Elise Morris - Dancin' with the Boys (2020)

Elise is a classical female jazz artist in New York, NY. She blends influences into a theatrical flair for jazz influenced songs. As a member of Joe Jackson’s band, she toured the world playing keyboards and singing background and lead vocals. She has written lyrics for Pat Metheny, music for Doc Pomus and wrote and performed the piano underscore for Harlan Ellison’s recording of his classic short-story “On The Downhill Side”. Les McCann loved her playing so much, he invited her onstage to join his band – a true honor. The legendary Cy Coleman used her talents as a keyboard player for his show, “Exactly Like You” at the York Theater NYC and Tan Dun relied on her prepared piano and improvisational skills to perform in “America Dreaming” directed by Michael Mayer at The Vineyard Theatre in NYC. She’s been an Artist-In-Residence in Atlantic Center for the Arts, Florida, and at I-Park, East Haddam, Connecticut multiple times each. Morris was awarded a Fellowship from The New York Foundation for the Arts in Music Composition. Her original music has been heard on countless underscores of Scholastic Audio Books for children as well as in several Off-Broadway plays, including “Tallahassee” and “By Oscar Micheaux”. Her voice is the instrument that has garnered her the most exposure: She was the early singular voice behind “Nationwide Is On Your Side” commercial and is the solo wail heard at the opening theme for the popular CBS TV show, “Cold Case”. With jazz, rock, classical, theatrical and folk influences, the jazz singer combined with her uncanny piano chops, Morris’ singular sense of melody and harmony become apparent on first listen.