"A guitar sound like a dirty martini -- a whole lotta swing with a splash of the blues!"
Growing up in the 70s and 80s Blue had little interest in the popular music of the day and preferred the swingin' sounds of Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra.
Blue started playing guitar at the tender age of eight and later studied jazz with Howard Rees in Toronto. He moved back to his hometown, Vancouver, at the turn of the century and performed with various big bands, including a seniors band, though he was only in his 20s at the time.
The Blue Morris 6 Swing Band
Blue formed the Blue Morris 6 Swing Band which became one of the in-demand groups for swing dances in Vancouver.
It certainly helped that Blue Morris could cut a rug and was already well known in the swing dancing scene around Vancouver. The band became the "house band" at the local swing dance known as "Stomp It Off."
The Blue Morris 6 originally had Carly Jepsen as its singer. Carly Jepsen later left the band to become a famous singer-songwriter and her music is now heard regularly on the radio. Blue is very proud.
Pink Flamingo Burlesque
These days Blue Morris performs primarily with Pink Flamingo Burlesque. Through beautiful happenstance, Blue met burlesque performer Shaboobie Boobarella and saxophonist Johnny Bongo in 2007 and shortly thereafter they formed Pink Flamingo Burlesque -- one of the few remaining burlesque groups in the world that sets burlesque performances to live music. The music includes swing, jazz, blues, rock, surf, calypso and everything in between.
Guitar teaching
Blue Morris also teaches guitar to students of all ages and all levels. If you're interested in taking guitar lessons with Blue Morris, please see his other website, Guitar Lessons Vancouver.
Take private guitar lessons with Blue Morris in his comfortable heritage apartment in Vancouver!
I may be able to accept one more student right now, but only if our schedules matched. I also have a short waiting list for those who are waiting for specific times.
I can teach you how to play guitar and how to appreciate music on a deeper level.
Learn the instrument inside and out
When you know the guitar like the back of your hand, you know in an instant exactly where every note is. The instrument can become an extension of you -- perfectly comfortable and natural.
Learn how to teach yourself new songs
Whatever style of music you want to play -- Rock, Pop, Jazz -- by learning basic music theory, how to read music, and how to transcribe music, you'll know how to play anything, any time.
I had the privilege to perform with Andrea Superstein recently at the River Rock Casino and we managed to get some video from the performance. Two of these videos have guitar solos by your truly.
Pink Flamingo Burlesque combines live music with burlesque by some of the most talented burlesque performers in Vancouver and beyond. It's a high-energy, sexy, and funny experience with a big dose of VavaVoom.
The show features burlesque acts by Shaboobie Boobarella, Valentina Virago, and a host of guest performers carefully chosen for each show. We aim to tickle your senses and open your eyes to a new frontier of musical cabaret.
The Pink Flamingo band is a 6 piece band that will make your hips swing, your shoulders shimmy, and your pants fall to the floor.
They play a mix of bump & grind, saucy swing, calypso, and go-go. Pour yourself some gin, put on something sexy, and get ready to dance!
He paid tribute to all the burlesque dancers in the show, especially the incredible Shaboobie Boobarella, and then had this to say about the band:
"The orchestra... wow! Remember that "Family Guy" [episode] when Peter wishes he had a soundtrack for his life and everywhere he goes there's music playing... if I had to pick a band that would play the music wherever I went, it would probably be the Pink Flamingo Orchestra.
"They really were freakin' fantastic!"
The review of our show starts 5min53sec into the video....
