Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Spring Is Here
2. Something's Gotta Give
3. If The Moon Turns Green
4. At Long Last Love
5. My Heart Stood Still
6. I Fall In Love Too Easily
7. Tis Autumn
8. Laura
9. Milk Wood Sky
10. Love Song For All Time
11. Too Marvelous For Words
12. Crepuscule With Nellie

Disc 2:

1. My November Guest
2. Glad To Be Unhappy
3. August Moon
4. Winter Of My Discontent
5. I Walk A Little Faster
6. Goodbye
7. Melancholia
8. Some Other Spring

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101278 in Music
• Released on: 2007-07-02
• Number of discs: 2

The Guardian, (John Fordham), July 27, 2007
(4 stars) This is standards-reinvention as it should be done. Stan
Tracey is wonderful throughout.

Jazzwise, (Peter Vacher), August 2007
(4 stars) Winstone believes in taking risks and eschewing the
conventionsal path...a display of musical intelligence at its best.

BBC Music Magazine, (Richard Cook), August 2007
(5 stars) About as perfect a vocal record as you'll hear this year...sets the standard for aspiring jazz vocalists.

Customer Reviews

Fab 'joining' of Brit jazz greats
After her 'experiments' with big bands past year or so, it's great to hear Norma 'back' in the context of a small group. And what a group!!! Very exciting to hear her finally singing with Stan Tracey & tenor player Bobby Wellins. Very much an ensemble piece, if often subtle in the interaction, range and dynamics. But for me all the better for that. Nice combination of standards and 'new' works (mostly NW lyrics to some Tracey instrumentals, or instrumental pieces by Ellington, Monk, etc.). Large areas are left for instrumental development, and everyone rises to the occasion I think. Some may not like the fact her voice is textural sometimes with the instruments moved forward in the mix, her discordant touches, or the somewhat huskier conversational timbre Norma has going at times. But I think it works. They swing great, always on their own terms. Wellins adds some really thoughtful 'rhapsodic' aspects. Tracey & his trio very thoughtfully balance aspects drawn from Ellington/Strayhorn, Monk, maybe Lennie Tristano and Paul Bley, and yet sound very individual too. And for me it's great to hear Norma tackling songs like "Winter of My Discontent,' "I Walk a Little Faster," "Goodbye" or "Laura" which seem to suit her so. I find the phrasing exceptionally good, if certainly very individual. Nice moments given too to bassist Andrew Cleyndert (his duo with NW on "My Heart Stood Still" is a gorgeous highlight) and drummer Clark Tracey (fine subtle changes, but also an awareness & 'love' of straightforward swing and the 'true' beat). I'm not sure this is the Norma album I'd recommend first for listeners-- she has so many great ones, & of course her voice has changed some over the years-- but it grows on me with each listen: glorious stuff.

Spot on
I love this cd because of the uniqueness of Norma's singing.
We all know most of the songs but the way she sings them always takes us by surprise, one never guess how she is going to sing the next line.
She could be the Monk jazz vocal equivalent.
Sure she does not have perfect pitch, but in this context it is an asset.
The band is incredible, Stan Tracey deserve to be known by all jazz lovers.
An cd to cherish, I just wished that cd 2 had a few extra tunes.