MUSIC IS – CHRIS BISCOE PLAYS MIKE WESTBROOK
Mike Outram, Alcyona Mick, Dave Whitford and Gary Willcox
Mike Westbrook is one of the most important composers in jazz with a huge body of work from small band jazz through big bands, cabaret, fusion, chamber works, opera, settings of poetry, creative re-workings of Rossini and The Beatles’ Abbey Road, while always retaining his unique character.
Chris Biscoe has worked with Mike and Kate Westbrook since 1979, from Mama Chicago and The Cortege through On Duke’s Birthday, London Bridge is Broken Down, Bar Utopia, Art Wolf,The Westbrook Trio and Band of Bands.
The idea behind Music Is is a simple one: take some of these great pieces out of their context and play them with a small jazz group as you might an Ellington, Monk or Gershwin song.
Music Is: available as a CD (Trio 607) or as a download from Chris Biscoe’s Bandcamp page. For more see www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk
With support from Airshaft Trust. Without their support it wouldn’t have been possible to bring a quintet to Stratford Jazz
Chris Biscoe – soprano, alto and baritone sax, alto clarinet
Gary Willcox – drums
Chris Biscoe – with Mike Westbrook since 1979, George Russell Anglo-American Orchestra, Hermeto Pascoal, Brotherhood of Breath, Liam Noble Band, Profiles of Mingus
Alcyona Mick – piano – Parliamentary Jazz Awards nominee, Josephine Davies, Henry Lowther Still Waters, Jerry Dammers Spatial aka Orchestra, Natacha Atlas
Mike Outram – guitar – Credits include Tim Garland, Robert Fripp, Jacqui Dankworth, Julian Siegel and Laura Rossi.
Dave Whitford – double bass – Bobby Wellins Quartet and Bill Frisell
Gary Willcox– drums – Gary Willcox Drummer Composer Project, Profiles of Mingus
The songbook includes:
Music is: from ‘On Duke’s Birthday’, Mama Chicago and Goin to Chicago; Aggro-Vancouver-Desperado: from ‘L’ascenseur/The Lift’; View From The Drawbridge: from ‘Citadel/Room 315’; July ‘79, and Graffitti from ‘The Cortege’; Wasteground and Weeds from ‘Goodbye Peter Lorre’ and two of Mike’s favourite standards: You Leave me Breathless and Johnny Come Lately.
You can find out more about all these recordings and their availability at www.westbrookjazz.co.uk
Biscoe’s 44-year association with the great British composer Mike Westbrook and his music, and life partner Kate Westbrook gives him a unique insight into their artistic world.
http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/
