James Morgan (musician)

James Charles Morgan (born September 10, 1957) is an American recording artist, jazz guitarist, bandleader, and composer. He is the founder of The Ghost Jazz Trio Band. Morgan has created his jazz genre, called West Coast Contemporary Jazz.

Early life and education
Morgan was born on September 10, 1957, in Oakland, California. He developed a passion for jazz fusion music during his teenage years. Influenced by iconic acts such as Return to Forever, John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Miles Davis, he was inspired to take up the guitar. In the late 1970s, Morgan had the opportunity to receive guitar lessons from Bill Connors of Return to Forever, forming a close friendship with Connors during his time in Santa Cruz, California. Morgan also holds a bachelor’s of science degree.

Career
Morgan performed as a prominent bandleader for several years, composing his music and forming various jazz fusion bands. His band "Absolute Black" served as the opening act for Mickey Thomas of Starship. In 2013, Morgan's jazz fusion band "Dialog Project" gained acclaim, earning a nomination for the Best Jazz Album category for 'Artistry of Jazz Fusion.'

Morgan continued his musical career as a bandleader and later created his jazz genre, West Coast Contemporary Jazz. In 2017, he formed his band, Ghost Jazz Trio, and released their debut album, "Invisible Time," in 2020. The album earned critical acclaim, leading to a nomination for 'Best Jazz Album of The Year' at the 2021 San Diego Music Awards. The album was featured on over 150 radio station playlists worldwide and numerous music streaming platforms and debuted in the Top 100 on the Smooth Jazz charts.

The 2021 album release, "On the Level," showcased an eclectic blend of R&B, Smooth Jazz, Funk, Jazz Swing, and intricate jazz arrangements. In 2022, Morgan released "Dreams Above," an album blending jazz and classical symphonic strings in a smooth jazz format. The album marked a significant milestone in Morgan's musical exploration.

In 2023, Morgan released his fourth album in four years, “Groovin Smooth,” all music produced and arranged by legendary jazz fusion guitarist Dean Brown, who co-wrote many of the songs and performed on the album. The album focuses on showcasing the natural wood sound of James’s hollowbody Pat Metheny signature guitar. The album was recorded live in the studio with minimal effects or editing for a more organic live performance sound.

Smooth Jazz Global Radio ranked Morgan’s Ghost Jazz Trio band #73 on its Annual Year-End Top 100 Chart for 2023. The band received 6,132 spins contributed by 90 Smooth Jazz radio stations worldwide, including terrestrial, internet, satellite, and specialty shows. The band was ranked 6th on Radio Guitar One’s Jazz Top 30.