About Me
This is a fan site in tribute to one of the world's greatest saxophonists and, it must be said, an officer and a gentlemen.I found these words from famed UK drummer, Martin Drew (who has played from everyone from Oscar Peterson to Jimmy Smith) and, they are so good, I repeat them here. Further tributes - including UK press broadsheets obituaries - can be readily found by googling the internet. Anyway, here's Martin 'Dick Morrissey, musician, born May 9th 1940; died November 8th, 2000"Oscar Peterson calls it, "swinging you into bad health!". Ray Brown calls it "stompin' in a mudhole!" Gene Harris called it "low down, filthy, greasy..............!"Whatever anyone calls it, Dick Morrissey did it with a vengeance. His sound, his time, and his sense of swing used to regularly reduce me to tears, when I was playing with him or listening to him. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Dick Morrissey swung so much, it hurt!"The jazz world is a much sadder place, now that he is no longer here, but his records will last for many, many years, providing a legacy to his brilliance.Dick was a world class musician, and also a world class chap! He loved his pint of Guinness and being with his family or fellow musicians.Dick didn't talk much about jazz or his music. He let his playing speak for himself, and my God, it did just that! There are many musicians who talk and talk about what they can do, etc., etc. But the acid test is when they get up on the bandstand, and do it, or not, as the case may be! Dick always did it, but never said much about it. Once he had finished there really wasn't much left to say!He would love to listen to a Goon tape, and we would both imitate either Neddy Seagoon, Major Bloodnoc, or some comedy tape. When in my car on numerous occasions, when we were listening to some music, he would ask me to playk, Eccles, Little Jim, Grypepipe Thin, etc., falling about with laughter.When we got to the gig, he did his magic, which is the only word for how he played and sounded. He was totally unpretentious, rather like Ronnie Scott, and indeed shared much the same musical outlook as Ronnie. Like Ronnie, Dick COM-manded respect, rather than DE-manded it. That difference, to my mind, is huge.I have tapes of a band I used to lead, called "Our Band", which originally featured Louis Stewart on guitar, then Jim Mullen on guitar, John Critchinson on piano, the genius of Ron Mathewson on double bass, Dick on saxophone, and myself. What a band! There were also many nights with Tony Lee on piano, Tony Archer on double bass, Terry Smith on guitar, and myself, at the Bull's Head, Barnes. This was when Albert Tolley used to run The Bull, and I can see him now sitting at the back of the room, smiling all over his face, as he loved Dick so much. These are only memories I treasure. Many more people and musiciansDuring his last years, Dick must have suffered hugely through his illness, but he never made a big deal about it. He always had a kind word for everybody, and confounded everyone by playing almost up until he passed away. What an amazing example to all of us, and I will always be intensely proud to have known him, played with him, and shared some of the happiest musical moments of my life with him. A privilege, no less. Martin Drew
