In this Dispatch, we hear an update from the composer and multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin. His Roulette commission, Wishes, a 50-minute suite featuring a 10 person ensemble draws inspiration from Wayne Shorter’s quote ”write what you wish for.” Originally set to premiere in April 2020 at Roulette, the postponed performance marks Guerin’s transition as a composer into arranging and large ensemble works.
Morgan Guerin is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and engineer. He has performed with such notables as Terri Lyne Carrington, Ellis Marsalis, Tyshawn Sorey, Esperanza Spalding, Jimmy Cobb, Nicholas Payton, Christian Scott, Stefon Harris, Allen Toussaint, Freddy Cole, Russell Gunn, Amina Figarova, Wallace Roney, and Buster Williams. Guerin was born in Metairie, Louisiana and moved to Atlanta at age 11. The Huntington Post named Morgan’s first album, The Saga one of the best Jazz albums of 2016 and Stereo Gum showcased his sophomore album, The Saga II in their August article for their favorite albums. He has also been featured in Downbeat Magazine, The New York Times and Burning Ambulance. In 2018, Jammcard selected Morgan as one of their “20 under 20” artists. At age 21, Morgan performs regularly with Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science, Esperanza Spalding, Amina Figarova Sextet, and Tyshawn Sorey. Also an active mixing engineer, Morgan has helped engineer albums from artists such as Justin Brown, Jesse Fischer, Grüt and Fullmoon Groove. During the fall of 2018, Morgan joined Esperanza Spalding on her 12 Little Spells tour and played bass, Prophet, saxophone, bass drum and sang background vocals, whila also composing the song “How To” from the record with Spalding.