In this programme, we will hear three facets of the piano playing of Walter Norris (1931-2011): in 1957 as an imperturbable sideman in Herb Geller’s quintet, in 1978 as an alert duo partner with Herb Geller(1928-2013) and as pièce de résistance you will get Walter Norris as leader of his own piano trio, with bassist George Mraz (1944-2021) and drummer Ronnie Bedford (1931-2014): six dazzling pieces that were recorded in July 1978, NYC.
The members of this daring piano trio have all passed away in the meantime, but the music on that Progressive album —Stepping on Cracks— is still as dazzling and surprising as it was 47 years ago.
PLAYLIST
***Herb Geller Quintet: Herb Geller (altsax), Walter Norris (piano), Victor Feldman (vibraphone), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Tony Bazley (drums):
# 1. Change Partners (Irving Berlin) (6:45)
Source: Herb Geller Quintet —Stax of Sax (Jubilee JLP 1094), released on CD with Fresh Sound Records in 1989
Recording: Radio Recorders, Hollywood, 12 December 1957
***Herb Geller (altsax), Walter Norris (piano):
# 2. How About It (Herb Geller) (5:00)
Source: Herb Geller —A Jazz Song Book (Enja c.d.)
Recording: N.D.R. Studio, Hamburg, December 1988
***Walter Norris Trio: Walter Norris (piano), George Mraz (bass), Ronnie Bedford (drums)
# 3. Stepping On Cracks (Walter Norris) (12:48)
# 4. Falling In Love With Love (Rodgers & Hart) (6:26)
# 5. Cherokee (Ray Noble) (5:35)
# 6. Giant Steps (John Coltrane) (6:42)
# 7. A Child Is Born (Thad Jones) (7:44)
# 8. Cherokee (alternate take) (Ray Noble) (5:22)
Source: Walter Norris Trio —Stepping On Cracks (Progressive c.d.)
Recording: Downtown Sound Studios, NYC, 17 juli 1978
