Kevin Norton

Kevin Norton (born in Brooklyn, NY, January 21, 1956) is a percussionist and composer active in the New York City jazz and contemporary music scenes. He has performed and recorded with a diverse group of musicians, including Anthony Braxton, Paul Dunmall, Milt Hinton, Fred Frith, David Krakauer, Joelle Leandre, Frode Gjerstad and Wilber Morris. In 1999, he founded Barking Hoop Recordings, a record label dedicated to releasing new and original music. The label has released 11 CDs to date, which feature Norton’s own groups as well as artists like Anthony Braxton, Kevin O'Neil, Billy Stein, and the String Trio of New York.

Norton grew up in Staten Island and later studied composition at Hunter College, where he began his association with bassist Milt Hinton. He would later record the album The Judge's Decision with Hinton in 1986. Upon graduation from Hunter College, he attended the Manhattan School of Music and earned his Master's degree in classical percussion. After school he began getting involved with the "downtown New York City" scene, and began working with Fred Frith's experimental rock band Keep the Dog (which also featured saxophonist John Zorn and harpist Zeena Parkins). Some other collaborators during this period include Philip Johnston and Joel Forrester. Beginning in 1998, Norton is currently teaching at William Paterson University.

More recently, Kevin has been working in various configurations with musicians Tony Malaby, Dave Ballou, John Lindberg, Scott Robinson (jazz musician), Connie Crothers, and JD Parran.

Discography (as a leader)

 * Time-Space Modulator
 * Quark Bercuse (Solo Percussion Vol. 1)
 * "Born in Brooklyn" (w/ Frode Gjerstad, Nick Stephens)
 * "Winter In New York 2006" (w/ Joëlle Léandre)
 * Intuitive Structures
 * Ocean of Earth
 * The Dream Catcher (for Wilber Morris)
 * not only in that golden tree...
 * Change Dance (Troubled Energy)
 * Play the Music of Anthony Braxton
 * For Guy Debord (in nine events)
 * In Context/Out of Context
 * Knots
 * Integrated Variables