Record Reviews

KATE WESTBROOK ~ EARTH FELT THE WOUND WESTBROOK 006 (Barcode: 5052442017929) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 - 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album by British Jazz vocalist / lyricist Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, recorded with a septet called The Granite BandFind albums by this artist, which also includes her husband / pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Roz HardingFind albums by this artist, guitarists Jesse MolinsFind albums by this artist and Matthew NorthFind albums by this artist, bassist Billie BottleFind albums by this artist (who also adds some vocals and keyboards) and drummer Coach YorkFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, all but three composed by Mike Westbrook with lyrics, all but four written by Kate Westbrook. Musically the album is a continuation of its predecessor “Granite”, with a Fusiony, almost Rocky electric sound, superbly performed by the instrumentalists. The subject matter of the lyrics remains as serious as they come, concentrating on the imminent environmental disasters that face us and our planet. Using French, German and Italian texts, as usual, Kate expands the dramatic delivery, which her voice suits perfectly. The music and lyrics generate an effect of a post-apocalyptic theatre performance, definitely not for the weak hearted. Of course everything works out superbly and despite the morose atmosphere the album is a tour de force from start to finish, which of course should not surprise anybody familiar with the work of the Westbrooks, which basically stays on the same aesthetic platform since decades. They are a phenomenon, which is absolutely unique, although clearly connected to the legacy of Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist and Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist and other European Avant-Gardists, who saw music / theatre / poetry / dance as an organic artistic body of human creativity. Overall, this is another masterpiece by the Westbrooks, who seem to be completely immune to time and its tides, ignoring fads and fashions and simply doing their own unique thing. Their legacy is a treasure chest of European culture, which is timeless and universal, always ahead of their time and contemporary. An absolute Godsend and a must to any serious music lover!

Updated: 08/08/2022Posted: 08/08/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ CATANIA WESTBROOK 004 (Barcode: 5052442014829) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1992 Released: 2018 This is an archive concert recording by British Jazz Colossus pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra, recorded over three days in July 1992 in Catania, Sicily during the Mike Westbrook Festival organized by local Jazz aficionados. Twenty four musicians take part in the recordings: twenty one members of the Orchestra including Mike and his wife Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist and three guests - vocalist Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, French violin virtuoso Dominique PifarelyFind albums by this artist and Italian trombonist Danilo TerenziFind albums by this artist. The concerts were not officially recorded at the time, but the lamented studio wizard Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, to whom this album is dedicated, managed to restore the music from various sources half a Century later to produce this double CD with sixteen tracks, seven of which are extended pieces between ten and almost twenty minutes long. As Westbrook writes in the liner notes the Orchestra was at the absolute top form at the time, following UK and European tours with the Big Band Rossini project, which culminated in a Royal Albert Hall concert for the BBC Proms, which took place on 30th of August 1992, just a month after the music presented here was performed and recorded, followed by the recording of the splendid "The Orchestra Of The Smith`s AcademyFind albums with this title" album in September of the same year. The material includes a wide range of compositions, with only one piece from the Rossini project and the rest covering Westbrook´s compositions going as far back as the mid-1970s ("Citadel / Room 315Find albums with this title") and his explorations of William BlakeFind albums by this artist and Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist / Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist inspirations. The majority of the material is of course original, composed by Westbrook, with just one standard, one Duke Ellington inspired piece, two Brecht / Weill pieces and one Gioachino RossiniFind albums by this artist inspired piece arranged by him. As appropriate for a Westbrook Festival the music represents faithfully Westbrook´s musical path up to the time of the recording. I am sure I don´t need to convince any of the numerous Mike Westbrook followers that this album is an essential piece of his recorded legacy. Although the sound quality is perhaps not ideal in comparison to his other live recordings, it is certainly acceptable, surely thanks to Hiseman´s efforts. The music is certainly way too good to remain in the vaults. This album is pretty unique as far as the choice of material is concerned, since usually Westbrook´s live recordings document his current projects rather than a review of his work with an almost nostalgic glance back. With such quality of the music and the superb abilities of the performers involved, this is a beautiful time capsule, which documents not only the achievements of Westbrook but the entire European Jazz history at its best. One should admire Westbrook not only for his music but also for his consistent effort to document his music. More information about Mike Westbrook can always be found on his web site www.westbrookjazz.co.uk

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 23/07/2019

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ MAMA CHICAGO JAZZPRINT 139 (Barcode: 604388687824) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1979 Released: 2007 This magnificent album by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist is a superb example of European Jazz at its best, combining the Jazz tradition with the European heritage. "Mama ChicagoFind albums with this title" is a Jazz cabaret, constructed and envisaged as a continuation of the European cabaret legacy, established by Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist and Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist in the early 20th century. Westbrook wrote the music and the lyrics were written by his wife and faithful companion Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist, a great connoisseur of the European literary tradition. The music is performed by a septet, which includes Westbrook on piano and tuba, Kate on vocals and piccolo flute, trumpeter Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Mick PageFind albums by this artist and Chris HunterFind albums by this artist, trombonist Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave BarryFind albums by this artist. As appropriate for a cabaret, it includes a series of songs, linked together by a theme, which is repeated several times in various forms. Overall it is absolutely stunning both on record and live, which I´ve been privileged to witness on several occasions. Kate´s vocal performances send a current down the listener´s spine time and time again and the instrumental passages, the arrangements and the atmosphere they inspire is spectacular, without being bombastic. This is definitely a masterpiece and another crown jewel in Westbrook´s life-time monument of achievements. Absolutely not to be missed!

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

ZIELINSKA / FRASZYNSKA / STECIUK / DREZEK ~ SOFIA DE MAGICO FOR TUNE 0060 (Barcode: 5902768701623) ~ POLAND ~ Soundtracks Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This album presents a wonderful Polish adaptation of twenty one songs originally recorded by the cult British Avant-Garde / Punk group The Tiger LilliesFind albums by this artist, all written by the group´s leader Martyn JacquesFind albums by this artist. The songs, beautifully translated into Polish by Michal ChludzinskiFind albums by this artist, were arranged by Marcin PartykaFind albums by this artist into a musical show, performed by four vocalists (Katarzyna ZielinskaFind albums by this artist, Jolanta FraszynskaFind albums by this artist, Tomasz SteciukFind albums by this artist and Mariusz DrezekFind albums by this artist) and later on recorded for this album with the vocalists accompanied by a quintet, which includes Partyka on keyboards, Sebastian FeliciakFind albums by this artist on saxophone, Piotr AleksandrowiczFind albums by this artist on guitar, Piotr FilipowiczFind albums by this artist on bass and Kuba SzydloFind albums by this artist on drums. These superbly clever and sophisticated songs are a wonderful continuation of the great tradition of Berlin cabaret perfected by Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist and Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist. Funny, but serious, often deadly serious, these songs make us laugh and cry almost simultaneously. Of course in this specific case the verbal messages are sadly restricted to the Polish-speaking audience, but of course most true music lovers know them already in their original versions. The instrumental arrangements are all perfectly suitable to the cabaret / vaudeville and even circus atmosphere, being a mixture of popular music and early Jazz. Of course the vocal delivery is the centerpiece of this album and all four vocalists perform wonderfully, convincingly and heartbreakingly. There is actually nothing else left but to listen to this little masterpiece of European music, which is enjoyable, interesting, and clever and sophisticated, all at once. Absolutely delightful!

Updated: 08/08/2022Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend