Azimuth (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jazz music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Norma Winstone, John Taylor |
| Defunct | early 2000s |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Jazz albums |
Azimuth was a British jazz trio that remained active from 1977 until the early 2000s.
Initially, the ensemble began as a duo featuring vocalist Norma Winstone alongside her husband, pianist John Taylor. During the mid-1970s, in a meeting with ECM Records founder Manfred Eicher, Taylor was advised to include trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, which led to the formation of Azimuth. Their first album under ECM was released in 1977, followed by two additional albums soon after, with further releases appearing in 1985 and 1995.
Trumpeter Wheeler died in 2014, and Taylor passed away the following year in 2015.
Jazz critic John Fordham highlighted the band's unique fusion of free improvisation, wordless vocals, jazz, classical influences, and Taylor’s compositions that masterfully combined serenity with intensity. Additionally, Richard Williams from The Times praised Azimuth as "one of the most imaginatively conceived and delicately balanced contemporary chamber jazz groups."
Discography
- Azimuth (ECM, 1977)
- The Touchstone (ECM, 1979)
- Départ (with Ralph Towner) (ECM, 1980)
(three albums reissued as a 3 CD set in 1994)
- Azimuth '85 (ECM, 1985)
- How It Was Then... Never Again (ECM, 1995)
In popular culture
The track The Tunnel from Azimuth’s 1977 debut album was sampled in "IDGAF," a song by Drake featured on his 2023 album For All The Dogs.
References
- Sources
- Additional resources
- [ Azimuth] on Allmusic