Written by Bassist Thomas Morgan will release his debut album, “Around You Is a Forest,” on November 7, 2025, via Loveland Music. This recording marks Morgan’s first release as leader after more than two decades as an integral presence in contemporary jazz, collaborating with a wide range of prominent figures. The album places Morgan’s creative practice at the intersection of acoustic performance and digital innovation, centering on WOODS, a virtual string instrument designed and programmed by Morgan using SuperCollider software.
WOODS draws inspiration from traditional string instruments worldwide and generates sound using algorithmic code rather than physical strings. The virtual instrument evokes the character of West African lute-harps, cimbaloms, marimbas, and Asian zithers, while remaining flexible enough to support real-time musical interaction.
Each track in the album is constructed as a duet between WOODS and a guest performer, pairing Morgan’s programming and double bass work with noted improvisers including Bill Frisell (guitar), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Henry Threadgill (flute/bass flute), Immanuel Wilkins (alto saxophone), Craig Taborn (keyboards and field recordings), Dan Weiss (tabla), Gerald Cleaver (drums), and Gary Snyder (voice).
The conceptual development for the album reflects Morgan’s lifetime engagement with programming and open-source technology. Early exposure to coding and computer science informed his approach to music, fostering an experimental yet grounded style that values curiosity and creative problem-solving. The project originated from Morgan’s private practice in coding and music synthesis and was realized in full during a period of quiet work supported by the Shifting Foundation grant.
Recording for “Around You Is a Forest” took place throughout 2024 in New York and California, with tracks engineered by Philip Weinrobe, David Luke, and Michael Coleman, among others. Production credits are shared by Morgan, Jakob Bro, and David Breskin. Mixing was handled by Joseph Branciforte at Greyfade Studio, and mastering by David Elberling at The Village Studio B. The album’s artwork, a collaboration with Dane visual artist Tal R and ClausDueStudio, visually underscores themes of network, community, and the evolving relationship between natural and digital environments.
Photo by Shinsuke Shinohara
The album title references both a computer adventure game and the collaborative ethos of artistic community. Morgan’s perspective treats the guest musicians as participants in a broader forest ecosystem, where input and insight are shared through musical “root systems.” He describes WOODS as exploring layered sound structures, with subtle rhythmic and timbral shifts inviting flexible, responsive improvisation.
“Around You Is a Forest” will be released in multiple formats including CD, vinyl, streaming, and digital download. The project also marks a new chapter in Morgan’s work with Jakob Bro, whose Loveland Music label will distribute the record internationally. Morgan regards this project not as a departure from his longstanding role as a bassist but as an extension of his creative practice. The album documents the convergence of code and sound, underscoring improvisation as a means of immediate discovery.
Last modified: October 17, 2025
