Alexander Norris grew up in Columbia, Maryland where he began studying music at the age of nine. After graduating high school he received a scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory to study Classical trumpet. He graduated from the conservatory in 1990. During this time, his interest in Jazz grew and he became quite active on the Baltimore/ Washington D.C. Jazz scene. While performing with artists such as Gary Thomas, Grachan Moncur III, George Colligan and the Rumba Club he also gained great experience sitting in with Gary Bartz, Dennis Chambers, Billy Hart and the late Carter Jefferson.
In 1992, after a world tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Alex moved to New York City. Here, he found work with the Mingus Big Band, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra and Maria Schneider’s Band. From 1994-1998 Alex was a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, becoming musical director in 1998; the final year of Ms. Carter’s life. Alex performed extensively in the bands of Jason Lindner, Lonnie Plaxico, and with Ralph Irizarry's Timbalaye. Additionally, Alex has worked with such Jazz luminaries as Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, John Patitucci, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Ray Bryant, Avishai Cohen and Brian Blade. Alex has been very active in Afro-Cuban Jazz as well. He has worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Paquito D’Rivera, Hilton Ruiz, Giovanni Hildago, Monguito Santamaria, Poncho Sanchez and Chico O’Farril. Additionally, in the Pop/R&B world, Alex has toured and/or recorded with Incognito, US3, Philip Bailey, Steve Winwood, Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine,Jon Secada, and JJ Grey & MOFRO.
In 1995 Alex Received a Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He has served on the music faculties at the Manhattan School, the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Towson University and City College of New York.
In 2007 Alex Pope Norris received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music. From 2005-2007, Norris was Lecturer in Jazz Trumpet at that same school. For the 2007-2008 school year, Alex was Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music.
Alex still continues to perform all over the world with Manny Oquendo y Libre, Sammy Figueroa's Latin Jazz Explosion, J.J. Grey and Mofro, as well as with his own Jazz group. He is an active clinician, and performs frequently as a guest artist. Alex Pope Norris has recorded on over 60 CD’s as a sideman and has a CD out as a leader; Alex Norris Quintet- A New Beginning on the Fresh Sounds Label.