Joe Morris is a key figure in the ongoing legacy of FreeJazz as part of the second generation of the creative improvised music scene that blossomed in the 1970s. Mr. Morris developed his original language on the guitar inspired by the sounds of John Coltrane and Jimmy Lyons.

He began collaborating with key figures such as Lowell Davidson, William Parker, Matthew Shipp and Rob Brown while also composing, performing and recording his own music on his label Riti.

Mr. Morris is equally at home collaborating with New York’s Black FreeJazz scene as he is in the European free music scene associated with the likes of Evan Parker, Paul Rutherford and Han Bennink.

Morris possesses a deep understanding and respect for all of the ways that music flows freely with improvisation. His own ideas of freedom in music he calls Instantiation.

From very early in his career he understood that it was important to take responsibility for creating opportunities to play and present this creative music so he has been organizing and curating festivals and musical series first in Boston and later New Haven and Harford.