Record Reviews

KATE WESTBROOK ~ EARTH FELT THE WOUND WESTBROOK 006 (Barcode: 5052442017929) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 - 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album by British Jazz vocalist / lyricist Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, recorded with a septet called The Granite BandFind albums by this artist, which also includes her husband / pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Roz HardingFind albums by this artist, guitarists Jesse MolinsFind albums by this artist and Matthew NorthFind albums by this artist, bassist Billie BottleFind albums by this artist (who also adds some vocals and keyboards) and drummer Coach YorkFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, all but three composed by Mike Westbrook with lyrics, all but four written by Kate Westbrook. Musically the album is a continuation of its predecessor “Granite”, with a Fusiony, almost Rocky electric sound, superbly performed by the instrumentalists. The subject matter of the lyrics remains as serious as they come, concentrating on the imminent environmental disasters that face us and our planet. Using French, German and Italian texts, as usual, Kate expands the dramatic delivery, which her voice suits perfectly. The music and lyrics generate an effect of a post-apocalyptic theatre performance, definitely not for the weak hearted. Of course everything works out superbly and despite the morose atmosphere the album is a tour de force from start to finish, which of course should not surprise anybody familiar with the work of the Westbrooks, which basically stays on the same aesthetic platform since decades. They are a phenomenon, which is absolutely unique, although clearly connected to the legacy of Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist and Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist and other European Avant-Gardists, who saw music / theatre / poetry / dance as an organic artistic body of human creativity. Overall, this is another masterpiece by the Westbrooks, who seem to be completely immune to time and its tides, ignoring fads and fashions and simply doing their own unique thing. Their legacy is a treasure chest of European culture, which is timeless and universal, always ahead of their time and contemporary. An absolute Godsend and a must to any serious music lover!

Updated: 08/08/2022Posted: 08/08/2022

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KATE WESTBROOK ~ GRANITE WESTBROOK 003 (Barcode: 5024545826722) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the eagerly anticipated new album by British vocalist / lyricist Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, which presents what she calls a soliloquy featuring music composed, as expected, by her husband, pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist. She is supported by a sextet called The Granite BandFind albums by this artist, which in addition to Mike Westbrook also includes saxophonist Roz HardingFind albums by this artist, guitarists Jesse MolinsFind albums by this artist and Matthew NorthFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Billie BottleFind albums by this artist and drummer Coach YorkFind albums by this artist. The title piece comprises of twenty three short tracks, split into three song cycles. The album closes with a short version of an Irving Berlin standard, whistled by Kate, which is a perfect ironic ending to the entire piece. The music is quite unexpected, even to long time Westbrook followers, like yours truly. Although the introductory or epilogue piece in each of the three cycles are presented in the familiar voice / piano format, which the Westbrooks have been using from day one, the rest of the pieces have a strong Rocky character, with dominant electric guitars in the foreground, which goes back stylistically to Westbrook´s Solid Gold CadillacFind albums by this artist days. At first it is a bit "bizarre", but as the album progresses it does make perfect sense after all. Kate Westbrook´s vocals fit perfectly this unusual, Rocky environment. Her theatrical delivery works with the same effectiveness, regardless of the style that the accompanying music follows, which of course is truly astounding. Although Kate never tried to "sing" in the traditional way, her vocals prove to be more universal than those offered by conventional singers. Her throaty voice is still one of the best means of vocal delivery out there. The libretto, which is included in the album´s booklet, is a complex associative / imaginative / metaphoric tale of a granite quarry and its workers, which has a wide spread moral, philosophical and even religious implications, as usual with Kate Westbrook´s works. This intellectual layer is of course an integral part of the entire work, complementing it superbly. The Westbrooks seem to be completely immune to the passing of time and this album, which one would expect to be created by musicians, who are generations younger then the iconic pair, proves that they simply ignore, as they have always done, any stylistic transitory norms, simply doing what they see as appropriate. Although full of Rock and Fusion elements, this music is immediately recognizable as part of the Westbrook legacy, with the same mark of excellence, which accompanies everything they create. Superb stuff!

Updated: 02/08/2018Posted: 02/08/2018

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ A BIGGER SHOW ASC 162-163 (Barcode: 654469439163) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is an incredible album that celebrates eight decades of life and six decades of musical activity by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, one of the most iconic figures of British / European Jazz and in retrospect an unstoppable innovator, who is always ahead of the time of his contemporaries. The album is a live recording of a show, which features the music of Mike Westbrook and lyrics by his wife Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, performed by an orchestra consisting of twenty one musicians and called The "Uncommon OrchestraFind albums by this artist". The 2CD album presents eight original compositions, four on each CD, one of which is over half an hour in duration. The music was recorded, mixed and edited by the recently departed Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, who closely cooperated with Westbrook for many years of his life. Westbrook´s big ensemble music is always an amazing amalgam of marching Brass Bands, Circus Music, Funeral Bands, Cabaret and Vaudeville, modem day Opera and Jazz Big Bands. This has not changed much over time, as a concept, but his music travelled far and wide stylistically over the years, always being exceptionally creative and completely unique. The music on this album is no different, and presents a highly complex musical story, which keeps enfolding in front of the listener like an Opera plot. The Orchestra, which is basically a large brass section supported by a double rhythm section (two guitars, two basses and two drums) performs superbly and the orchestra members play bloodcurdling solos along the way. Kate Westbrook, Martine WaltierFind albums by this artist and Billie BottleFind albums by this artist perform the vocal parts, which are, as usual, theatrical and full of drama. A few legendary veterans can be found among the orchestra members, like saxophonist Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Dave HoldsworthFind albums by this artist, both soloing splendidly. Overall this is another Mike Westbrook masterpiece, which proudly takes its place with his earlier works in the rich tapestry of his musical achievements. His many followers will hopefully add this jewel to the Mike Westbrook collection, as it wholly deserves to be heard and admired. There are but a few contemporary musical figures, which have behind them six decades of pioneering work and a splendid legacy of uncompromising musical treasures. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 25/06/2018

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ PAINTBOX JANE WESTBROOK 010 (Barcode: 5024545977127) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2022 This is an album by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, his wife vocalist / lyricist Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist and a bunch of friends, collectively known as Westbrook & CompanyFind albums by this artist, which includes vocalists Martine WaltierFind albums by this artist and Billie BottleFind albums by this artist, actor Tim GoodwinFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist and bassist Marcus VergetteFind albums by this artist. It presents a musical play, with music by Mike Westbrook and libretto by Kate Westbrook, first performed in London in 2016 and recorded in the Temple Music Studios in 2017 by the lamented Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, to be released only five years later. The album presents fifteen mostly relatively short tracks (but three of which last for about ten minutes each), all but one composed by Westbrook. The show presents a scene based around the great French painter Raoul DufyFind albums by this artist painting a portrait of Jane on the Nice promenade, when (as the description on the album’s booklet says): “a troupe of singers and instrumentalists enter into a spirited exchange with the painter about the nature of Art and his place in its history”. The music is absolutely exquisite and offers some of Westbrook’s most melodic and lyrical pieces ever, in most cases beautifully sung Kate. In other cases, the music serves as a background to the spoken texts by the vocalists / actors. As usual with the Westbrooks in action, the entire album is soaked in European aesthetics, which deals with Culture in all its aspects and manifestations, with an emphasis on painting in this case. The philosophical and existential issues touch upon in Kate’s libretto is a reoccurring in many different disguises in her literary work since many years. The intimate and minimalist instrumental settings of just saxophone / keyboards / bass manage to create a completely coherent soundtrack to the proceedings, with brilliant soloing by Wakeman and solid bass pulsations by Vergette, with Mike brilliantly providing the harmonic / melodic background to the entire extravaganza. As usual, this music is simply bigger than life in every aspect. Overall, this is another Masterpiece by the Westbrooks and their cohorts, absolutely exploding with brilliant music all over and superbly put together with the spoken word, singing and playing creating a magic carpet ride of multilayered stimuli. Absolutely not to be missed and a crucial piece of the Westbrooks puzzle, which seems to know no borders or limitations. Epic!

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 02/02/2023

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