Like Song Like Weather

Norma Winstone, John (Jazz) Taylor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00000I9EM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,368 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lazy Afternoon

2. Strange Meadowlark

3. I Loves You, Porgy

4. Tango Beyond

5. Everybody's Song But My Own

6. Folksong With Words

7. Ladies in Mercedes

8. Alice in Wonderland

9. Carla's Blues

10. Come Sunday

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The 1960s-era British free-improvisational scene had the beauty of showing only scant recognizable "jazz" elements. Musicians could play in abstract suspension of melodies for hours on end. Norma Winstone got her stripes singing in that realm, spilling wordless sounds that intensified the nonjazz elements. It's surprising, then, that this set of duo performances between Winstone and pianist John Taylor has such swing to it. "I Loves You, Porgy" is gently lyrical, with a level of excitement that gains with every degree of measured nuance Taylor sheds on piano and Winstone spoons out in her curvy, cooey voice. This is a surprisingly excellent blend of tunes, with the Gershwin nod shining brightly enough to make Tony Coe's "Tango Beyond" and Kenny Wheeler's "Everybody's Song but My Own" sound comfortably familiar to jazzoids who've never even heard of the composers. For those who recall fondly Winstone's more ethereal stylings, those are also all over this recording, with the colors and shapes she's created for so long simply reaching around traditional lyrics and giving them new flight. It's a magnificent thing to hear. --Andrew Bartlett

From Jazziz

In the mid '60s, Norma Winstone was part of the British avant-garde. She blended her tone into the band, singingcool, wordless vocals in ensembles such as the trio Azimuth. On her newest recording, a duet with pianist John Taylor titled Like Song, Like Weather (Koch Jazz), Winstone delivers songs in chilling, vibratoless style, this time with a focus on lyrics. "If I'm singing words," she says, "I really do want them to come out. So I tend to be a little careful so they're heard because sometimes words get swallowed in the emotions of the moment."

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Standards from Norma, July 7, 2000

By 

David J. Engel (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Like Song Like Weather (Audio CD)

Here's another fine outing from Norma Winstone with pianist John Taylor. On "...like song, like weather" Norma sings the works of Ellington, Gershwin, Brubeck, Bley, Wheeler and others. For me , her version of the LaTouche/Moross tune "Lazy Afternoon" is worth the price of admission.( Don't miss the Blue Note recording "Basra" by Pete La Roca for the same tune performed in 1965 by Pete with Joe Henderson, Steve Kuhn, and Steve Swallow. Very nice!) The Kenny Wheeler tune "Everbody's Song But My Own" is another favorite of mine. Norma and John sound real fine again. Who's surprised? And if you like this you may want to look for the triple CD set of the works of Azimuth ( not Azymuth! ) on ECM at something of a bargain price. I recently bought this and have been very happy re acquainting myself with Azimuths' early works.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intimate, lovely stuff, August 9, 2003

By 

E. C Goodstein (Northern CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Like Song Like Weather (Audio CD)

Another winner from Winstone & Taylor. As review says, not as 'ethereal' as the Azimuth work, but still some wonderful moments. Besides the ones others have mentioned, I also
really love her take on "Alice in Wonderland"-- a bit 'meatier' than Blossom Dearie's version, and a gorgeous reading of "I Loves You Porgy" (honest!). And "Ladies in Mercedes" adds a fun element. Great duo album-- a desert island
disc for me :)!