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Chris_T

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Posts posted by Chris_T

  1. You may have missed that during this period of there being no live performances, Kate and Mike Westbrook have delved into their film archive and we are showing a new film from 11.30am UK time every Friday on the WestbrookJazz website at  https://bit.ly/3e4bD3w - all previous items will stay on the site indefinitely. This week on 22nd May there is some Big Band Westbrook from Big Band RTV Slovenia with Mike on piano. Please pass the word around. :)

  2. 1 minute ago, sidewinder said:

    Thanks Chris - ordered, along with a copy of the ‘Last Night at Scotts’ which I’ve wanted for a while. Absolutely no rush, it arrives when it arrives.. :)

    Ahh so that's who you are ;)

    I've only just added Last Night at the Old Place for sale today as Mike has some copies now. I'll let you know when they are posted. 

    Thanks for your order :)

  3. This is indeed the single CD studio album (also excellent - and different) recorded around the same time as the live one. It's on offer until Saturday. I should warn you that if you order on Friday or Saturday there may well be a delay in receiving the order as the orders are posted by Mike or Kate and they are going to be away this weekend. :)

  4. Two independent videos were made of the performance and I am told that the cluster of microphones just in front of the band were well placed to reduce the overwhelming reverb of the hall on one of the videos being recorded. The balance of PA sound was very different in parts of the hall. It must have been a nightmare to get it even this good. Despite all that it was an absolute triumph with the band playing superbly. Particular mention should be made (and has been made) about Matthew Bourne's playing. He was marvellous throughout and particularly so in DTTM. There is talk of a repeat performance next year. Meanwhile, talking of Westbrook Rossini I should mention that the original small band version is currently on offer on WestbrookJazz, reduced from £14 inc International postage and £12 inc UK postage to £9 & £7 respectively. Only until the end of August though so you'll have to move fast. http://tinyurl.com/36jgwup

  5. If you would like to support the artist, Mike Westbrook is selling advance copies of Starcross Bridge. We are not advertising it on Westbrookjazz at the moment as we do not want to move attention away from GRANITE by Kate Westbrook with music by Mike Westbrook. Starcross Bridge is £12.00 inc UK postage and £14.00 inc International postage. Please email me at westbrookrecords@westbrookjazz.co.uk if you'd like a copy. Payment with Paypal.

  6. The Lou Gare tribute album is indeed available from the Westbrookjazz website along with Kate Westbrook's GRANITE which we are selling prior to its official release. We can ship to anywhere in the world. http://westbrookjazz.co.uk/westbrookrecords/index.shtml If you order outside the UK please be sure to pay the correct postage.

    Sorry to say that we don't stock the Cadillac albums or Marching Song.

  7. 2 hours ago, sidewinder said:

    Not the Big Band but just received a circular from Mike and Kate with details of their new project 'Paintbox Jane' (based on a Raoul Dufy theme), starting in Exeter Bike Shed Theatre on 19th Jan and then further dates in Chagford and Southampton. Small group with vocals and Alan Wakeman featured, according to the flyer.

    Alan Wakeman's first Westbrook Gig since his heart surgery.  Looking forward to seeing this myself when it comes to Southampton.  This is an expanded version of a piece first performed at Vout O Renees in London Last year.  It's good fun with some terrific playing.  Alan was too ill for the Vout gig and Chris Biscoe stood in.

     

    In addition to this I should mention that the Blake at Kings Place on 17th March has Chris Biscoe in place of Karen Street, but not playing accordion of course. Phil Minton will be replaced by John Winfield at the Bury St Edmunds Blake.  Phil Minton will be performing as usual at Kings Place.

  8. On 28/11/2016 at 4:00 PM, sidewinder said:

    I have a vinyl copy of that 'Tyger', will have to dig it out. That and 'Love Songs' are Mike's most sought after items on vinyl (although I think 'Marching Songs', 'Metropolis' and 'Release' may now have caught up). Interesting that 'Love Songs' is coming out again on vinyl - weren't there permission problems with the Vocalion CD for that title when it came out? It should sell well on LP - the crate diggers love that one.

    There appears to have been some kind of misunderstanding regarding the permission problems with the Vocalion release of Love Songs.  It would seem that the album is owned by Universal after all, and they can do what they like regarding reissues. For the forthcoming LP release Universal have granted a license to another company to reissue it.  We have asked for the same sleeve changes that were done for the Vocalion release, and Mike has suggested that the two bonus CD tracks be included, as he feels that Magic Garden is the strongest piece from the sessions. Whether they do any of this is very much up to them.

  9. I was at the Bath performance Bev, we must try and say hello to each other at one of these events in the future.  I have just heard that Karen Street will not be able to play at the Kings Place performance. So it will be interesting to hear what changes Mike will make to the music and who, if anyone, will take her place and on what instrument.

  10. For those of you interested in re-issues, there is going to be a re-release of LOVE SONGS on vinyl only, sometime next year.  There will also be a UK CD release of the 1972 LIVE album with bonus tracks and also a CD re-release of Marching Song.

    We are currently preparing The Westbrook Blake for a download only release on WestbrookJazz. Watch this space... as they say.

  11. On 22/11/2016 at 6:57 AM, A Lark Ascending said:

    Nice review from Richard Williams - a pity he ended up majoring in sport; always liked his writing. Remember him fronting 'Disco 2', the programme that became 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' in the early 70s. 

    Like this bit from Westbrook - “I often enjoy playing the piano in a crowded room where people are talking. Though almost no one is paying any attention to the music, it nevertheless affects the general atmosphere.” The ambient impact of music can be greatly underestimated.  

    Were you there Bev? Very few people came to the WestbrookJazz desk to say hello. We did sell a fair few copies of the album though.

  12. The original LP album seemed to have a number of dodgy copies made.  These had  distortion in some places probably due to the unusually long sides. The later double reissue (with Metropolis) fared better.

    The CD version has been issued twice in the UK, 1991: NOVUS ND74987 ,  2006: BGO CD 713, with the BGO one having better sound.  There is also a a Japanese release which I haven't heard, 2009: BMG Japan BVCM 35625.  A great shame  it is OOP considering it's one of Mike's major works and that he will be 80 next year. Good luck tracking them down.

  13. 49 minutes ago, A Lark Ascending said:

    If you can get to The Barnfield, make the effort. The concert at the end of July was a joy. 

    I read somewhere that the Orchestra might venture beyond the West Country next year. 

    Very odd, that in a world where you can get all sorts of gongs and places in the House of Lords for funding the Tory party to ensure the 1% keep everything and get more, that someone of Mike Westbrook's achievement goes virtually unrecognised beyond those who have stumbled on his world...not that I'd imagine he'd want any of the official ones! 

    There is a possibility of gigs outside the West Country next year but I don't think anything is finalised yet.  There is talk of another Bristol gig but in a larger venue than last time. Ian Storror in Bristol is a great supporter of Mike's music.

    Can't argue with your '1% keep everything' opinion.  Mike was awarded an OBE some years back but I agree that it seems to be difficult to get his music heard by people other than those who already know of his reputation.  I'd like to think that A Bigger Show could make a difference.  It certainly has the potential and may well have a wider appeal than some of his recent works.  He's 80 next year. Surely it's time for something in the way of recognition!

  14. It's an addictive album. I can't stop playing it.

    I hope to have all the payment requests out to all patrons by the end of tomorrow.  So if you are a patron and you haven't heard from me yet, it should be very soon.  The album isn't officially released until February but it will be on sale at The Barnfield Theatre on 17th December.  It should be possible to buy copies of the album from WestbrookJazz during December.

  15. So sad, he was a remarkable player whether on his own, in a trio or in a larger group.  I hadn't seem him live for a number of years but the concerts I did see were very memorable indeed.

  16. Please would you do it through the website Bev, there are not currently plans to pay for copies in advance at concerts. At the moment we aren't asking for money anyway. That will be asked for when we get closer to the date of release. All we are asking for at the moment are pledges. We are trying to keep it simple so that Kate and Mike don't have to think of anything else but music making at the concerts. Thanks!

  17. Bev, After Smith's Hotel did get a broadcast but i don't think it has been heard since.

    I must look into Ran Blake. Before the concert in Bath Mike was trying out the piano and was playing Prelude to a Kiss. It was lovely of course and he was really enjoying the chords (and so were we). I hope we can persuade him to issue some piano recordings. He may have other ideas of course.

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