Primarily a song-based record, any parallels here with Azimuth, the trio Norma Winstone shared with pianist John Taylor and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, are quickly dispelled. This group’s first album, Chamber Music on Universal, was marvellous but the sense of unity and coherence of mood, atmosphere and imagination that pervades these 10 tracks is exceptional by any standards.

A fine lyricist herself, Winstone loves both contemporary songwriters and the Great American Songbook and Distances features both a delightful, fragmentary ‘Every Time We Say Goodbye’ and Peter Gabriel’s haunting ‘Here Comes The Flood’. Yet, her own words for the elegiac ‘Drifter’, introspective ‘Giant’s Gentle Stride’ and extraordinarily sensual ‘The Mermaid’ are just as fine. However, make no mistake, this is most definitely a trio record. Venier’s piano is coaxing and forceful by turns and his tunes, ‘Distance’, the wordless ‘Gorizia’ and the fast flowing ‘The Mermaid’, set Winstone’s voice to perfection.

As for Gesing, not only does he write well, for instance, ‘Drifter’ and ‘Giant’s Gentle Stride’ are his – but his tone on soprano and, in particular, on bass clarinet is personal and responsive. Perhaps the most beautiful piece here is ‘Ciant’, where Venier has set words by Paulo Pasolini to a tune by Erik Satie and which features the most lyrical of soprano solos from Gesing. It defines the partnership that made this record and that makes this group so special.  

This review is from Jazzwise Issue #119 to our full section and receive a Free CD Subscribe Here...