Last week when I was searching for some new blues I was giving several albums a quick to see if they’d be something I’d like. One of the albums was from a blues artist I was unfamiliar with Tyler Morris. I put on his latest release Living in the Shadows. I only needed to hear a few minutes of the opening track “Movin’On” to know that this album and guitarist would appeal to me!
While I may have not heard of Tyler Morris the blues community particularly in the northeast is well aware of the 21 year old. He’s been playing clubs since he was 11, when he played at B.B.King’s Blues Club.
Tyler released his first album And So It Begins in 2015 and has subsequently released two more albums. His first release in Vizztone 2018’s Next in Line rose to #8 on Billboard’s National Blues Charts.
About Tyler Morris
Living In The Shadows, is Morris’ second release on the Vizztone label and his fourth release in total. The album was produced by one of my favorites Mike Zito (Royal Southern Brotherhood, Mike Zito Band), who says the following about Tyler
“Tyler Morris is a very serious contender in the new world domination of Blues Rock Guitar players. He is fired up and fierce for a young man. His depth of musical knowledge knows no bounds and he is just coming into his own voice. Tyler will help bring back the glory of Electric Guitar to the masses.”
While Walter Trout, another of my favorites, with whom Tyler has been performing with regularly over the past couple of years says,
“Morris is a young six string guitar slinger who can play any style of music. I believe he has an old soul because he plays with a maturity way beyond his years. Watch him go – he’s unstoppable.” Tyler continues to develop his signature sound — channeling a classic Blues mindset into his songwriting. Morris is constantly challenging himself, learning and growing as an artist and, having accomplished so much in such a short time, it will be a pleasure to see where he goes from here”
About Living in the Shadows
Living in the Shadows is Morris’ first release where he is the lead singer on the majority of the album. Tyler provided the following comment concerning that…
“Although songwriting has been my passion throughout my career, I am very happy to see the material on this record come to fruition with me as lead vocalist, a role that I have been working on for many years and finally feel comfortable stepping into as a live and studio”
Several friends who leant their services to Living in the Shadows include: Blues legends Ronnie Earl, Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito, as well as acclaimed vocalist Amanda Fish. Tyler was featured on Fish’s Blues Music Award winning album last year.
The first three tracks on Living in the Shadows are covers. First up is Gary Moore’s aforementioned “Movin’ On”’. It’s followed by Don Nix’s “Everybody Wants To Go to Heaven” and the Tony Joe White hit “Polk Salad Annie”. All three are great!
From the title track “Living in the Shadows” on the songs are all written by Tyler. Guess What. He is every bit as good a songwriter as he is a guitarist!
Living in the Shadows is just and all around great album. So ChecK Out!
A Final Thought
I have always commented that I am highly jealous of peoplewho can do a variety of things well. Tyler is one of the people. He is not only a great guitarist and songwriter. According to his website…
Morris is also an Electrical Engineer, and has designed audio effects for the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Conan O’Brien, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Brian May (Queen), Warren Haynes and others. Tyler Morris Designs (TMD) just released their consumer line of pedals with press releases from Premier Guitar, Guitar World and Music Radar.
Color me green with envy!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Tyler Morris
Artist’s Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Amazon
Here’s Tyler performing “Young Man Blues” from Living in the Shadows.