Joan Morris
Joan Morris, (born February 10, 1943) is a mezzo-soprano,[1]
Born in Portland, Oregon, she is one half of the famous musical duo of Bolcom and Morris. Her musical partner and husband is composer/pianist William Bolcom.[2] Together, they specialize in older popular songs, primarily from the first half of the 20th century, but extending beyond that to include both contemporary cabaret songs and a number of songs dating back to the American Civil War. In general, her performance practice is historically informed, rarely deviating from the original versions of songs for the sake of political correctness. Her singing voice is known for exceptional clarity, such that the lyrics are almost always completely intelligible. In early 2015 she announced that she and Bolcom would begin to curtail the length and number of their concerts, offering the next year as a sort of "Farewell Tour" after which they would limit performances to "cameo appearances."
Select Discography
- After the Ball: A Treasury of Turn-of-the-Century Popular Songs, Morris, mezzo-soprano, Bolcom, piano. Nonesuch Records, 1974, H-71304
- Vaudeville: Songs of The Great Ladies of The Musical Stage, Nonesuch, 1976
- Wild About Eubie (With Eubie Blake), Columbia, 1977
- These Charming People (with Max Morath), RCA Red Seal, 1978
- Songs By George and Ira Gershwin, Nonesuch, 1978
- The Girl On The Magazine Cover, RCA, 1979
- Blue Skies, Nonesuch, 1979
- The Rodgers and Hart Album (with Lucy Simon), RCA, 1981
- More Rodgers and Hart (with Max Morath), RCA, 1983
- Silver Linings, Arabesque, 1984
- Let's Do It, Omega, 1989
- Night and Day, Omega, 1993
- Fountain Favorites From The World of Coca-Cola (with Max Morath), Coke, 1994
- Orchids In The Moonlight, Arabesque, 1996
- The Carioca, Arabesque, 1997
- Moonlight Bay, Albany, 1999
- Sing Yip Harburg (with Max Morath), Original Cast, 2003
- Sing Gus Kahn (with Max Morath), Original Cast, 2004
- Someone Talked!, Equilibrium, 2009