Record Reviews
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  | AZIMUTH ~ AZIMUTH / THE TOUCHSTONE / DEPART
ECM 1546/48 (Barcode: 731452301024) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1977 - 1979 Released: 1994
This wonderful Box Set contains the first three albums by the superb British trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist, which consists of three Jazz icons: vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, her husband pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, recorded in the 1970s and released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, which are "AzimuthFind albums with this title" (ECM 1099) recorded in 1977, "The TouchstoneFind albums with this title" (ECM 1130) recorded in 1978 and "DepartFind albums with this title" (ECM 1163) recorded in 1979. On the last album the trio is expanded to a quartet with the participation of the US guitar virtuoso Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist. These exquisite players combine their talents in this unique ensemble, which is all about elegance, delicacy and sophistication. This almost "chamber" setting produces music, which is timeless, cross-genre and above all aesthetically fulfilling and deeply moving. Winstone´s usage of the human voice both in her singing and vocalese is simply breathtaking, and I personally can never get enough of it. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Side Note: These three albums were not reissued or are not available on CD individually, so this is the only way to obtain them in CD form.
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
It´s a pleasure to be able to fill in the "back story" to the relatively recent Azimuth albums - thanks to ECM and of course to Adam!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | AZIMUTH ~ HOW IT WAS THEN… NEVER AGAIN
ECM 1538 (Barcode: 731452382023) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1994 Released: 1995
This is the 5th (and so far last) album on the ECMFind albums on this label label by the great British Jazz trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist, which consists of three British Jazz icons since the 1960s: vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, her husband pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist. These exquisite players combine their talents in this unique ensemble, which is all about elegance, delicacy and sophistication. This almost "chamber" setting produces music, which is timeless, cross-genre and above all aesthetically fulfilling and deeply moving. Winstone´s usage of the human voice both in her singing and vocalese is simply breathtaking, and I personally can never get enough of it. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
Really exciting stuff: Kenny Wheeler double tracks on some pieces - the spirit flies! And John Taylor plays some bass lines on the piano strings. But these odd facts make it sound gimmicky, which it is not - I second Adam´s comment that this is "above all aesthetically fulfilling and deeply moving"
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | SCHMOLLING / ARTHURS / KUHNE ~ TICHO
UNIT 4551 (Barcode: 7640114795510) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014
This is a brilliant debut album by a trio consisting of German pianist / composer Marc SchmollingFind albums by this artist (a son of Czech poetess Inka MachulkovaFind albums by this artist), female vocalist Almut KuhneFind albums by this artist and British trumpeter Tom ArthursFind albums by this artist. The eight pieces (one composition is repeated twice as the opening and closing track of the album) are based on pre-composed themes, which are then freely improvised upon by the trio members.
The unique piano / trumpet / vocals lineup invokes an immediate associative comparison to the legendary British trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist (John TaylorFind albums by this artist, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist), and some similarities are of course detectable, but this album is much more oriented towards the Free Jazz / Improvised Music openness, whereas Azimuth, as revolutionary and amazing as it was at the time, was overall much more melodic and structured in form.
All three individual contributors are first class musicians of course: Schmolling plays delicately and lyrically, Arthurs is simply brilliant with an incredible technique and extraordinary sensitivity, emerging as one of the top British contemporary trumpeters and Kuhne is a sensational surprise, with stunning vocal abilities combining the powers of modern female Jazz vocal Divas, like Julie TippettsFind albums by this artist, Norma Winstone, Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist and others. She is definitely worth watching very carefully in the future.
The trio works also perfectly as a unit; Arthurs and Kuhne converse fiercely, exchanging vocal and trumpet phrases like never heard before, while Schmolling keeps the music in control with his guiding chords. The overall ensemble result is simply breathtaking. This is a kind of music that combines the free spirit with the essence of European culture, often based on reserve and intrinsic discipline.
Overall this is a excellent piece of music, which holds new surprises with every time it is played, full of wonderful aesthetics and urgency to discover, an example of ambitious creation that works out perfectly and in spite of its intimacy creates a whole universe of sounds and feelings.
It is great to see that intelligent music is still being made in our cultural void, which of course keeps those, who are open enough to listen to it, resistant to the brainlessness out there. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 26/04/2016Posted: 26/04/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | KENNY WHEELER / JOHN TAYLOR ~ ON THE WAY TO TWO
CAM JAZZ 5054 (Barcode: 016728505420) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2015
This is an exquisite duo album by two British Jazz icons: trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist. Starting in 2004, Wheeler and Taylor recorded together on many occasions for the Italian CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, commencing with their debut duo album for the label, entitled "Where Do We Go From Here?Find albums with this title". In 2005 Wheeler recorded the album "What Now?Find albums with this title" in a quartet setting which included Taylor, and also the second duo album for the label with Taylor (recorded with a string quartet) entitled "Other PeopleFind albums with this title". But ten years later the label announced that another duo album was recorded by the two musicians that year, so far unreleased, and it was decided to release it to commemorate the first anniversary of Wheeler´s untimely passing. Taylor, who wrote a moving epitaph in memory of Wheeler for the album´s liner notes, tragically died shortly before the album was released, which made this album a tribute to them both. The album offers ten tacks, nine of which are original compositions (five by Wheeler, three by Wheeler and Taylor and one by Taylor) and one is a standard.
In retrospect the collaboration between Wheeler and Taylor proved to be one of the most lasting and incredibly fruitful relationships in British / European Jazz. Although it spans many stylistic variations and settings, including the legendary AzimuthFind albums by this artist trio with Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, Wheeler and Taylor always complimented each other wonderfully, displaying typical European aesthetics and artistic finesse. Their collected recorded legacy is an incredible treasure chest of musical wonders and the essence of Jazz as a creative and developing idiom.
The music on this album continues the trumpet / piano dialogue, which these two musicians simply brought to perfection. Beyond the melodic and harmonic beauty of the music, there is also the incredible personal rapport, the mutual respect and the obvious friendship, all exquisitely reflected in the music.
Although released posthumously, this album is one more piece of the wondrous puzzle Wheeler and Taylor managed to construct in their lifetime, for all of us to enjoy and cherish. They both were magic song weavers of rare quality, and the world became sadly less livable with their passing.
This is definitely a must have for all Wheeler / Taylor many connoisseurs all over the world, a missing crown jewel and a proverbial cherry on the top. Don’t even think about it twice, just grab it!
| | Updated: 10/04/2020Posted: 19/06/2018 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NORMA WINSTONE ~ IT`S LATER THAN YOU THINK
PROVOCATEUR 1037 (Barcode: 5038491103721) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2004 Released: 2006
British singer Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist has been my favorite Jazz singer for almost 40 years now, ever since I heard her performing in the late 1960s in the midst of the burgeoning British Jazz scene at the time. I always followed her extraordinary career closely and of course collected all her recordings, which in retrospect constitute a massive body of marvelous music. At the peak of the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s – 1970s she sang with the best: Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist, Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist and many others, contributing not only her extraordinary vocal performances but also her talent as a lyricist. With the decline of the local scene she continued on the European scene, both as a soloist and with the trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist (with her husband, pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist). She is an enormously versatile performer, feeling at ease in any environment, from classic Jazz standards to Avant-Garde explorations. I always found her to be the most sensitive, highly musical and open-minded interpreter of both the music and the lyrics, which turn everything she touches into High Art. Happily for the music lovers, her talent and abilities seem to be untouched by time and she’s able to deliver her best up to this very day, which is well documented on this album as well. Accompanied by the splendid NDR Big BandFind albums by this artist (Northern German Radio Big Band resident in Hamburg), one of the best Jazz Big Bands in the world today, Norma delivers a wonderful set of songs, all brilliantly arranged by Colin TownsFind albums by this artist, who also conducted the band. The choice of material is fascinating and quite challenging as well, as Norma performs songs written by such dissimilar composers as Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist, Randy NewmanFind albums by this artist and Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist. Her highly personal delivery and the beautiful arrangements metamorphose these songs into completely new musical vistas, to the delight of any sensitive listener. The Big Band is used intelligently and skillfully, to serve as a perfect companion to her vocal delivery, without being overwhelming, in spite of its inherent might. The musicians are all virtuosi and highly experienced soloists, which is clearly evident from the instrumental solos, and include such renowned Jazz musicians as saxophonist Christof LauerFind albums by this artist and pianist (and my dear friend of Polish origin) Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist. The recording and sound quality are stunning and resemble the sonic excellence of other European labels like ECMFind albums on this label Records. For me this is a great example of a perfect album – the music, the musicians and a voice of a Diva – what else can one ask for? Essential food for the soul.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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