Chris_T

Tyger has never been released on CD and I guess the thinking is that there wouldn't be enough interest in it. 'For the Record' was reissued on CD quite a few years ago along with 'Love, Dream & Variations' on the same label. The manufacturers mixed up the sleeve information between the two albums at the time. Both are now deleted sadly. I think you are right about Mike's views about his own playing. There are some private recordings of Mike's piano playing and they are very good indeed. We are about to launch a new download on WestbrookJazz and I hope that we are able to persuade Mike to make some of his solos piano recordings available in the future. The new download will be 'After Smith's Hotel' by the way. It has never been released commercially. I hope to persuade Mike to make The Westbrook Blake - Bright as Fire the next one as this has been out of the catalogue for far too long.

Roger - There isn't much I can say on a public forum about this but suffice to say that gigs outside the area that the band are performing in at the moment are not forthcoming. I know Mike would like to perform with the band and other combinations in all parts of the UK. Efforts have been made but have led nowhere so far. Even in my limited experience of contacting venues local to me I find I am met with polite interest that leads nowhere. I agree that it's a ridiculous state of affairs and I don't know what the answer is. I hope that this series of gigs with the band over the summer might make people sit up and take notice.

The Sage receive our information but show no interest.

Bev, I agree... a great night. They seem to be lucky with the churches for the Blake. The concert last year at St. Giles in London had similar acoustics. For anyone thinking of seeing 'A Bigger Show' there is a list of the gigs taking place here: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/mikewestbrook/diary.shtml A recording will be made of the piece at The Barnfield Theatre in July and we are inviting people to become Patrons of The Orchestra. This is something we did before with the recording of The Cortege as you will no doubt remember Bev . Details: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/mikewestbrook/bigband/index.shtml By the way, if any of you who would like to hear Mike play elsewhere in the country have any influence with the people who run your local venues, please do use that influence.

Talk of Mike Westbrook's Marching Song leads me to mention his "London Bridge is Broken Down". The BBC are playing the whole of the "Picardie" section of the album to mark the centenery of the outbreak of the First World War on "Jazz on 3" at 23.00 on 4th August. There will also be an Interview with Mike & Kate. More information here: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/

No plans other than this launch concert at the moment.

It's not too late.... BOOK NOW for an evening of WESTBROOK MUSIC at London’s famous WILTON’S MUSIC HALL on TUESDAY OCTOBER 1st 7.30 pm presenting the new Westbrook ensemble in THE SERPENT HIT album launch featuring Kate Westbrook voice & texts Andy Tweed Chris Biscoe Karen Street Chris Caldwell Saxophones Simon Pearson drums Mike Westbrook music & piano plus the Westbrook Trio Kate Westbrook Chris Biscoe Mike Westbrook tickets £15 available from http://wiltons.org.uk/event.php?p=667 phone 020 7702 2789 WILTON'S MUSIC HALL 1 Graces Alley London E1 8JB

And don't forget the gig itself on 1st October at Wilton's Music Hall: http://wiltons.org.uk/event.php?p=667

A quick plug for the Dawlish & St. Ives big band gigs:

THE WESTBROOK TRIO Kate Westbrook voice Chris Biscoe saxophones Mike Westbrook piano on Saturday 10th November At 8:00pm Kings Place, London in the London Jazz Festival 020 7520 1490 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk and on BBC Radio 3 ‘In Tune’ Friday 9th November at 4:30pm The album “ Three into Wonderfull ” is now available from The Westbrookjazz website: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/mikew...three_cd.shtml

Information about an Xmas Westbrook Big Band gig will be going on the diary page over this weekend. Watch that space: Mike Westbrook's Diary

I've added more information on Westbrookjazz about the Lol Coxhill memorial gig: Mike Westbrook's Diary

I've only just discovered this thread. I thought people that appreciated Tony Marsh's brilliant playing might like to see a tribute film that we uploaded of Mike Westbrook's 'East Stratford Too-Doo' from the very first performance of Mike's 'On Duke's Birthday'. East Stratford Too-Doo We also added another film from the same concert featuring Tony soon after. Unfortunately the film was not complete so in order to have the whole of the piece we've used some stills. Checking in at Hotel Le Prieure Tony's cancer was diagnosed only days before he died. A horribly sad end for a superb musician. He was wonderful to watch as well as to hear as these films show.

Alan Wakeman was a replacement for Lou Gare who was unwell for The Drewe Arms and St. Ives. Lou was back in fiery form (by Mike Westbrook's account) for the gig at Hannahs.

Can't really disagree with that thought and it's interesting to see how Mike's music has progressed over the years from "Tyger" (how it all started) and then a few Blake pieces on his first Brass Band album "For The Record", then onto The Westbrook Blake album itself and the later re-working with added pieces on "Glad Day". His current Blake performances are of his new "Choral Version" which has been performed live a few times and stiill features Phil Minton and Kate Westbrook in the main vocal roles along with either a full adult choir or 4 adult soloists. Both of these versions were incredibly moving when I saw them in London. The earlier Westbrook Blake album is still available but most places will probably have to order it. JAZZCDs ( http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/ ) keep a number of Westbrook CDs but appear to be out of the Westbrook Blake album. They do have the newer Glad Day album however. There's more information about the Westbrook Blake here: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/mikewestbrook/blake.shtml

OK. It's part of the westbrookjazz site and can be found here: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/westbrookrecords/index.html

I've got a fever so unfortunately I took that at what it appeared to be. I'm quite happy to discuss the Westbrooks with anyone that would like to and I'm sorry that I posted a sales orientated pair of messages. I'm far from a peddler. I don't actually make any money out of it but I'll not mention Westbrook Records again after this without a specific enquiry about Westbrook CDs.

Yes, doubtless the Westbrooks are great artists. I have been a member before and did indulge a few discussions. I didn't mean to offend anyone with the sordid side of promotion and sales on the Westbrook's behalf. So I will try to remove the contents of both posts and stick with AllAboutJazz.

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Sadly Wavendon have cancelled the Mike Westbrook Glad Day gig for 28 June. Chris http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/katemikewestbrook http://www.myspace.com/mikewestbrooksvillageband

GLAD DAY the choral version Sunday (afternoon) June 28th, 2009 - 2.30 Book early to avoid disappointment MUSIC IN THE GARDEN 2009 series The Old Rectory Garden Stockwell Lane Wavendon Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Box Office - 01908 280800 Admin - 01908 280814 Tickets £17.50 including champagne tea GLAD DAY - Mike Westbrook's celebrated settings of the poetry of William Blake, in a new choral version, Featuring Phil Minton voice, Kate Westbrook voice, Steve Berry bass, Karen Street accordion, Billy Thompson violin, Mike Westbrook piano, and the Queldryk Chamber Choir, directed by Paul Ayres texts arranged by Adrian Mitchell and Kate Westbrook Round off the afternoon’s enjoyment with a wonderful champagne tea. BOOK ONLINE: http://www.stables.org/Whats_on/Event/Glad_Day More details on the Westbrook Website: http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/mikewestbrook/blake.shtml __________________ Chris http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/katemikewestbrook http://www.myspace.com/mikewestbrooksvillageband