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Départ is an album by British jazz trio Azimuth, whose members were vocalist Norma Winstone, pianist John Taylor, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. It was recorded in December 1979 at Talent Studios in Oslo, and was released in 1980 by ECM. On the album, the group is joined by guitarist Ralph Towner.[1]

Départ
Studio album by Azimuth
Released	1980
Recorded	December 1979
Studio	Talent Studios, Oslo
Genre	Jazz
Length	52:51
Label	ECM 1163
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Azimuth chronology
The Touchstone (1979) Départ (1980) Azimuth '85 (1985)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[2]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called Towner "an ideal guest,"[2] and wrote: "Much as he does on Weather Report's I Sing the Body Electric, Towner sounds as if he comes from outside the basic conception of the group, but with a genuine understanding and appreciation of what it's all about. His contribution is perhaps most emphatic on 'Arrivée'... linking the whole disc into a continuous suite."[3]

Writing for ECM Reviews, Tyran Grillo described the album as "Azimuth's most fully realized effort, through which the project honed its sound to an art," and noted: "Winstone's overdubs visualize gossamer veils of more distant storms, while Wheeler's soulful trumpet shines like the sun beyond them... The brief addition of Tower heightens their collective sound, even as it tethers them to the earth."[4]

Track listing

All compositions by John Taylor.

1. "The Longest Day" – 6:32
2. "Autumn" – 11:10
3. "Arrivée" – 7:52
4. "Touching Points: a. From the Window" – 1:14
5. "Touching Points: b. Windfall" – 4:37
6. "Touching Points: c. The Rabbit" – 2:36
7. "Touching Points: d. Charcoal Traces" – 4:37
8. "Départ" – 10:29
9. "The Longest Day (reprise)" – 3:44

Personnel

Azimuth

• Norma Winstone – vocals
• John Taylor – piano, organ
• Kenny Wheeler – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Ralph Towner – 12-string guitar, classical guitar

References

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