Having talked to Norma and Kit about this record (see Jazzwise, May 2024) and then hearing them in concert at this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the arrival of the album was eagerly anticipated. And it doesn’t disappoint. The intimacy and warm acoustic of the studio in Udine, Italy works even better for their collaboration than at the small Parabola Theatre in Gloucestershire, and so Norma’s opening lyrics about winter flames reflected in windows immediately conjure up imagery that’s captured by Kit’s inventive piano.

Nine of the 10 songs have original lyrics by Norma, and they work well, not least allowing the duo to open up plenty of space in – for example – Ralph Towner’s ‘Beneath an Evening Sky’. It’s an object lesson that creativity can be subtle and spacious – never better than on the traditional song ‘Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair’. When we get to the closing ‘Rowing Home’ we have shared a journey with them through a range of repertoire, from Towner and Carla Bley to John Taylor, as well as four memorable pieces by Kit. A treasure of an album.