Nora Stanley (nor-uh stan-leee) is a multi-instrumental improviser, songwriter, and performer based in Brooklyn. Stanley primarily uses saxophone and flute as well as guitar, voice, and synthesizers in her work which spans genres including jazz, folk, rock, and experimental music. As both a solo artist and a collaborator her music emphasizes openness, connection, and interaction, exploring the vast possibilities of texture, rhythm, and harmony. Stanley performs original music with her quartet as well as the duo World of Flowers (saxophone+effects/drums+effects) and the trio Sprat (voice/woodwinds). In 2023 she released Distance of the Moon (Colorfield Records) with collaborator Benny Bock to acclaim from the New York Times, Fader, and Downbeat Magazine. Interested in cross- cultural and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Stanley performs with a Balinese Gamelan and has a project with dancer Corinne Lohner. In addition to her work as a leader Stanley frequently contributes woodwinds and more to recordings and performances with improvisers, rock bands, and songwriters. She has toured with Chris Morrissey, Caroline Rose, The New Pornographers, and Beth Orton and has appeared on recordings alongside Jeff Parker, Mark Giuliana and Jerry Gonzalez.

Photo by Levee Wolf