Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story

An all-star tribute concert (featuring Ron Carter, Grace Kelly, Delfeayo Marsalis) at San Quentin Prison, CA, in 2012 frames this biography of bebop sax player Frank Morgan (1933–2007). Son of a musician, Morgan heard Charlie Parker play in 1940 and become friends with Parker when, as a teen prodigy, Morgan moved to California and joined weekend jam sessions. At 17, he was in Billie Holiday's band and began using heroin. Morgan kept himself in drugs through robbery and forgery, finally landing in San Quentin in 1962. The prison had so much musical talent (Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper) that the warden organized a 16-piece band, which received preferential treatment. Having spent most of his life in and out of prison, Morgan began taking methadone and in 1985 recorded his first album in 30 years, soon becoming a leading figure in jazz. One triumph followed another—17 albums, then a Lincoln Center concert.