Doc Morgan’s 85th birthday celebration at Doc’s Jazz Club on Wednesday night was truly a night to remember for Doc and everyone in attendance. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, the wait staff was top-notch, and the music was unforgettable.
Doc’s Houston Artistic Director, Graeme Francis, along with former and present Kinder HSPVA jazz directors, Warren Sneed and James Westfall, put together an incredible show. The excitement built throughout the evening as more artists who are part of Doc’s legacy joined the stage. The performances featured Warren Sneed’s combo with Warren on saxophone, David Craig on bass, Andrew Lienhard on piano, Mike Wheeler on guitar, and Sam Knight on drums. Chris Walker, vocalist of Maze and co-founder of DocFest, joined the combo for a song, and James Westfall later performed on vibraphone. A major highlight of the evening was the performance by HSPVA students Jameson Sweeney on sax, Jeremiah Price on guitar, Micah Nelson on bass, and Batu Ak on drums. Doc Morgan also accompanied his dear friend and DocFest board member, Jan Ross, on piano, who surprised Doc by leading the audience in singing “Happy Birthday.”
Doc was thrilled to see so many former students, colleagues, and friends. We are incredibly grateful to Graeme Francis and Don Pennington at Doc’s Houston for giving us the opportunity to collaborate and make this such a magical evening for Doc Morgan.
What a wonderful way to kick off DOCFEST!
As a reminder, DocFest 2026 will be held at The Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall on Friday, October 23rd at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:00 pm for a meet-and-greet, photos with Doc & Helen, and a preview of the silent auction items. A reception with some of the artists, featuring complimentary cake and coffee, will follow the concert in the lobby. The Kinder HSPVA Jazz Combo will be performing in the lobby before and after the concert.
Our headliners this year are Chris Dave and Scott Hardy. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Hobby Center box office, and you can visit docfestjazz.org for more information.
