Chooch is an original composition by alto saxophonist Frank Morgan, written as a contrafact on the chord changes of George Gershwin's 'S Wonderful. It was first recorded in 1955 for the album Gene Norman Presents Frank Morgan on GNP Crescendo, during sessions in Los Angeles that marked Morgan's promising debut as a leader. The tune embodies the upbeat, swinging energy of mid-1950s West Coast bebop, with a lively melody crafted to encourage tight ensemble interplay and concise solo exchanges among the performers. The original recording features Morgan on alto saxophone alongside trumpeter Conte Candoli and organist Wild Bill Davis, with elements of Machito's rhythm section adding a distinctive texture to the session. These recordings captured Morgan at a pivotal moment, frequently hailed as "the new Bird" for his Charlie Parker-influenced approach, though his career would soon be interrupted by decades of personal struggles with addiction. Chooch stands alongside fellow contrafact Whippet (based on Sweet Georgia Brown) from the same album as an example of Morgan's bebop compositional craft, showcasing his ability to fashion original melodies over familiar harmonic frameworks. The tune remains a deep cut closely associated with Morgan's 1955 sessions, with no widely documented cover versions by other artists.
