Results for "Mike Westbrook"

Musician

Mike Westbrook

Born: March 21, 1936

Born in High Wycombe in 1936, Mike Westbrook grew up in Torquay and was educated at Kelly College, Tavistock. He formed his first band while studying painting in Plymouth in 1958, moving to London in the early 1960s. He has led and composed for a succession of groups, notably his 1960s Sextet and Concert Band, his Brass Band, formed in the mid 70s, the jazz rock group Solid Gold Cadillac and the Mike Westbrook Orchestra. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, and as far afield as Australia and the Far East, Canada and New York. He has directed performances of his work with big bands in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland and Australia. He has broadcast on radio and TV in many countries, and made over 50 albums.

Album

The Piano in the Room and the Blues

By Mike Westbrook

Label: Westbrook Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: Carillon Blues No 1; Carillon Blues No 2; Carillon Blues No 3; Carillon Blues No 4; Blues Changes No 1; Blues Changes No 2; Empress Blues No 1; Empress Blues No 2; Runaround Blues No 1; Runaround Blues No 2; Sunday Morning.

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Elsa Nilsson, Miles Okazaki, and Andrew Cyrille

by Jerome Wilson
September 9, 2026

This program features recent music by Elsa Nilsson and Miles Okazaki and older work by Terje Rypdal and Andrew Cyrille.Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Tom Ollendorff “Meaningless Mirror" from Where in the World (Fresh ...

Article: Album Review

Trish Clowes: Try Me

by Ian Patterson
July 21, 2026

With Try Me saxophonist-composer Trish Clowes joins a starry cast of artists inspired by London--its history, architecture, landscape and multi-cultural streets. From William Blake to Benjamin Zephaniah, from Charles Dickens to Hanif Kureishi, from Ralph Vaughan Williams to The Kinks, and from Claude Monet to the late David Hockney, England's capital has fed the creative spirit ...

Article: Album Review

Mike Westbrook: The Piano in the Room and the Blues

by Vincenzo Roggero
June 11, 2026

Pubblicato in occasione del novantesimo compleanno e circa un mese prima della sua scomparsa, The Piano in the Room and the Blues testimonia un concerto per piano solo, evento piuttosto raro nella sconfinata discografia di Mike Westbrook, leggendario musicista britannico noto per aver composto musica per ogni tipo di formazione, dal duo a varie combinazioni orchestrali, avventurandosi ...

Article: Album Review

Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra: Glorious Assembly

by Mark McKergow
June 6, 2026

The Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra is the creation of Emmy Award-winning film composer David Mitcham . After a career writing music for the screen, often with jazz undertones, Mitcham has chosen to expand his ambitions by directing a full-on extended big band playing new compositions on Glorious Assembly. The 20- piece group features some of the UK's ...

Video

Cortège

Featuring the music of Mike Westbrook
Duration: 23:31
May 31, 2026

Mike Westbrook was one of the most path-forging band leaders and composers in all of England. He was as prolific as his music was diverse. Westbrook wrote music for theater, opera, radio, film and television and recorded over 50 albums. His most notable palette was experimental big band jazz. Westbrook sounded like few other arrangers, favoring electric guitar (often with wah-wah), throaty tenor and baritone sax, a rock-ish back beat and voice, among other sounds. His most epic jazz piece was "Cortège," which overlays his big band with poetry in 25 snippets. Check out the spoken text at the outset; the burning, reverb-washed trumpet solo with highway visual backdrop at 1:58; and the electronically-modified bassoon at 7:58. His works are an acquired taste, to be sure, but he will long be remembered for the sheer ambition of combining so many styles and stages. Still don’t believe me? Search for the languorous "Octopus’s Garden from Mike Westbrook’s 'After Abbey Road'." Mike Westbrook passed away on April 11, 2026.

Article: Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Joe Lovano, Peter Erskine, George J. Gilliam And More

by Bob Osborne
April 30, 2026

This collection offers a sophisticated journey through the expansive landscape of contemporary jazz, balancing reverent interpretations of the tradition with bold, experimental frontiers. From intimate trio dialogues and reimagined standards to the sweeping textures of modern orchestral arrangements, these selections highlight the genre's remarkable ability to evolve while staying rooted in its core values of improvisation ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Mike Westbrook 1936 - 2026 & More

by Jerome Wilson
April 29, 2026

About half of this episode is dedicated to the work of pianist and composer Mike Westbrook who passed away on April 11, 2026. Music from some of Westbrook's large and small groups will be played as well as a performance with his wife Kate Westbrook. The show will also feature music from Melissa Aldana, Chico Hamilton, ...

Article: Album Review

Mike Westbrook: The Cortège Live At The BBC 1980

by Duncan Heining
April 12, 2026

Mike Westbrook turns ninety on 21st March. That would be reason enough to celebrate the man and his astonishing career in music, but add to that the release of the Mike Westbrook Orchestra's The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980 and balloons and bunting would seem in order. The original album is currently missing ...