Record Reviews

BOB DOWNES / OPEN MUSIC ~ CROSSING BORDERS REEL RECORDINGS 011 (Barcode: 676868177828) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 - 1979 Released: 2008 British flautist / saxophonist / composer Bob DownesFind albums by this artist and his Open MusicFind albums by this artist ensemble (a constantly changing group of musical cohorts) were always one of the most interesting acts on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s / 1970s. Downes participated in many of the pivotal recording made at the time by other bandleaders, but in parallel always led his own ensemble which played the music he composed. His ability to combine melody and Free Improvisation into a unique amalgam was always his forte and his recordings are great examples of the limitless musical efforts, which are typical of the period. This release presents an album, previously unreleased, featuring compositions inspired by a 1973 South American tour, recorded several years later with a great cast of musicians: guitarist Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, trombonist Paul RutherfordFind albums by this artist, bassists Barry GuyFind albums by this artist, Mark MeggidoFind albums by this artist and Paul BridgeFind albums by this artist and drummers Dennis SmithFind albums by this artist and John StevensFind albums by this artist – all of which are exemplary representatives of the British Jazz scene at its peak. Considering the fact that this music is previously unheard, it seems such a shame it laid hidden from our ears for so long, but as usual all is well that ends well, so here it is finally for us to savor. Downes´ fans need no encouragement to grab this album instantly, but British Jazz fans not familiar with his output should definitely investigate, especially in view of the fact that the melody lines and his amazing flute virtuosity make the improvised passages "easier on the ear" for less experienced listeners.

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MIRAGE ~ NOW YOU SEE IT… VOCALION 8431 (Barcode: 765387843120) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007 The short-lived Jazz-Rock Fusion group MirageFind albums by this artist is an excellent example of the incredible high level of music created in Britain in the 1970s. Co-led by two great instrumentalist and composers: saxophonist George KhanFind albums by this artist and guitarist Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, they managed to record just one album, which was originally released on the obscure, but visionary Norwegian CompendiumFind albums on this label label (along with some other superb albums), which unfortunately folded shortly after this album was released. The group also included bassist Steve CookFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave SheenFind albums by this artist on permanent basis, but was often expanded to a sextet with the addition of Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist on keyboards and John MitchellFind albums by this artist on percussion. The group played music composed by Khan and Godding, which was a typical British Fusion, somewhat similar to what the many Canterbury groups (Hatfield And The NorthFind albums by this artist, National HealthFind albums by this artist) were doing at the time, with strong melodic lines and lengthy improvisations. Godding was of course one of the best British guitarists, sadly much under-appreciated and respected mostly among his peers. This most welcome reissue expands the original album by adding two long jam-like tracks recorded live, which give an excellent glimpse as to how the group (in its sextet form) sounded on stage. Brilliant stuff, from start to finish and a must to all Fusion-heads.

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SOLID GOLD CADILLAC ~ SOLID GOLD CADILLAC / BRAIN DAMAGE BGO 0471 (Barcode: 5017261204714) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 1999 This is a reissue of the only two albums released in the early 1970s by the short lived British Jazz-Rock ensemble Solid Gold CadillacFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist. The list of participating musicians reads like the Who´s Who of British Jazz / Jazz-Rock at the time: lead vocalist / trumpeter Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist George KhanFind albums by this artist, trombonist Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dick MorecombeFind albums by this artist, Westbrook on electric piano and additional vocals, pianist Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, bassist Roy BabbingtonFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks on the eponymous debut album. Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist plays guitar and Butch PotterFind albums by this artist plays bass on the second album and Trench does not take part in it. The debut album offers eleven tracks and the second album offers ten tracks, almost all of which were composed by Westbrook. The music is a zany, eclectic collection of absolutely stupendous music, light years ahead of its time at the time of the recording. It moves between Pop, Rock, Jazz-Rock, Jazz and typical Westbrook cabaret / vaudeville creations, all superbly performed by this elite team of musicians. My recent review of Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist´s album "GraniteFind albums with this title" struck a "memory" chord and made me to come back to these two albums, which admittedly I have not listened to in decades. It is absolutely amazing how good this music sounds today, losing nothing of its freshness and ingenuity. The sense of humor and irony are already there, playing a major role in the overall scheme of things, going hand in hand with wonderful musicality and astounding versatility. Although Solid Gold Cadillac was only a small "sidestep" in Westbrook´s decades long career, in retrospect it proves again that he definitely is a man of the "golden touch", as far as music is concerned, and everything he created over time is able to defend its values over time. Although this reissue is long time out of print, it is definitely worth seeking out, not only for the Westbrook devotees, but for all British Jazz / Jazz-Rock collectors, who missed this jewel so far. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 16/08/2018Posted: 16/08/2018

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ CITADEL / ROOM 315 BGO 713 (Barcode: 5017261207135) ~ UK ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1975 Released: 2006 This magnificent album marks a pivotal point in the career of pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, a transition between the first and the second phases of his monumental life’s achievement. Since it is a suite composed for and performed by a large ensemble (19 musicians in this case), it continues the pioneering work by Westbrook as a composer of large scale orchestral music and closes the cycle which started with the debut "CelebrationFind albums with this title" and continued with "ReleaseFind albums with this title", "Marching SongsFind albums with this title", "Love SongsFind albums with this title" and "MetropolisFind albums with this title". In between “Metropolis” and "Citadel / Room 315Find albums with this title" Westbrook ventured into Jazz-Rock Fusion with the group Solid Gold CadillacFind albums by this artist, returning to Jazz with the new suite, which was commissioned by the Swedish Radio Jazz Group with John SurmanFind albums by this artist as a guest soloist. It was first performed and recorded in 1974, but for various reasons the recording was not released, so Westbrook decided to record it with a British lineup, following several performances in UK a year later. As usual in his case, he managed to assemble the best Jazz players on the British Jazz scene to participate in the recording, including John Surman as the main soloist on baritone and soprano saxophone, with Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist and Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Dave MacRaeFind albums by this artist on piano, Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist on guitar, Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist on bass and Allan JacksonFind albums by this artist on drums and many others. The music is of course brilliant, as always, but surprisingly more melodic and accessible than most of his earlier works, with clear “winks” towards the work of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist. Superbly arranged and performed, this is an epic achievement, sadly one of the last great Jazz works of such scale, as the climate in Britain was about to change very soon and the magnificent Golden Decade was facing an inevitable comedown. Westbrook was of course to continue his extraordinary work as a composer, but his albums will be gradually released on small independent labels and sell meagerly. Well, we still have this essential recording to re-visit any time we feel a need to refill out batteries with some highly charged musical delight. Essential!

Updated: 12/03/2022Posted:

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ LONDON BRIDGE IS BROKEN DOWN BGO 0788 (Barcode: 5017261207883) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1987 Released: 2008 The second phase of Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist’s illustrious career, which was initiated around mid-1970s and continues to this day, can be characterized by his gradual shift from the big orchestral formats to much more intimate assemblages, centered around himself and his wife Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist and including members from a steady core of musicians cooperating with them. Kate’s remarkable voice and even more remarkable personality added several new dimensions to the unique “Westbrook voicing” of musical ideas, which would become their trademark in years to come. Her extraordinary sensitivity, openness and passion for European literature and poetry and her ability to sing in French and German (in addition to English of course), combined with Mike’s sublime talent for composition, enabled them to create a vast body of work, which extends far beyond “music making” per se and transferred gradually into one of the most profound European expressions of Culture. Although deeply rooted in Jazz, their music encompasses many additional musical areas, ranging from cabaret and chanson to contemporary Classical music. Always meticulously researched and perfectly scored, the Westbrook projects are all masterpieces of contemporary Art, way beyond straightforward music creation. One can perhaps trace these tendencies to the Jazz & Poetry amalgamations common in the early 1960s, or even much earlier examples from Classical music, which combined musical ideas with literary sources. Mike and Kate are a complete cultural phenomenon; alas a radically rare one in our times, in complete contrast to most of the “musical“ ventures polluting our ears. The music included on this album is perhaps the most complex and ambitious project the Westbrooks have ever undertaken. Commissioned by the French Festival International de Jazz d’Amiens for the 1987 edition of the festival, it was premiered there and later recorded in Paris. The music is an extended work for two orchestras – Jazz and Symphonic – incorporating texts selected and written by Kate. The music and text were written and assembled over a period of four years (1983-1987) and inspired by the places, which the Westbrooks visited during their intensive touring voyages. The overall idea was to present a picture of Europe at the time, with its immense political, social and cultural complexity, focusing on four European Capitals (London, Prague, Berlin and Vienna) and the French Picardie Region. Westbrook’s Jazz “orchestra” was in fact a nonet, with him on piano, Kate on vocals, Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist on saxophones and clarinet, Peter WhymanFind albums by this artist on saxophones, Graham RussellFind albums by this artist on trumpet and flugelhorn, Paul NiemanFind albums by this artist on trombone, Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist on guitar, Steve CookFind albums by this artist on bass and Tony MarshFind albums by this artist on drums. The Mike Westbrook Orchestra and Le Sinfonietta de PicardieFind albums by this artist were both conducted by Alexandre MyratFind albums by this artist. The album was originally released in 1988 on VirginFind albums on this label as a four LP set (three and a half to be exact), but disappeared almost immediately from the shelves. Kudos to BGOFind albums on this label for reissuing this masterpiece and exposing this music to new potential listeners, nothing deserves a wider recognition than this cultural treasure. Beyond essential!

Updated: 28/07/2023Posted:

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ LONDON BRIDGE LIVE IN ZURICH 1990 WESTBROOK 011 (Barcode: 5052442022893) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1990 Released: 2022 This is an archival live album by British Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, which presents a performance of the orchestral suite “London Bridge Is Broken DownFind albums with this title” at the Zurich International Jazz Festival in 1990, three years after the suite was premiered 1987 at the French Festival International de Jazz d’Amiens and later recorded in a Paris studio. The 2CD album presents twelve tracks, two of which last for well over twenty minutes The lineup on this recording is somewhat different and includes Mike Westbrook on piano, Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist on vocals and Mike Westbrook OrchestraFind albums by this artist with trumpeter Graham RussellFind albums by this artist, trombonist Paul NiemanFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Peter WhymanFind albums by this artist, Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist and Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist, tuba player Andy GrappyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, bassist Tim HarriesFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter FaircloughFind albums by this artist. The classical orchestra is the Docklands SinfoniettaFind albums by this artist conducted by Rupert BondFind albums by this artist. The musical content is almost identical to the studio recording, but naturally this live version offers the excitement, dynamics and natural differences between a studio recording and a live performance, which as expected is absolutely sensational. You can read my review of the studio album (by clicking on the link) for a detailed review of the music and its place in Westbrook’s extensive career. Overall, this is a brilliant piece of music, and in many respects a pinnacle in Mike Westbrook’s career as a composer and Kate Westbrook’s career as an interpreter of multilingual literary works within the Jazz idiom. The album is of course an absolute must in every serious British Jazz collection, and an essential part of Westbrook’s discography. Thanks for bringing this marvelous music out to light after thirty years of hibernation.

Updated: 28/07/2023Posted: 28/07/2023

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ ON DUKE`S BIRTHDAY HATOLOGY 635 (Barcode: 752156063520) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1984 Released: 2007 This is a long overdue reissue of the superb album by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and his orchestra, paying tribute to the genius of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, the great American Jazz composer. In contrast to most tribute albums, Westbrook does not present his interpretations or new arrangements of Ellington´s music, but composes completely new music himself, which relates to the many complex aspects of "Ellintonia" such as harmony and melody, in spirit rather than literally to his music. As usual in Westbrook´s case, the music is outstanding, as are the performances by his orchestra members, which includes his wife and musical companion Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist on flutes and voice, trumpeter Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist, guitarist Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, drummer Tony MarshFind albums by this artist, and others. Westbrook´s followers know exactly what to expect from him as he never fails to amaze and surprise, other might perhaps finally discover him, as he is one of those well kept secrets, which once discovered stay with you for life. Grab it!

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ THE CORTEGE ENJA 9587 (Barcode: 063757958727) ~ UK ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 1982 Released: 2011 This is a reissue of the monumental work by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and his 17-piece Orchestra, recorded in 1982, which features some of the most important British Jazz musicians active at the time, many of them Westbrook´s cohorts many years before and after the recording of this masterpiece. This of course includes his lifetime partner vocalist Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, and among others guitarist Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, trombonist Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Chris HunterFind albums by this artist and Chris BiscoeFind albums by this artist and bassoonist Lindsay CooperFind albums by this artist; in short a dream team by all respects. Originally released as a 3 LPs set it was remastered and released here as a double CD. "The CortegeFind albums with this title" is a concept album, related to the funeral procession and all it symbolizes, in this case a procession accompanied by music, like the customary New Orleans Jazz funeral which goes back to the cradle of the Jazz idiom, but not stopping there of course, neither conceptually not musically. The lyrics, which are incorporated into the concept, which are poems written by celebrated European poets: Arthur RimbaudFind albums by this artist, Hermann HesseFind albums by this artist, Frederico Garcia LorcaFind albums by this artist, Giuseppe Gioachino BelliFind albums by this artist, John ClareFind albums by this artist and Pentii SaarikoskiFind albums by this artist (included in the album´s booklet both in their original language and in English translations, when appropriate), present an additional layer to the conceptual approach, which presents a three part cycle of life / death / after(life), with all the philosophical, aesthetic and even theological aspects involved. Of course listeners interested only the musical layer of this complex work, are perfectly free to enjoy it as such in the fullest. Mike´s and Kate´s musical universe was always an amalgam of music and poetry in one way or another, and their approach to music as simply one facet of what we call Culture, being inseparable from its other manifestations, has been very consistent. Their familiarity with the literary world in many different languages and originating from all across Europe is truly phenomenal, and as an avid connoisseur of European Culture myself, I have always admired the Westbrooks for what they were doing. Since the Jazz & Poetry idiom, which this work and many other works by the Westbrooks belong to, is my specialty (bordering on obsession some may say) it is plainly obvious that I absolutely admire this album since I first heard it and unwaveringly continue to do so. In Westbrook´s prolific recorded legacy this album serves as a turning point in many respects; although some of the albums recorded before "The Cortege" already included literary references, like those dedicated to the work of William BlakeFind albums by this artist ("Tyger (A Celebration of William Blake)Find albums with this title" from 1971 and "The Westbrook Blake (Bright As Fire)Find albums with this title" from 1980), the inclusion of literary contents from this point forward was about to become almost a modus operandi, both for the large scale orchestral and more intimate projects. Blake, of course, is not missing from this album and a rendition of his eternal "Jerusalem" is included herein. It is fascinating to make a comparison of the orchestral arrangements present on this album with Westbrook´s early orchestral works from the late 1960s and early 1970s, which clearly depicts his ever developing palette as a composer / arranger as well as his shift towards less dominant orchestral sound, which is rarely used in its full might on this album with subtlety and allusion playing a much more significant role. In many respects "The Cortege" embodies the spirit of European Jazz; it includes a grain of the Jazz tradition, but expands the idiom dramatically, incorporating contemporary European Classical Music elements, Folklore, Rock, Cabaret, and a myriad of other musical and non-musical ingredients. This transformation could be described by a mathematical analogy of expanding a singularity (a point) into a multi-dimensional space. In retrospect this album is one of the most important European Jazz (and beyond) recordings, which to this day has very few, if any, equivalents and which serves (or rather should serve) as a model of human ingenuity in the world of Art, which is sadly extremely rarely followed by anybody these days. I can hardly imagine any serious European Jazz connoisseurs who miss this epic album in their collections. In case anybody does miss it, this can be easily rectified, as this remastered edition of the album is still available. Don´t dare to think twice about it!

Updated: 28/03/2016Posted: 28/03/2016

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend