The Touchstone (album)

The Touchstone is the second album by British jazz trio Azimuth featuring trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, vocalist Norma Winstone, and pianist John Taylor recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label.[1]

The Touchstone
Studio album by
Azimuth
Released1979
RecordedJune 1978
StudioTalent Studio, Oslo
GenreJazz
Length45:11
LabelECM
ECM 1130
ProducerManfred Eicher
Azimuth chronology
Azimuth
(1977)		 The Touchstone
(1979)		 Départ
(1980)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[3]

The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 3 stars calling it an "atmospheric recording".[2]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote that the album is "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." They singled out "See" as the outstanding track, describing it as "glorious."[4]

Tyran Grillo, writing for Between Sound and Space, called the album "the group’s most enigmatic," and commented: "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]

Track listing
All compositions by John Taylor
  1. "Eulogy" – 10:26
  2. "Sylver" – 6:30
  3. "Mayday" – 5:31
  4. "Jero" – 6:21
  5. "Prelude" – 5:37
  6. "See" – 10:46

Personnel
Azimuth

References
  1. ECM discography accessed September 13, 2011
  2. Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed September 13, 2011
  3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette. Penguin Books. p. 48.
  4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1998). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 69.
  5. Grillo, Tyran (November 30, 2010). "Azimuth". Between Sound and Space. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
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