Alex grew up in Columbia, MD, where he began studying music at the age of 9. After graduating high school he received a scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music to study trumpet.
He graduated from the Conservatory in 1990.

Arriving in New York in 1992, Alex found work with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider’s Band, and served as musical director in 1998 as a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead.

He later performed and recorded extensively with Lonnie Plaxico, Jason Lindner, Ralph Irizarry’s Timbalaye, Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, John Patitucci, Mulgrew Miller, and Brian Blade.

Alex is active in Afro-Cuban jazz, having worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Paquito D’Rivera, and Chico O’Farrill.

He performs all over the world with his own jazz group and with the Ron Carter’s Great Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, Alan Ferber’s Big Band, Kyle Eastwood, Helen Sung, Miguel Zenon, Amina Figarova, and many other jazz and Latin jazz artists.

After receiving a master’s degree in 1995 from the Manhattan School of Music, he 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 at the University of Miami.

He is also on faculty at Rutgers University.

Alex’ latest release “Fleet from the Heat” was released fall 2021 on the Steeplechase label.

His 2015 recording, Alex Norris Organ Quartet – Extension Deadline, was released on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records label to a 4.5-star review in DownBeat.

As a sideman, he has recorded on over 100 albums, several for labels such as Blue Note, Verve, Impulse, Steeplechase, Fresh Sound/New Talent, Motema, and Sunnyside.