It’s more than decade since Kenny Wheeler died and yet, hard on the heels of last year’s Grammy nominated Some Days Are Better comes Vital Spark. ‘Some Days’ revisited writing from relatively early in Wheeler’s career; this new release, a collaboration between Dave Holland, Norma Winstone, and London Vocal Project under the direction of Pete Churchill, brings nine pieces, six of which are entirely new. It’s a remarkable production and, to borrow Churchill’s words, worth waiting for.

With Norma Winstone’s voice at the centre, woven through the textures provided by the London Vocal Project, there is a return to the sound of Mirrors, recorded with Wheeler himself in 2013. The material is, like Mirrors, mainly settings of poetry. Pete Churchill describes receiving the musical missives by post, sporadically, over Wheeler’s last years.  Churchill’s craft, familiarity with Wheeler’s writing, and gift for arranging alchemy have translated the mailed manuscripts into arrangements for Winstone, LVP, and the band of Dave Holland on bass, Nikki Iles on piano, and James Maddren on drums. Mark Lockheart on saxes and John Parricelli on guitar add further dimensions to the sound. 

Wheeler’s harmony, tantalising cadences and rhythmic shifts are so distinctive that on hearing any of these pieces the listener can be in no doubt as to the composer. These arrangements and the ensemble animate them with a special magic. On the setting of Stevie Smith’s poem Not Waving But Drowning, an instant spell is cast by a simple pulsing motif, quietly articulated by sax and piano, over a descending bass, the faintest throb from guitar pushes it forward. The gradual swell of Winstone’s voice and the rich textures of the choir giving way to Lockheart’s swooping, long lines extending and expanding the mood before Paricelli takes it further, is a standout moment. The title track Vital Spark is a reworking of a Wheeler theme that appeared on a big band album, with lyrics added by Winstone. The heart-dropping harmonic shifts are quintessential Wheeler and evoke first a glowing exploration from Holland on bass who then hands a sinuous phrase on to Iles on piano, whose solo soars on the wings of the choir, another great moment.  There’s treasure trove of such moments in the hour of music on this recording that repays repeated listening.

Winstone is surely addressing Wheeler in her lyric on Vital Spark:

 “I wanted you to know, You cast a fearless glow, May all the love you share with us go with you.” 

We can hear this album as a love letter to Wheeler from these musicians most of whom worked closely with him. It’s also another gift to the world from Wheeler through the medium of this unique ensemble.

Mike Collins is a pianist and writer based in Bristol, who runs the jazzyblogman site

Release Date 20 Feb 2026

Dave Holland – Bass
Norma Winstone – Voice
Nikki Iles – Piano
James Maddren – Drums
Mark Lockheart – Tenor & Soprano Sax
John Parricelli – Guitar

THE LONDON VOCAL PROJECT
Director: Pete Churchill

Inner Traces
Will You Walk A Little Faster
Not Waving But Drowning
Jazzonia
Fuite D’Enfance
Vital Spark
Infant Joy
Heavenly City
These are The Things We Trust