Kevin Norton

Having lent his percussive talents to such boundary stretching musicians/thinkers as Anthony Braxton and Fred Frith, Norton has begun to forge his own path as a bandleader. While not outwardly radical, he explores some interesting new directions with his brand of acoustic small combo jazz. His writing favors twisting horn ensembles and a constant, suite-like unfolding of sections, while his upfront percussion work (which makes extensive use of vibes and cymbals) propels the group without ever dominating. Alternately thoughtful, witty, playful, and intense, Norton's music keeps a strong balance between spontaneity and order, and therefore remains enjoyable even in its more "avant-garde" moments.