Symphonic Soul: Morgan James and the Memphis Sound

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Morgan has the most beautiful voice...and soul...ever! Thank You for sharing, beautiful lady.❤

[@chillandgame]

🧡🧡

[@Faydit212]

I hope, this will be released on CD too! The best since the "Blues Brothers" and also long overdue. Great project! And - of course - a great - as always - Morgan James!

[@xtravert2012]

LOVEEEE it Morgan and Doug!!! Ha, I know what city yall should start the tour!!!

[@wkuadkins]

cant get enough...

[@kinsmed]

Just seeing the video link caught my breath.

[@anthonyfmoss]

A venue or tour arranger in the UK: Please, please bring Morgan and the show over here.

[@nelsonlugo45]

MJ, you are a Bona Fide Superstar. ...been saying it for years. Come play Savannah.

[@garyj2679]

Morgan, talking about Memphis, what do you think about you doing a version of Marc Cohn- Walking in Memphis

[@CharlieRogersMusic]

at the Opry, that kind of music is not country if in the 1950 you would have song music of that kind they would have to take you out of the theater in a second. I remember Elvis sang that's all right mama. and when he finished there was not even a clap. but they sing beautifully by today's standards.

[@dougwamble]

Good thing there is no mention of country anywhere in this video nor is it about Nashville which is a completely different city than Memphis.

[@russlong5114]

@@dougwamble - I'm curious as to how you've arranged this musically. Do you start with just the guitar, then begin building parts for the various symphonic instruments based off the original guitar, or do you begin with a piano and build from there? Arranging music fascinates me, thus the curiosity question of how you do it.

[@dougwamble]

@@russlong5114 good question! For this show, I had already arranged the songs for the small band record “Memphis Magnetic.” So we had the rhythm parts and my horn arrangements. What I do is import all that information into Finale music software that also contains the orchestra instruments. I don’t use guitar or piano to arrange, I just let my ear guide me as I enter in the various parts. I double some of the soul horns in the orchestra winds sometimes or I write a counter line. Then I find cool ways to utilize the strings and percussion. I studied arranging and harmony in college with some great teachers at U of North Florida and Northwestern. And in NYC I learned from so many great musicians like Wynton Marsalis who is a mentor to me. For the new charts we added to this show like the Elvis tunes “Love Me Tender” which is a slide guitar feature, and “Are You Lonesome Tonight” which is vocals and strings only, I was starting from scratch. I took the basic tune and added sections and modulations to take it to a different place. The beauty of writing on the computer is that once you’ve entered things in, you can listen back to it immediately using the sound imitations in the software. So I can fix typos and change things that don’t work. Back in the day, hand copying was arduous, and typos were harder to fix. When I get the arrangement where I’m happy with it, Morgan comes in to listen and give notes on what she hears and then I make changes on the spot until she’s happy. Hope that helps give a little insight!

[@russlong5114]

@@dougwamble = And we both know what a perfectionist your beautiful wife is! 😂🤣😂 Seriously, thanks for the insight, I really appreciate you taking the time to share. Here's a "break a leg" pre-show toast to your upcoming Destin, FL shows!!