NORMA WINSTONE (vocalist, lyricist) was born September 23, 1941 in Bow, East London, England. Winstone, one of Britain’s finest jazz vocalists, is renowned for her wordless improvisations and creating lyrics for tunes by Steve Swallow, Egberto Gismonti and Ralph Towner, particularly for “Ladies in Mercedes” and “Peacocks” . Garnering notice on the jazz scene in the 1960s, she became an instrumental part of Kenny Wheeler’s big band and later worked with Wheeler and John Taylor in the avant garde trio, Azimuth. Winstone, with numerous critically acclaimed recordings to her credit has collaborated with artists such as Jimmy Rowles and Fred Hersch. Considered an influential artist not only in England but internationally, she was awarded an MBE in 2007.