Carnival of Souls

The first CoS album was released in 1997 and was well received at radio around the world. The music was written by Rick Morrison and beautifully arranged by Rick Wilkins. The stellar rhythm section consists of Doug “Dr. Music” Riley on piano and organ, Steve Wallace on bass and Mark Kelso on drums. Silvio Simone plays guitar on “Journey”. The horn section personnel are: John McLeod – trumpet and flugelhorn, Russ Little – trombone, John Johnson – alto sax, Perry White – tenor sax, Bobby Leonard – baritone sax. Rick Morrison plays soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, flute, harmonica, saw and percussion. The album was produced by Rick Morrison and mixed by Terry Brown.
You can listen to the music here.  To purchase a copy please follow this link: CoS on CDbaby

Carnival of Souls – Interplanetary People

This album is a labor of love that you will surely feel.
One fan describes the music – “sounds like Weather Report and Steely Dan got together and had jazz babies”

The music on this 2016 release was composed by Rick Morrison and arranged by the amazing Bruce Cassidy.

Personnel: Rick Morrison – saxophones, keys, percussion, flute and vocals
Bruce Cassidy – trumpet and EVI
Nick Morgan – alto saxophone
Don Englert – baritone saxophone
Ken Fornetran – contrabass clarinet, alto sax
Gord Myers – trombone
Christian Overton – trombone
Pol Cousee – bass clarinet
Jake Langley – guitar
Steven Cole – guitar
Eric Boucher – piano
Dave Restivo – piano
George Koller – bass
Shelly Berger – bass
Mark Kelso – drums
Steve Heathcote – drums, timbales
Paul Bennett – drums
Walleed Abdulhamid – djembe, african guitar, vocal chant

Interplanetary People was produced and recorded by Rick Morrison and beautifully mixed by Terry Brown.

To purchase a copy please follow this link: CoS on CDbaby

review by:
IAN MCINTOSH (AOR Basement website – SCOTLAND)

RICK MORRISON – “Carnival of Souls”

This is not your usual AOR fare, but readers with a broad musical taste (and after all “AOR” does imply a wide range of styles) will find this an interesting project. RICK MORRISON is a Canadian saxophone player and his album is definitely jazz fusion although guitars are provide by ex Simon Chase and current Blood Red Flower man, Silvio Simone, and drummer Mark Kelso’s name is familiar even if I can’t remember which bands he used to be in.

Right from the opening short “Invitation” you know this is real jazz fusion with saxophones used extensively, and like many jazz projects the mix (courtesy of the hugely experienced Terry Brown) is incredible. “The Way of the Flame” is the first full track and is vaguely like Gamalon’s album with Ernie Watts (but way more jazzy) mixed with the eastern flavour of Al DiMeola. Very cool and intellectually stimulating. The songs drag you further and further into Rick’s world and by “Journey” you’re reveling, albeit quite surprisingly, in how cool his sax playing is.

Think my favourite track is possibly “Doobop” where you’ll marvel in the sheer range of sounds a sax can produce. This is modern jazz with a real point to it. Overall I’m reminded of Avenue Blue (but without Jeff Golub’s soulful guitar) and fellow Canadians Five After Four. For listeners with an open mind and a desire to have their horizons expanded!!!!