Small Print @ Queen's Hall, Hexham (Northumberland Jazz Festival)

Norma Winstone (voice); Mike Walker (guitar); Nikki Iles (piano); Steve Watts (double bass)

This cut down version of Nikki Iles’ Printmakers sextet packed some pulling-power and it was a credit to Joe Steels’ organising prowess to bring them to an appreciative Hexham audience. The ever-smiling Iles steered the ship amiably and serenely through some challenging arrangements from the piano while Mike Walker, the guitarists’ national treasure, cut an animated seated figure (is that even possible?!) centre-stage. But the star of the show and the boss on stage was definitively Norma Winstone, bringing some six decades of elegant greatness to bear in holding the audience in the palm of hand, whether singing, scatting or telling stories as if she was relaxing at home.

Steve Watts had the task of holding it together in the absence of a drummer, but his lyrical and resonant tone went way beyond mere time keeping and foundation, especially in the bouncing lines of Steve Swallow’s classic Ladies in Mercedes.

The opener, Kenny Wheeler’s classic Everybody's Song but My Own, allayed any fears over Winstone’s vocal powers. While forays into the upper reaches were more sparing than in the glory days, her phrasing, time and lustrous lower range are as magnificent as ever, her artistry obviating the need for the affected tricks and histrionics of so many other jazz singers.

The band members were clearly old friends and the easy banter over what to play next, or a challenging John Taylor arrangement, and a ‘difficult’ Ralph Towner piece usually played on sax was lovely to share.  Winstone’s anecdotes and insights about the song back stories were worth the ticket price on their own, her easy confidence matched by disarming down to earth modesty.

© Elizabeth Gallagher *

Walker’s solos were a marvel to see, wringing out emotive chord shapes and harmonics alongside gliding runs and fireworks. Walker and Iles may play in very different styles, but neither waste a note and their solos were rewarded with appreciative applause in all the right places.  While the material was drawn from a previous era, the wonder of this music is that it sounded as fresh as the day it was written.

The set seemed to fly by, covering a wide range of feel and tempo, the mostly emotive and caressing mood offset by two humorous and jaunty Steve Swallow numbers to close, Ladies In Mercedes and the country feel encore, City of Dallas.

A night to remember with riches both old and new!

Set list: Everybody's Song but My Own (Kenny Wheeler, lyrics by Jane White and not her as Norma was at pains to confirm!); Stars (Hersch, Winstone); Celeste?? (Ralph Towner); Alice in Wonderland (arr. John Taylor); Strange Meadow Lark (Brubeck); Two Grey Rooms (Joni Mitchell); When in Rome, I Do As the Romans Do (Cy Coleman); My Foolish Heart (Victor Young), Ladies In Mercedes (Steve Swallow); City of Dallas (Steve Swallow) Chris K

*Norma Winstone w. Ferg Kilsby