Biography
27 December 1927, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. Norris studied piano formally as a child, then began playing professionally in his home town while still in his early teens. In the early 50s he played in various parts of the country, sometimes as sideman, sometimes as leader of his own small group. In 1954 he settled for a time on the west coast, working with an array of leading jazz musicians including Jack Sheldon, Frank Rosolino and Ornette Coleman. In the early 60s he moved to New York, taking up a post as musical director at the Playboy Club and also studying at the Manhattan School of Music. In the early 70s he occasionally played with the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. He toured internationally with this band, then continued to work overseas as a single and also with small bands accompanying Red Mitchell, Dexter Gordon, Red Rodney and others. Back in New York in 1976 he played with Charles Mingus, then went to Europe where he...
Read the Full Biography of Walter Norris / George Mraz
|
|
