Norris Turney

One of the last great Ellingtonians, Norris Turney was the first flute soloist that the Duke Ellington Orchestra ever had. He was also a lyrical altoist influenced by Johnny Hodges and (when called for) an excellent tenor saxophonist too. He started his musical career playing in the Midwest with territory bands like the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra; he was also briefly with Tiny Bradshaw in Chicago and then relocated to New York. Turney was part of the Billy Eckstine Orchestra from 1945-1946, but fame would elude him for many years. He soon returned to Ohio and mostly played with l...