Mike Westbrook The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980 coming soon on Cadillac Records

[ejp626]

This Guardian article discussing this release makes it sound pretty intriguing.  I'll see about streaming it and maybe picking it up.  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/12/jazz-legend-mike-westbrook-laurence-olivier

Doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to compare it to the studio recording (from 1982) if that ever sees the light of day.

[clifford_thornton]

Huh!

I have the 1982 LP set, interesting music that I haven't dug out in too long. What are the legal troubles that have buried it since, I wonder?

[T.D.]

I had no idea the 1982 recording was "in a legal limbo". Definitely worth hearing. It is on Youtube. I bought the Enja 2-CD set several years ago and there was no scarcity premium; discogs currently has it as low as US$10 + shipping, (which might not help you in Canada, of course). 

I'll try to listen to the forthcoming BBC release, but it'll have to be really good to merit a purchase. Thanks for posting.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by T.D.

[ejp626]

That is intriguing (that the 1982 recording is floating around).  I have no idea what they mean either.

Even stranger, the 1982 recording is available for streaming on Naxos Jazz (though I think Naxos is generally not allowed in the US but it is in Canada).  So maybe its scarcity is greatly exaggerated...

[sidewinder]

9 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

Huh!

I have the 1982 LP set, interesting music that I haven't dug out in too long. What are the legal troubles that have buried it since, I wonder?

I have a copy of the 2LP set too. Need to dig it out.

Mike and Kate W. have two performances coming up. One in Torquay with his 'Band of Bands' and another in Greenwich, London of his Blake material. I hope at least to catch the Torquay gig.

Just noticed that there was a free Q&A with Mike and Kate on 'The Cortege' reissue in Exeter on Nov 9th - sadly didn't know about it so missed it. Good that Mike is back in action and gigging again.

Edited 1 hour ago by sidewinder