About Carla

• Jazz Vocalist Carla Norris grew up banging out blues riffs on the piano when she could hardly walk. Her mother's love of all musical genres was her early childhood education. Later the sensitivity of Coltrane sparked a desire in Jazz's direction.

  Funk, RnB, Top 40 and various Pop bands later she settled into the music of the Jazz masters.  Invited to open for Bobby Blue Bland in Chicago and another invitation to sing in Paris sealed the deal, but only after having quit the music scene for over 13 years.

  Now, making up for time away, each note is precious, each emotion genuine, each song, personal. From Bop to Pop, "Jazz with training wheels", Standards or the Funky, jazzy stuff, Carla does it. 

  Carla's style is reminiscent of the jazz singers' tradition of on- the-spot improvisational interplay with instrumentalists and audience that is a synergy of sound.

Upcoming Events

• 10/18/08 - Scat Jazz Lounge
  with Kelley Durbin on Piano,
  Jaelun Washington on Drums,
  Fred Hamilton on Bass
• Special Jazz Tribute

Click links for more info and events.

 

Hello, I Remember

• Carla's debut CD, "Hello, I Remember", is dedicated to Tommy who passed away September 4, 2004. It features some of the most talented, improvisational specialists, internationally renowned musicians in the area and the world.

  In her own words, "This CD is really a testimony to these great musicians in the tradition of those great musicians who conceived, birthed and nurtured this free-spirited American music called Jazz." As one reviewer wrote, "This is a fantastic collection of classic jazz sounds punctuated by a classic jazz/blues voice, the kind of voice we don't hear very often. Carla's scat is worth the whole CD. The tribute to master drummer Tommy Hopkins is especially haunting. If you are a real jazz aficionado, this is a must have. Fair warning, this is for your collection. Enough said."
  

  Check out Carla's studio to hear sample tracks from "Hello, I Remember".

Review:

• "Norris is a skilled improviser and never backs down from some interplay with a instrumentalists.
• Denton Record Chronicle