Norma Winstone comes to Jazz Hastings

Norma Winstone, the doyenne of UK female jazz singers with a career that has spanned more than 50 years, will be appearing with her star-studded quartet at Jazz Hastings’ next monthly session on 2 May. Julian Norridge sings her praises.

Norma first attracted attention in the late sixties when she shared the bill at Ronnie Scott’s with Roland Kirk. Although she was known initially for evolving her own wordless approach to improvisation, her extraordinary versatility means she is equally at home with the standards repertoire, performing with small groups, orchestras and big bands on both sides of the Atlantic.

Over the years she has recorded more than two dozen albums with different bands and musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins and American pianists Jimmy Rowles and Fred Hersch. Most received rave reviews. The Los Angeles Times described one as “… a superb example of state-of-the-art, imaginative, virtually beyond-definition singing”.

Over her career she has won a plethora of awards, most recently the Parliamentary Jazz Award for services to jazz and the Jazz FM Lifetime Achievement Award. In recent years she has also become known as a very fine lyricist, writing songs both for herself and others.

Norma is calling this session A Time Remembered and it will feature the music of the great Bill Evans. It is a sign of the immense respect in which she is held that she’ll be accompanied by some of the biggest names in British jazz.

The brilliant pianist and composer Nikki Iles, who combines a frantic performing schedule with teaching at the Royal Academy of Music and Middlesex University, has been nominated for numerous awards over her career, including twice for the Jazz Piano category of the British Jazz Awards (2012 and 2014).

Renowned saxophonist and band leader Stan Sulzman has been a long-time friend and associate of Norma’s. He is also a highly respected composer and arranger; his vibrant big band arrangements have excited and inspired people for the last 25 years.

Veteran bass player Dave Green began his career playing local gigs with his neighbour and close friend Charlie Watts. He was a long-standing member of Humphrey Lyttelton’s band and also played regularly with Stan Tracey. He has accompanied many visiting American jazz artists including Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Zoot Sims and Sonny Rollins.

Stand by for an evening of rare vintage jazz!

Norma Winstone Quartet Jazz Hastings, Tuesday 2 May, East Hastings Sea Angling Association (on the Stade behind the lifeboat station). Doors open 7.45pm for 8.30 start, tickets £15 on the door.

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