Alex Norris & the Cincinnati Trumpet Summit

On Thursday, November 12, sparks will fly as acclaimed New York City trumpeter Alex Norris meets four of Cincinnati’s leading trumpet voices—Scott Belck, Michael Mavridoglou, John Zappa, and Eric Lechliter—for an unforgettable night of high-energy, hard-swinging jazz.

With five trumpets sharing the stage, expect fiery solos, rich ensemble passages, and spirited musical exchanges that showcase the power, brilliance, and versatility of the instrument. Pianist Sergio Pamies, bassist Aaron Jacobs, and drummer John Taylor provide the driving rhythm section for this one-of-a-kind gathering at Caffè Vivace.

Trumpeter Alex Norris performs all over the world with the Mingus Big Band and Dynasty, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Conrad Herwig’s Latin Sides All Stars, the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra, his own jazz group, and with countless other jazz and Latin jazz artists. He has also performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider’s Band, and was a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead from 1994-1998.

Norris has performed and recorded with Pat Martino, Ron Carter, Dafnis Prieto, Lonnie Plaxico, Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, Amina Figarova, John Patitucci, Gary Thomas, Helen Sung, Donald Harrison, Mulgrew Miller, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Brian Blade. Norris is active in Afro-Carribean jazz and Salsa, having worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Ruben Blades, Poncho Sanchez, and Eddie Palmieri. In other idioms,

Alex has worked with Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic, Incognito, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, and Gloria Estefan.

After receiving a master’s degree in 1995 from the Manhattan School of Music, Norris taught at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Towson University, and the City College of New York. In 2007, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and taught there from 2004-2008. He was a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music from 2010-18 and again in 2024. Alex was on the Jazz Studies Faculty at Rutgers University from 2022-2026.

He maintains an active schedule as a jazz clinician worldwide. As a sideman, Alex Norris has recorded on over 100 albums. As a leader, he has five recordings. His sixth release, entitled “Exit Strategy” will be released in February 2027 on SteepleChase Records. Several of his Latin jazz compositions are published by 3-2music.com.

Ticket price is $23-$33 per person.

If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $20 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set.

Important Notices:

If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund.

Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.