Walter Norris
Walter Norris (b. December 27, 1931) is a pianist known primarily for his work inside the jazz community.
His playing is generally considered distinctive and uncategorizable. Norris has played with many leading jazz artists, including Ornette Coleman, Charlie Mingus and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, and has appeared on several notable albums, such as Coleman's first album and Chet Baker's last album.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 27, 1931, Norris first studied piano at home with his mother, then with John Summers, a local church organist. He began playing professionally just after his twelfth birthday in the Howard Williams Band, and later in the Bitsy Mullins Band, and played with these groups in and around Little Rock during his school years.
After graduating from high school, Norris played briefly with Mose Allison, then did a two-year tour in the US Air Force. After his tour of duty, Norris played with saxophonist Jimmy Ford in Houston, Texas, then moved to Los Angeles where he became an integral part of the West Coast Jazz scene. While in Los Angeles, he played with Frank Rosolino, Buddy DeFranco, Jack Sheldon, Zoot Sims, Art Pepper, Herb Geller, Charlie Mariano, Shorty Rogers, Teddy Edwards, Sonny Criss, Vido Musso, Eric Dolphy, Louie Bellson, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Johnny Griffin, Leroy Vinegar, Stan Getz, Howard McGhee and many others. Norris also did some recording during his time in Los Angeles, including appearances on Jack Sheldon's first album and Ornette Coleman's first album, "Something Else! The Music of Ornette Coleman."
In 1960, Norris relocated to New York City and formed The Trio with guitarist Billy Bean and bassist Hal Gaylor, and the group made one album, titled "The Trio."
In 1963, Norris took a job playing piano at the New York City Playboy Club and in time became the club's Director of Entertainment, staying there until 1970. The steady income and working schedule at the Playboy Club allowed him to study classical piano with Heida Hermanns at the Manhattan School of Music. During the 60s, when many leading jazz artists were experimenting with rock, funk, pop and soul music and with electronic instruments, Norris instead focused his attention on the classical masters and on developing classical technique. This decision is reflected in much of his later work.
Between 1970 and 1974, Norris did free-lance performing and teaching in the New York area. In 1974, he replaced Roland Hanna in the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band. After a tour of Scandinavia, he remained in Europe to record a duo album with bassists George Mraz and Aladar Pege, titled "Drifting." This was the first time he had recorded under his own name.
Back in the states, Norris joined the Charles Mingus Quintet in 1976. In the dressing room prior to a performance, according to Norris, he made the "unforgivable mistake" of calling Mingus 'Charlie' instead of 'Charles,' which angered Mingus. At that moment, the stage manager entered the room and told the musicians they were needed onstage immediately, which provided a temporary escape from confrontation (Mingus was known for his temper). Norris quit the band and immediately accepted a job in Berlin, Germany, as pianist with the Sender Fries Radio Orchestra. He moved to Berlin in January of 1977 and has lived there ever since. To this day he insists that his fear of Mingus was the primary cause of the move to Europe. Others have speculated that he left because he wasn't getting the attention he deserved in the States.
In April 1988, Norris was hired to start an Jazz Improvisation department at Berlin's Hochschule der Kunste. Many of the greatest piano masters had taught and/or studied at the Hochschule, including Busoni, Petri, Schnabel, Rubinstein, and Norris' own teacher, Heida Herrmans. He taught at the school until his retirement in 1994.
In 1990, Norris signed a five-album contract with Concord Records. The resulting recordings are all significant, but especially "Hues of Blues" (with bassist George Mraz), "Sunburst" (with saxophonist Joe Henderson), and the stunning "Live at Maybeck Recital Hall" (solo).
In 1998, without a record contract, Norris self-financed the album "From Another Star", made in New York with bassist Mike Richmond. Though the album contains some of his best work, Norris only manufactured 1000 copies. "From Another Star" remains, much like Mr. Norris himself, relatively unknown.
In July of 2006, Norris recorded again, this time at his home in Berlin with Los Angeles bassist Putter Smith. As of this writing, the recording has not been released.
Walter Norris is now the subject of a documentary film, directed by Chuck Dodson, which is scheduled for release in 2007.