Search - Walter Norris :: Live at Maybeck 4

A truly exceptional performance

David Chennells, Assiduo Solutions | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 06/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Norris exhibits an elegance, sensitivity, and imagination in his piano playing that qualifies him, in my humble opinion, as one of the greatest, though undersold, jazz pianists of our time. The first time I heard a track from this CD--I believe it was "Darn that Dream"--it was on an old car stereo. An inveterate, sometimes jaded listener to jazz fm radio, I was so transfixed by the colours and warmth of his sound while pulling into a gas station that I could not leave the vehicle until I had heard the full tune. Needless to say, I did everything I could to obtain a copy. It is a great shame that this recording is currently out-of-print. Here's hoping that it will be reissued soon."

Bach,chopin, mozart, tatum all working together

John P. Perhonis | University Park, Maryland United States | 04/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must admit that I had this album for a while before I warmed up to it. I recently listened to it and I was bowled over by the eloquence of his playing - his supple, liquid runs that are not sacrificed for rhythmic momentum, but which nonetheless have a true jazz feel - as if Chopin and Mozart were playing with a jazz lilt. This is not "jazzin the classics" by any means or any other kind of gimickry. This is a true intregrated musical experience. Norris plays a subtle walking bass and his right hand runs are forceful and articulate. When he provides a steady rhythm with this "walking bass," it becomes clear that his left hand and his right hand are playing in counterpoint to one another rather than the left hand "comping" in the service of the solo right hand runs. His chords are often unusual as in Body and Soul. All I can say is that I haven't heard the piano played so beautifully as this. Call it whatever kind of music or jazz you want. Like Miles Davis said, it is beautiful music, not jazz - no labels necessary."

Plays standards in a solo piano setting

John P. Perhonis | 11/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing more standards (The Song Is You, Round Midnight, Darn That Dream, Body and Soul) helped one of the most uncategorizable pianists in jazz (Norris played with Ornette as well Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band) finally get heard -- this is a justifiably best-selling solo recording in Concord Jazz's Live at Maybeck series. Always a favorite at Bradley's jazz piano club in Greenwich Village, Norris remains a pianist avoiding the spotlight with his uncompromising and subtle emotional style of playing while consistently exploring advanced harmonics. Hear his recordings with George Mraz (Hues of Blues, Drifting) for the best in piano/bass interplay (each switches traditional roles beautifully) which are greatly admired by Chopin devotees such as jazz critic Gary Giddens. [...]"