWalseth. “Time Piece” was also included in music publisher Chuck Sher’s Top Ten list.

Morrie’s prized possession is a 300-hundred-year-old Pietro Rogeri contrabass, circa 1713.

Morrie is a featured member of the Music Community at www.MakinMusicNY.com
His Web site is www.morrielouden.com.

Notable Quotes & Reviews:

“I just heard your CD called ‘Time Piece’. It’s a Killer!! Man, that’s some creative and inspiring music you’ve made! And, - - - - you tear the bass UP! “ -
All the best, Chick Corea

“You are a monster on the bass and I can’t begin to describe the amount of excitement and joy I felt hearing you play. Truly I was blown away by your extraordinary musicianship and the unique techniques you developed in communicating your message. It’s strong and wonderful.”
Gary Karr - - World's greatest classical bassist.

“Time Piece is a bonafide classic. A Grammy contender for sure.”
Edward Blanco – All About Jazz.

Morrie Louden lit up jazz radio, hogged the jazz charts for a while, and attracted high praise from jazz legend Chick Corea with the release of his album Time Piece in spring 2007. Louden stunned listeners with his technical virtuosity, melodic improvisations, and composition skills, with tunes encompassing burning post-bop, sensitive ballads, and bossa novas. The disc seemingly came from nowhere, with Louden leading first-call instrumentalists—including saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Seamus Blake, guitarist Lionel Loueke, and drummer Adam Nussbaum—and sultry young singer Gretchen Parlato on one of the year’s best-reviewed jazz CDs. A California native, Louden started creating Time Piece soon after his 2005 arrival in New York, which followed a decade-long casino stint in Las Vegas. There, he had established a successful recording studio, performed in a highly regarded duo, and toured with Barbra Streisand, Engelbert Humperdinck, and other old-school pop stars.
Philip Booth -Bass Player Magazine

Morrie Louden's virtuosity was apparent from the opening piece, a melodically disjunctive original titled "Verbatim." Immediately establishing an irresistibly propulsive groove, he set the stage for a probing set of choruses by Bob Sheppard, following with his own finger- blurring solo.
Don Heckman – LA Times


"There have been many cases of jazz musicians who opt to go west, to go Hollywood for a career in studio work rather than rough it in the competitive and not particularly lucrative trenches of the NYC-centric jazz scene. Bassist-composer Morrie Louden comes from a contrary camp, that of the Californian musician who becomes established out west and finally heeds his jazz-loving heart and relocates to New York."
Josef Woodard, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT