Alex Norris Quintet

Alex Norris grew up in Columbia, Md. where he began studying music at the age of 9. After graduating high school he received a scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music to study trumpet. He graduated from the Conservatory in 1990. In 1992, Norris moved to New York City to pursue a career as a jazz trumpeter.. Here, he found work with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi's Jazz Orchestra, and Maria Schneider's Band. From 1994-1998, Norris was a member of Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, becoming musical director in 1998; the final year of Carter's life. Norris has also performed and recorded extensively in the bands of Lonnie Plaxico, Jason Lindner, and with Ralph Irizarry's Timbalaye. Norris has worked with many noted jazz musicians such as Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, John Patitucci, Mulgrew Miller, and Brian Blade. Norris is very active in Afro-Cuban jazz, as well, having worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Paquito DRivera, and Chico OFarril. In 1995, Norris received a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He has served on the music faculties at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Towson University, and the City College of New York. In 2007, Norris received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. From 2005-2008, Norris was also a teacher at the University of Miami. Residing in New York City, Norris performs all over the world with his own jazz group and with the Ron Carter's Great Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, Alan Ferber's Big Band, Kyle Eastwood, Helen Sung, Miguel Zenon, Amina Figarova, and many other jazz and Latin jazz artists. He performs regularly at top New York Jazz Clubs such as the Jazz Standard, Smalls, Smoke, Birdland, and the Blue Note. He is also a member of the Jazz Studies Faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Alex Norris has one CD released on the Fresh Sounds/New Talent Label entitled Alex Norris Quintet- A New Beginning. His most recent recording, Alex Norris Organ Quartet- Extension Deadline' , will be released in February on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records. As a sideman, Alex has recorded on over 80 CD's; several of them for labels such as Blue Note, Verve, Impulse, Steeplechase, and Sunnyside. Alex has several of his Latin jazz compositions published by 3-2 Music in Fresno, CA. Additionally, he has a video masterclass available on www.mymusicmasterclass.com . Visit his website, www.alexpopenorris.com , to keep up with his various musical endeavors. Tenor saxophonist and composer Ari Ambrose grew up in a musical family in Washington, DC's Maryland suburbs. His talent as a teenager led Stanley Turrentine to enthusiastically tell an audience "This kid can outplay most of us with one hand tied behind his back!"Ambrose attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Dick Oatts. He performed in the New York City area with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Ryan Kisor, Brad Mehldau, Wynton Marsalis and Peter Erskine, and toured the world with Steely Dan in 1996 and 2000. Ambrose has recorded eight albums under his own name for Steeplechase to worldwide acclaim.He has been performing with the Jane Monheit band since November, 2005 and is featured on her new Concord release, Surrender.Weblinks:www.ariambrose.com/ Pianist Jeremy Manasia has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene for over 20 years, as an in-demand sideman, bandleader, composer, recording artist, and educator. His 6 records as a leader spotlight more than 40 compositions, and his bebop rooted, soulful, impressionistic approach on the piano. Jeremy has performed all over the world with many of the greatest living jazz musicians, including Gary Bartz, Al Foster, Jimmy Heath, Eddie Gomez, Louis Hayes, Jimmy Cobb, Javon Jackson, and can be seen regularly in all of New York City's venues. In addition to his 6 releases as a leader, which spotlight his more than 40 compositions, he has appeared on more than 20 records as a sideman, most recently “For You” - Javon Jackson, “Art” - Ayumi Kokestsu, and "The Real Blue" - Pureum Jin. Jeremy has been a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Competition, the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and the American Pianists Association Jazz Piano Competition. Jeremy had the honor of working with many master teachers, beginning with his intro to jazz from Justin DiCioccio, while a high school student at the LaGuardia HS for Music, Art and the Performing Arts; continuing with jazz piano studies at the Manhattan School of Music with Harold Danko and Garry Dial; and post graduate studies with Barry Harris, Harry Whitaker, Chris Anderson, Dutch legend Franz Elsan, and piano guru Sophia Rosoff. As an educator, Manasia has mentored several generations of jazz pianists; coupling a harmonic approach derived from Barry Harris and his studies abroad, and a philosophy inspired by a more than 15 year practice of zen buddhism, to help bring out a student’s uniquely individual voice. Jeremy is on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, a panelist for the National YoungArts Foundation, has won a Presidential Scholars Teachers Recognition award, numerous Downbeat Student Music awards and three Charles Mingus Competition awards for his teaching. Bassist Paul Gill is veteran of the New York jazz scene and is recognized for his buoyant, swinging bass lines and virtuosic arco solos. When Gill arrived in New York in the mid 1990's he was described by Jazz Times magazine as "surely one of the brightest of the up-and-coming bassists”. He has appeared as a sideman on over 60 recordings. Born in Baltimore, MD, Paul had established himself as a local mainstay in the Balto-DC area from 1984-1994 by both working with fellow hometown musician Gary Bartz, and backing artists that came to town such as Benny Golson, Rosemary Clooney, Stanley Turrentine, and Sonny Fortune. Immediately upon moving to New York, Gill began working with legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks. In 1999 he left Hendricks to embark on a year long world tour with singer Diana Krall. Following Diana Krall in 2001 he joined the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. The second half of the 2000’s found Paul touring with either vocalist Elvis Costello or guitarist Pat Martino. Gill has worked in every major jazz club in New York City and has performed or recorded with artists such as Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Bill Charlap, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, The Vanguard Orchestra, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Lew Tabackin, Jim Snidero, Steve Wilson, Eddie Henderson, Kurt Elling, Kenny Rankin, and John Pizzarelli. He is currently spending his time working in a trio setting with pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi as well as touring with vocalist Hilary Kole. Weblinks: [email protected] Born in New York City in 1971, Brian has spent the past thirteen years at his current residence in Brooklyn. While a teenager he studied timpani with Dr. John Beck at the Eastman Shool of Music. In 1989 Brian enrolled at the New School for Social Research and studied with many renowned musicians including Jimmy Cobb and the late Vernel Fournier. Since 1993 he has travelled extensively throughout the world performing with many instrumentalists including Howard Alden, Eric Alexander, Junior Mance, Brad Mehldau, David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Wess, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Among the vocalists Brian has accompanied are John Boutte, Lea DeLaria, Dena Derose, Norah Jones, Irene Reid, Diane Schuur, and Marlena Shaw. Brian has had much experience as an educator having been the artistic director of the Emory University jazz festival, faculty at the Adirondack music camp, and master class presenter at the University of Miami, Western Michigan University and Laguardia High School in New York. He is currently on the faculty of the Brooklyn Conservatory and the Swett Arts Academy in the Bronx. Featured on numerous recordings and television appearances, Brian can be heard on the upcoming Daptone Records release "Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens of Brooklyn." In September he returned from a three week tour of Japan with guitarist Tomoya Hara and bassist Mark Tourian. Weblinks: www.brianfloody.com