Hi, my name is Ken.
There are many spaces in which you'll find me.
In a conversational space with Ulf Meyer.
... dans l'intimité des choses quand la nuit tombe...
...or sometimes hanging with TRIO X in Hamburg.
Wiith my students, who inspire me always...
...or in the tense grip of a tune....
...or so inward and mindful.
At play in the world....
...sometimes in Copenhagen with my great DK band....
...or posing for pics at the Admi with Ulf and Steven....
... or as a sideman for the cool Bettina Russmann...
... or in a moment of grace, while the band plays.
I can dig into a musical moment...
... with great players, dancers, writers.....
...whom I cherish and thank.....
...telling stories, shapin' things...
Sometimes I hide away in my studio in Berlin....
...and keeping in touch and feeling elastic!
We all stand in the light of many...
...who shine on through all of us.
I am able to experience such pleasure....
... just listening to the sounds of the world.
Welcome to my online space...
"With his expressive voice and his unerring instinct for sound, Ken Norris fuses the qualities of a skilled jazz vocalist with the approach of an instrumentalist. Norris plays in his own special way, always with a revisited and corrected instrumentation. Above all, he performs a jazz in which the role of the singer is completely reexamined. . . He creates space for the voice in the center of the arrangement. Pretentious? Absolutely not. Rather, he is a lover of musical interaction." - Le Dauphinois“Look out: a revelation! The talent of a true jazz singer, gifted with a superb musical harmonic sense. To situate this newcomer, those who adore Kurt Elling and David Lynx will not be disappointed. . . In a year of ‘nothing new on the jazz scene, thank you for daring." - Alex Dutilh, Jazzman Magaine, Paris.
Ken Norris received his Bachelor's degree at Yale University in 1990, and continued his studies in music privately and at the American School of Modern Music in Paris (FR).From 2011 to 2024, Ken Norris was the Professor for Vocal Jazz at the Hochschule für Musik & Theater in Hamburg (DE).He currently lives in Berlin and teaches voice in at the Universität der Künste and at the School of Popular Arts.Since his arrival in Europe, Ken has become a sought-after vocal soloist with such ensembles as Quintett Jean Paul, the Hamburger Polizeiorchestra (DE), Nordwest Bigband, at the Dubai Jazz Festival, JazzBaltica, the Crest Vocal Jazz Festival (FR), Les Printemps de Bourges Festival (FR), Les Nuits de Jazz de Nantes (FR), the International Voice and Guitar Competition (DE), numerous other festivals and stages worldwide. His vast discography illustrates the scope of his vocal range and musical interests.Ken is also a dedicated partner in international Theater projects, composing for and performing with, among others, DNA Works (USA) and Janine Carter (USA).Lyric and prose-writing collaborations with composers such as Tino Derado, Gabriel Coburger, Bettina Russmann, Francois Ribac, Mischa Schumann, Pierre Bertrand, and various French producers gives Ken a chance to spend time in language.In addition to his collaboration on The Secret Sharer with DNA Works (Fort Worth), Ken is composing two operatic works for Baritone, alto and small ensemble, using a Vocalese as a principal compositional element. WORKSHOPSKen and Uschi Krosch lead a successful and regular workshop for vocal improvisation in Hamburg, sponsored by the Arbeitskreis Musik in der Jugend organisation. Ken Norris is co-founder of The Voice and Movement Improvisation Workshop Germany with singer/dancer Alon Ritter (Tel Aviv). The Workshop focuses on creative expression and spontaneity using principles from feldenkrais, Gagga, Audiation (Russell), tango and Pilobolus. Professor Ken Norris
www.kennorris.org