Ken Norris

American jazz vocalist, artist, performer, teacher/lecturer, and music professor. Born: 13 September 1967 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA. Currently based in Hamburg, Germany. Probably best known commercially for his vocals on track by Shazz "Innerside" (1998). Norris gained BA in Architecture Education and Training from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (1985-1990). Studied at the American School Of Modern Music, Paris, France (1997-1998), then piano training with Aldridge Hansberry for composer, percussionist, free improvisation (1998), moving on to piano/organ lessons with Paula Gold and Benny Carson, USA. Later had singing lessons with Martina Hamberg-Möbius (rabin pedagogy), Jimmy Rivers, Lawrence Albert (baritone), and also training as choir director and with John Everson, USA. Teaching activities: - Since 2010 professor at the University Of Music & Theater Hamburg, majoring in jazz singing. - 2012-2015 lecturer, subject singing/popular music, youth music school Hamburg Mitte. - 2008-2010 lecturer at the University Of Music & Theater Hamburg, jazz singing, and vocal ensemble. - 2007-2010 lecturer at the Hamburg School Of Music, singing. Artistic activity (New York City, USA): - 1999 musical direction/composition for radio play "What Light From Darkness Grows" by Janine L. Carter (received the Golden Reel Award in 2003). - 1998 musical direction/composition for play "Mixtries", based on novel "Mulatto" by Langston Hughes, Crèation Daniel Banks, New York University Tisch School Of The Arts (21-27 April 1998). Artistic activity (Paris, France): - 2001 head of the school project "Le Secret de la Madeleine", composition for voice and tape, with students at a Paris high school on the topics of identity and memory. - 2000 soloist, actor in "Le Regard de Lyncèe", opera by François Ribac. - 1995 producer of CD "Hot Chills", for the music collective "Le Kaleidescope Bleu". Artistic activity (Hamburg, Germany): - 2008 arrangement/composition/production of CD "In The Spirit Of Christmas", for choir, string quartet, piano, and combo. Live concert in the Laieszhalle Hamburg, 4 December 2008. - 2005 lyricist/voice arranger for Lohengrin's Error, for orchestra, Latin combo, choir and soloists, based on the opera Lohengrin by Richard Wagner, produced by Peter Will. - Soloist and band member with Gabriel Coburger (sax), Buggy Braune (piano); Hamburg Police Orchestra; Hessischer Rundfunk big band; Portrait Wolf Kerschek; Gottfried Böttger (piano); Big band from the Hamburg University; Northwest Big Band, Oldenburg; Actor/singer in the first cast of "The Lion King", musical by Julie Taymor and Elton John, Hamburg Hafentheater. Festivals, summary: - 2015 Jazz Baltica, Germany, with Auintet Jean-Paul (Gabriel Coburger). - 2010 Dubai Jazz Festival with the quintet Jean-Paul (Gabriel Coburger). - 2008 International Competition "Voice & Guitar" of the city of Völklingen and the Society For Culture & Guitar. - 1996 Printemps de Bourges World Music Festival, France, premiere of "Modern Folklore", for choir, soloists, and percussion. - 1995 Crest Jazz Vocal Festival and competition, France. - Other festivals: Jazz Ahead, Jazz Baltica, Magdeburg Jazz Festival.