Walter Norris is one of the world's great pianists. Though he's most known inside the jazz world, having performed and recorded with many leading artists, the most fascinating thing about Walter is how his work has continued to evolve. He has blurred the line between jazz and classical music, joining the ideas of Bach, Mozart and Chopin to those of Louie Armstrong, Art Tatum and Charlie Parker, building on the past to make a music that is very much of the present, even of the future.
“…Norris has moved beyond his bebop beginnings.†~ Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times
Walter Norris was born Dec. 27, 1931, in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the United States. He began studying the piano when he was a child and was playing professionally by the age of 12. In the 1950s he lived in Los Angeles and was part of the West Coast scene, working with a long list of artists including Art Pepper, Buddy DeFranco, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Mariano, Jack Sheldon, Teddy Edwards, Eric Dolphy, Zoot Sims, Herb Geller, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Leroy Vinnegar and Louie Bellson.
In 1960 Walter moved to New York City and formed The Trio with guitarist Billy Bean and bassist Hal Gaylor and recorded the album "The Trio." He was musical director of the New York City Playboy Club from 1963 until 1970 and during that time studied classical piano with Heida Hermanns at the Manhattan School of Music.
In 1974 Walter recorded the album "Drifting" with bassists Aladar Pege and George Mraz, his first album under his own name. The same year he joined the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra.
In 1976 he performed in Europe with Dexter Gordon, Zoot Sims, Red Rodney and Red Mitchell, then returned to the states and became a member of the Charles Mingus Quintet.
In January of 1977 Walter left the United States and moved to Berlin, Germany, to perform with the Sender-Fries Radio Orchestra. He continued to record, releasing "Synchronicity" (1978, w/Aladar Pege), "Stepping on Cracks" (1978, w/George Mraz and Ronnie Bedford) and "Winter Rose" (1980, w/Aladar Pege). In 1988 he began the jazz program at Berlin's Hochschule der Kunste and taught there until 94.
In 1990 Walter signed a 5-album contract with the Concord label and released "Live at Maybeck Recital Hall" (1990), "Lush Life" (1990, with Neil Swainson and Harold Jones), "Sunburst" (1991, w/Joe Henderson, Larry Grenadier and Mike Heyman), "Love Every Moment" (1992, w/Putter Smith and Larance Marable), and "Hues of Blues" (1995, w/George Mraz). In 1998 he formed his own label to produce the album "From Another Star" with bassist Mike Richmond.
Lately Walter has spent a great amount of time creating an autobiography (not yet released) and a book that contains his practice and performance techniques (available very soon). He is the subject of a documentary film, "From Another Star: The Life and Work of Walter Norris," which is scheduled for release in May 2009, in his home state of Arkansas, in the US. Walter will attend the premier and perform. The exact dates are pending, but will be posted soon.
Walter continues to practice hours a day as he has since his childhood.
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What critics have said:
“Without any doubt, Walter Norris is one of the most important solo pianists in the second half of the twentieth century. His inexhaustible wealth of ideas and outstanding pianistic mastery is not to be found in the world of jazz.†~ Jorg Engels, Jazz Podium
“Walter Norris is a brilliant pianist, a virtuoso…..†~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
“…..it is no exaggeration to call him one of a kind. Many pianists have distinctive styles and sounds, Norris, however, goes beyond any classification, either as a pianist-composer or a visionary. ~ Francesca Nemko, Jazz Now
“Possessed of a demonic technique and a rare harmonic imagination, he divides his time between the original works, mocked by the ever-shifting iridescence of his chordal concepts, and versions of standard tunes that he elevates to new levels of sophistication. ~ Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times
“Walter Norris makes music with a staggering facility…..great and vivacious piano-playing, somewhere between Mozart and Bartok.†~ Baldur Bockhoff, Suddeutsche Zeitung
“This is inebriating music, music which celebrates the piano both as an instrument and as a concept.†~ Gary Giddins, The Village Voice
“If classical keyboardists were still expected to improvise as in previous centuries, there might be more pianists like Walter Norris.†~ Jon Pareles, New York Times
“Walter Norris is a consummate pianist and deep rhapsodist whom the Japanese, in their reverence for artistry, would call a living national treasure.†~ Fred Bouchard, DownBeat
“Walter Norris is one of the elder statesmen of the jazz piano.†~ Jorg Knobloch, All About Jazz
“…Walter Norris has been and continues to be one of my favorite pianists.†~ Fred Jung, Jazz Weekly
“Walter Norris is the Art Tatum of the 90’s.†~ Zan Stewart, Los Angeles Times
“In many ways, I think Walter may be unparalleled at this particular time. Well, for all time. I can’t think of anybody in the past that does the things that he does.†~ Whitney Balliett
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