Frank Morgan had the most regal, supple tone and phrasing. An amazing story and gift. I just discovered him, earlier this year. And, now he's gone.

Do yourself a favor: Track down his "Mood Indigo." Awesome cat.


*****

NPR spot.

Frank Morgan, Bebop Saxophonist, Dies at 73By Patrick Jarenwattananon
Related NPR StoriesTerry Gross spoke with Frank Morgan in 1987 for NPR's Fresh Air:

Dec. 18, 2007Remembering Jazz Saxophonist Frank Morgan
A Frank Morgan performance on NPR's Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz:

Aug. 10, 2007Frank Morgan on Piano Jazz
NPR.org, December 17, 2007 - Frank Morgan, a jazz saxophonist who modeled his style after bebop pioneer Charlie Parker, died of complications relating to colon cancer Friday morning in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minn.

An acclaimed practitioner of the alto saxophone, Morgan's comeback from drug addiction and prison made him a celebrity.

In his youth, Morgan was a prodigy who was invited to join Duke Ellington's orchestra at the age of 15. Though his father, guitarist Stanley Morgan, nixed the opportunity, he was working as a backup musician in Los Angeles clubs by the age of 17.

In 1955, after having performed and recorded throughout the L.A. area, Morgan recorded his critically acclaimed debut as a leader: Introducing Frank Morgan. He was 22. However, Morgan had already developed a heroin habit like his idol Charlie Parker, even though Parker warned him against it. The addiction and the crimes it motivated would keep Morgan in and out of prison for many years.

Morgan wouldn't record again for 30 years, though he drifted in and out of music. While incarcerated, he would occasionally play with various ensembles of fellow inmates — one time, he performed in such a group with alto saxophonist Art Pepper.

In 1985, Morgan cut a new album, Easy Living. The LP signaled a new chapter in Morgan's career: He resumed a life of full-time touring and recording, and left drug use behind. Between then and his death, he released 16 albums.

Though Morgan suffered a stroke in 1998, he continued to record and perform. He had just returned from a European tour when he checked into a Minneapolis hospital, and was diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer. He would have turned 74 this week.

NPR did a story about an L.A.-based writer's realistic characters. His main character's theme song was "Lullaby."

I was barely awake, one weekday morning, opening my eyes to the strains of Morgan's "Lullaby" and thinking: "Surely, this is some of the best music I have ever heard." This was but a few months ago. I found the song on a Frank Morgan CD at a Nashville used-records store.

This feels an awful like hearing from my mom that Stevie Ray had been killed in an accident, right after I'd begun to get into him.

Infinitely sadder, I'm sure, for Morgan's loved ones and more-devoted fans.