The Touchstone is the second album by British jazz trio Azimuth, recorded in June 1978 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, vocalist Norma Winstone, and pianist John Taylor.[1]
| The Touchstone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Recorded | June 1978 | |||
| Studio | Talent Studio Oslo, Norway | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 45:11 | |||
| Label | ECM ECT 1130 ST | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| Azimuth chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos describes The Touchstone as an "atmospheric recording".[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings calls the album "perhaps the group's masterpiece, combining jazz, classical and contemporary composition, and sheer sound in a mix that is as invigorating as it is thought-provoking", singling out "See" as "glorious."[4]
Tyran Grillo, writing for ECM blog Between Sound and Space, called the album "the group’s most enigmatic", commenting: "This is an elusive set... filled with quiet, seething power, but also one that builds its nests comfortably over our heads. It can only fly, because it knows no other way to travel."[5]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by John Taylor
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eulogy" | 10:26 |
| 2. | "Silver" | 6:30 |
| 3. | "Mayday" | 5:31 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jero" | 6:21 |
| 2. | "Prelude" | 5:37 |
| 3. | "See" | 10:46 |
Personnel
editAzimuth
edit- John Taylor – piano, organ
- Kenny Wheeler – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Norma Winstone – vocals
References
edit- ^ ECM discography accessed September 13, 2011
- ^ a b Nastos, M. G. AllMusic Review accessed September 13, 2011
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette. Penguin Books. p. 48.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1998). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 69.
- ^ Grillo, Tyran (November 30, 2010). "Azimuth". Between Sound and Space. Retrieved April 23, 2022.