| The Touchstone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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]
| 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]
All 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 |
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards.
80/81 is a double album by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny recorded over four days in May 1980 and released on ECM later that year. The trio features rhythm section Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette with guest saxophonists Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker.
Norma Ann Winstone MBE is an English jazz singer and lyricist. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is best known for her wordless improvisations. Musicians with whom she has worked include Michael Garrick, John Surman, Michael Gibbs, Mike Westbrook, as well as pianist John Taylor, who was her former husband.
Azimuth was a British jazz trio, active from 1977 through the early 2000s.
Music for Large & Small Ensembles is a double album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Kenny Wheeler recorded over two sessions in January and February 1990 and released on ECM later that year. The Sweet Time Suite' is Wheeler's most ambitious extended work for big band since 1969's Windmill Tilter.
In the Moment is the fourth album by jazz trio Gateway, consisting guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette, recorded in December 1994 and released on ECM in 1996.
Getting There is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in April 1987 and released on ECM February the following year. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine, with guest appearances from saxophonist Michael Brecker on three tracks.
Old and New Dreams is the self-titled second album by jazz quartet Old and New Dreams, recorded in 1979 and released on ECM later that year. The quintet features trumpeter Don Cherry, saxophonist Dewey Redman, and rhythms section Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell—their debut, released on Black Saint, was also self titled.
Grazing Dreams is the second album by American sitarist and composer Collin Walcott, recorded in February 1977 and released on ECM later that year. Walcott's quintet features trumpeter Don Cherry and rhythm section John Abercrombie, Palle Danielsson and Dom Um Romão.
Azimuth is the debut album by British jazz trio Azimuth recorded in March 1977 and released on ECM later that year. The trio consists of pianist John Taylor, vocalist Norma Winstone, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
Codona is an album by American sitarist and tabla player Collin Walcott, American jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and Brazilian jazz percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in September 1978 and released on ECM the following year—the first of three self-titled albums by the trio.
Codona 2 is an album by American sitarist and tabla player Collin Walcott, American jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and Brazilian jazz percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in May 1980 and released on ECM the following year—the second of three self-titled albums by the trio.
Seeds of Time is a studio album by the Dave Holland Quintet recorded in November 1984 and released on ECM the following year on LP and CD. The quintet features brass section Kenny Wheeler, Steve Coleman, and Julian Priester from Holland's previous release, along with new drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith.
El Corazón is an album by jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and drummer Ed Blackwell recorded in February 1982 and released on ECM later that year.
Azimuth '85 is the fourth and penultimate album by British jazz trio Azimuth recorded in March 1985 and released on ECM later that year. The trio features pianist John Taylor, vocalist Norma Winstone, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
While We're Young is an album by the jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in June 1992 and released by ECM the following year. The trio features organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum.
How It Was Then... Never Again is an album by British jazz trio Azimuth, consisting pianist John Taylor, vocalist Norma Winstone and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, recorded in April 1994 and released on ECM the following year.
Départ is an album by British jazz trio Azimuth with American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in December 1979 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, vocalist Norma Winstone and pianist John Taylor, joined by guitarist Ralph Towner.
Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is the debut album by the eponymous ensemble—conducted by founder Alexander von Schlippenbach—recorded in May 1989 and released on ECM the following year.
Somewhere Called Home is an album by English jazz singer and lyricist Norma Winstone recorded in July 1986 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features pianist John Taylor and reed player Tony Coe.
