NORMA WINSTONE began her career singing standards but became involved in the avant-garde movement, exploring the use of the voice in an experimental way and evolving her own wordless approach to improvisation. She joined groups led by Mike Westbrook and Michael Garrick and also sang with John Surman, Mike Gibbs and with John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler as a member of Azimuth.
Her album “Somewhere Called Home” is widely considered to be a classic. She has become known as a fine lyricist, writing words to compositions by Steve Swallow, Ralph Towner, Egberto Gismonti and Ivan Lins. Norma has also recorded with American pianists Jimmy Rowles and Fred Hersch and more recently with Stan Tracey. She was awarded an MBE in 2007. This year Norma won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Jazz Vocalist.
“One of the Glories of contemporary Jazz” Jazz Journal
“Right now, she is at the peak of her form…there is no jazz singer in the country to touch her.” Alyn Shipton, The Times
Fleet Jazz Club 