Alex Norris
Alexander Pope Norris (* around 1965) is an American jazz trumpeter .
Live and act
Norris grew up in a musical family in Columbia (Maryland) and first played the piano before switching to the trumpet; later guitar was added. He received a scholarship to study at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, which he graduated in 1990. In 1992 he moved to New York City, where he received his Masters from the Manhattan School of Music . During this time he worked in various big bands such as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra , the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and in Maria Schneider's band . From 1994 to 1998 Norris was a member of the backing band of the singer Betty Carter , whose musical director he became in 1998.
He also played u. a. in the bands of Lonnie Plaxico , Jason Lindner and Ralph Irizarry , also with Slide Hampton , Joshua Redman , Brad Mehldau , Chris Potter , Carl Allen , John Patitucci , Mulgrew Miller , Brian Blade and with musicians from the Afro-Cuban jazz scene such as Andy and Jerry González , Manny Oquendo , Paquito D'Rivera and Chico O'Farrill . He also went on tour with Incognito . From the mid-2010s he also worked with his own band projects and played in various big band ensembles such as Ron Carter's Great Big Band , the Mingus Big Band , Alan Ferber Big Band, Kyle Eastwood , Helen Sung , Miguel Zenón and Amina Figarova . In the field of jazz he was involved in 37 recording sessions between 1991 and 2011. Currently (2019) Norris leads a quintet that includes Ari Ambrose , Jeremy Manasia , Paul Gill (bass) and Brian Floody .
Norris taught trumpet at various universities. In 2007 he received his PhD from the University of Miami , where he taught until 2008. He is currently a university professor in the jazz course at the Peabody Conservatory .
Discographic notes
- A New Beginning ( Fresh Sound New Talent , 1999), with Gregory Tardy , George Colligan , Dwayne Burno , Joe Strasser , Claudia Acuña
- Extension Deadline (BJU, 2015), with Gary Thomas , George Colligan, Rudy Royston
Web links
- Web presence
- Interview (2010)
- Alex Norris at Allmusic (English)
- Alex Norris at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Portrait on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
- ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed July 21, 2015)
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento from July 22, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Review of the album at All About Jazz
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Norris, Alex |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Norris, Alexander Pope (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz trumpeter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1965 |