Biography
Some of my earliest memories are of listening to music with my parents – classical and musical theatre with my mom, blues and Motown with my dad (and rock and roll with both of them). I was fortunate to take piano lessons from a young age, then later on voice lessons and eventually bass guitar in high school. I fell in love with artists like Herbie Hancock, Flea and Victor Wooten while playing with friends in high school and eventually decided that I wanted to study jazz in school. Though I eventually took a different career pathway, attending the University of North Texas allowed me to participate in jazz courses alongside my degree plan, which solidified my love for the genre. I also became a regular customer at the local used book and record store and began collecting (and obsessively listening to) jazz vinyl, playing artists like Miles Davis and Stan Getz on repeat.
After graduation, I took a decade-long break from playing and singing to focus on building my career as a triathlon coach before deciding to revisit a long-time dream of being a jazz vocalist shortly before the COVID pandemic. I was convinced prior to college that I “didn’t have what it takes” to be a vocalist, but age and experience bring new perspectives, so I signed up for my first lesson with Damon K Clark in Dallas. I continued with weekly lessons for 4 years, primarily studying classical and musical theatre, before Damon convinced me it was time to try performing live. After a few months at open mics and local jams (Balcony Club, Revelers Hall) I got my first bookings at Revelers Hall and The Wine Therapist in early 2025 and had the opportunity to coordinate my first quartet: Rowan Barcham, Simon Grome and Guillermo Ramirez Silva. I also had the opportunity around this same time to begin studying piano with local pianist and composer Julie Bonk, honing my ear and improvisational skills.
Currently I play 2-3 shows a month alongside members of that original quartet, and other local musicians such as William Foley, John Lane-Watson, Joshua Ferrell, David Flores, Mildred Mariel Perez and Daryl Bailey Jr. Shows are typically a mix of straight-ahead jazz and Bossa Nova styles, with a little bit of French language sprinkled in to keep things interesting. All band members are encouraged to solo and be playful during shows, not adhering to a strict leadsheet or arrangement but instead exploring what the tunes have to offer. If you’re ever in Dallas, check out our Upcoming Shows and join the fun!
Visit my Instagram page (no account required) to view video from recent shows and rehearsals:
https://www.instagram.com/morgandoesjazz
EPK Images*
*Venues – please email morgandoesjazz@gmail.com if you require higher resolution images
