PARIS by Mike Westbrook

Composer Mike Westbrook was 80 in 2016. In the spring he celebrated this milestone with the release of the album A Bigger Show with his 22-piece Uncommon Orchestra (asccd 162-163). Now in complete contrast, he is releasing his first solo piano recording in almost 40 years.

Mike Westbrook PARIS was recorded by Jon Hiseman over two nights in July 2016, presented by Hélène Aziza at her art gallery and music venue, 19 rue Paul Fort near Porte d’Orleans.
In an hour-long set, Mike Westbrook improvises on themes from his own musical history, from his 1970s composition Citadel/Room 315 through to A Bigger Show and his recent Paintbox Jane. There are references to his Ellington tribute On Duke’s Birthday, to London Bridge is Broken Down, to his music-theatre piece The Ass, and to his Beatles project Off Abbey Road.

The sequence contains songs written in collaboration with his wife, the artist, vocalist and librettist Kate Westbrook, along with popular songs, Jazz Classics and Blues.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐒:
Westbrook’s style is an engaging mixture of warmth and dissonance, spiced by a touch of honky-tonk. With its constantly changing moods and familiar melodies cunningly revealed, an hour’s music seems to pass in half the time.
Dave Gelly The Observer * * * *

Westbrook’s sparse, harmonically rich and firmly rhythmic approach grips throughout, undulating thoughtfully through lush chords, warm ripples and gently discordant fragments to create a set of exquisite miniatures.
Mike Hobart - Financial Times * * * *

Westbrook's playing is intimate, restrained, reflective, introspective and deceptively simple, moulding 20 disparate sources into a beautiful and beguiling whole.
Barry Witherden - BBC Music Magazine * * * *

An hour of solo piano that is fresh, rich and improvised, yet references a myriad of the master’s many previous musical lives. Westbrook nests together his loves, heroes and inspirations, the man and his music, the music and the man, as one.
Andy Robson - Jazzwise/Gramophone * * * *

The music unfolds with such grace and elegance that the listener becomes one with its natural flow. You will need to look far indeed to find a more lovely jazz record this year.
Duncan Heining - All About Jazz * * * * * .

Mike Westbrook, composer and pianist, has received many honours and his outpouring of work in a career stretching over 50 years, ranges from scores for full orchestra to solo piano improvisation.

westbrookjazz.co.uk
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Kate Westbrook