Draft:Jesse D. Vernon

Jesse D. Vernon (born 4 June, 1970) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and arranger.

Originally from Bristol, Vernon is best known for his solo project Morning Star.

He has also played guitar and other instruments with bands such as This is the Kit, The Moonflowers, The Liftmen, The Invisible Pair of Hands (with Portishead's Jim Barr), and Mù (with John Parish), as well as being the founder, leader, and primary arranger for the Fantasy Orchestra.

He has released four solo albums under the name Morning Star, of which 2001's My Place in the Dust was produced by John Parish.

With the Moonflowers
Vernon joined the Bristol-based Moonflowers (sometimes known as the Legendary Moonflowers) at the age of 17 as lead guitarist. He recorded and toured with the band until the release of their last record in 2000, and has remained a regular participant in reunion shows and subsequent band-related projects.

With This is the Kit
Having produced the band's 2010 LP Wriggle out the Restless (Dreamboat Records, re-relased on Brassland in 2012), Vernon has remained a regular collaborator, contributing to all of the band's subsequent records as instrumentalist, vocalist, and arranger,  as well as performing with the band at select live shows.

The Fantasy Orchestra
The Fantasy Orchestra originated as a one-off Morricone tribute night Jesse D. Vernon organized at the Cube Cinema in Bristol (as the Greatness of the Magnificence at the time) in 2010. When the musicians involved expressed a desire to continue playing, Vernon decided to transform the project into a permanent community orchestra.

Shortly after, a second branch of the Fantasy Orchestra was created in Paris, where Vernon has been residing since 2006. Additional branches have since popped up in Calderdale (UK) and Nantes (FR).

The orchestra released an LP entitled The Bear and Other Stories (Discoordination Records, 2020).

Morning Star
Formed as a solo project in 1998, Morning Star has featured a revolving cast of collaborators, often including a makeshift choir and orchestra section.

The Guardian has described the band as sounding "like Leonard Cohen's much younger brother accompanied by Paolo Conte's musicians."

Since 2022, the band have adopted the moniker Morning Star Music Club and have been performing with a stable lineup of Vernon on lead guitar and vocals, Lisa Weisslinger on guitar, Yohav Oremiatzki on accoustic guitar, Abby Tsype on bass, and Philippe Sirop on durms.

Studio albums

 * Morning Star – Swarffinger Records, Microbe (1999)
 * My Place in the Dust – Microbe (2001)
 * The Opposite is True – Microbe (2004)
 * A Sign for the Stranger – Microbe, Folkwit Records (2009)

Singles and EPs

 * Dance With You / Biscuits in Bed (7") – Angel's Egg (1998)
 * Where is My Lover in the Morning – Microbe (1999)

Live albums

 * Live in Europe 2000–2002 – Disco-ordination Records (2002)

Compilations

 * Star Songs: Best & Covers (2XCD) – Angel's Egg (2006)