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Mike Westbrook Concert Band: The Last Night At The Old Place
By"The Few" opens the set with John Surman in typically boisterous mood soloing on baritone, quickly followed by Mike Osborne's gorgeous rendition of "Lover Man" and the segued "Forever And A Day." Dave Holdsworth renders an unrestrained trumpet solo on "We Salute You" before a recapitulation of "The Few." Surman's teasingly extended opening solo on "Flying Home" lasts a full two minutes before reaching the famous ensemble theme. The whole piece is an extended version of the one subsequently recorded on the studio album and generates a positively electric atmosphere to an audibly ecstatic audience. By the time we get to "Who's Who" it becomes clear that Surman was to Westbrook's 1960s Concert Band what Eric Clapton was to John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Equally important are Westbrook's memorable riff-laden numbers such as the appropriately titled "Can't Get It Out Of My Mind" and "A Life Of Its Own," within which a cacophonous collective improvisation is sandwiched.
With some extraneous audience noise permeating the music, the recording quality is not quite of the highest standard; Westbrook's solo on "Sugar" is rather muffled due to the citing of the single microphone. However it is easily good enough to appreciate the superb musicianship and, of course, Westbrook's compelling arrangements. Besides which, this is an album of truly historic significance being the only commercial recording available of the Westbrook Concert Band playing live in its early Surman period. This was also a fitting gig to commemorate the end of an important era in the annals of British jazz. Elegantly presented in a six-sided digipak, with photographs and sleeve notes by journalist and author Richard Williams and Westbrook himself, this is a very attractive release indeed.
Personnel
Mike Westbrook
composer / conductorAlbum information
Title: The Last Night At The Old Place | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Cadillac Records
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About Mike Westbrook Concert Band
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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