Norma Ann Winstone MBE (born 23 september 1941, in Bow
East London) is a British jazz singer and lyricist. In a career spanning over
forty years she is best known for her Wordless improvisations.
Norma Winstone was born in London and first attracted
attention in the late sixties when she shared the bill at Ronnie Scott's club
with Roland Kirk. Although she began her career singing jazz standards, she
became involved in the avant garde movement, exploring the use of the voice in
an experimental way and evolving her own wordless approach to improvisation.
She joined groups led by Mike Westbrook, Michael Garrick
and sang with John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Gibbs and John Taylor, and
worked extensively with many of the major European names and visiting
Americans. In 1971 she was voted top singer in the Melody Maker Jazz Poll and
subsequently recorded her own album Edge of Time for Decca, which although long
deleted has now been re-released as a CD on the Disconforme label.
With Taylor and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler she has performed
and recorded three albums for ECM as a member of the trio Azimuth between 1977
and 1980. In addition she made an album with the American pianist Jimmy Rowles
(Well Kept Secret, 1993).
In recent years she has become known as a very fine
lyricist, writing words to compositions by Ralph Towner, and Brazilian
composers Egberto Gismonti and Ivan Lins (who has recorded her English lyrics
to his song ‘Vieste‘). She has a special affinity with the music of Steve
Swallow, and has written lyrics to many of his compositions, most notably
‘Ladies in Mercedes‘, which has become a standard.
Here’s “A Wish” from above 2003 album.
Norma Winstone was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2007 for her services to Music. In 2009 she was awarded the Skoda Jazz Ahead Award in Bremen for her contribution to European Jazz.
Her current group is a trio featuring Italian pianist
Glauco Venier and German saxophonist/ bass clarinetist Klaus Gesing. Norma also
works with the Nikki Iles’ group “The Printmakers” comprising some of the UK’s
finest musicians. They released a long-awaited album “Westerly” this year and
perform mainly in the UK.
More accolades came In 2015: Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Vocalist and
also the Gold Badge of Merit from British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and
Authors.
(Info various and normawinstone.com)
Here’s Norma Winstone singing Sea Lady (written by Kenny
Wheeler) Bruno Angelini, piano and Michel Benita, bass.
1 comment:
For “Fred Hersch & Norma Winstone - Songs & Lullabies (2003)” go here:
http://www24.zippyshare.com/v/23941808/file.html
01. Longing
02. Stars
03. A Wish
04. Lost In Another Time
05. Songs & Lullabies
06. Spirits
07. The Eighth Deadly Sin
08. Bird In The Rain
09. To Music
10. Song Of Life
11. Invitation To The Dance
Fred Hersch (piano); Norma Winstone (vocals); Gary Burton (vibraphone).
A big thank you to La Musica De Pere for link.
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