Mike Westbrook - Band of Bands

2024

"The septet is both an expansion of the trio and a reduction of the big band, capable of handling everything from the fast bebop of the opening “Glad Day”, one of Westbrook’s pieces inspired by William Blake, through a brilliantly recast version of Billy Strayhorn’s “Johnny Come Lately” to the slow-rolling gospel cadences of “Blues for Terenzi” and the open spaces of “Unsigned Panorama”, with marvellous unaccompanied solos by Whyman (on clarinet) and Street".
Richard Williams The Blue Moment

The BAND OF BANDS brings together key musicians from Mike and Kate Westbrook’s many small-scale projects. Joining the Trio of vocalist/songwriter Kate, composer/pianist Mike and saxophonist Chris Biscoe, are four long-time alumni,- accordionist Karen Street, saxophonist/clarinettist Pete Whyman, Marcus Vergette on bass and Coach York on drums.

The BAND OF BANDS album was recorded live by Matthew North at Ashburton Arts Centre, Devon in November 2023 mixed and produced by Jay Auborn at dBs Pro studio Bristol. The album is made possible by the valued support of Airshaft Trust and the generous patronage of friends and supporters in many countries.
The mix of composition, song and improvisation has been at the heart of many Westbrook projects, from the seminal Brass Band of the ‘70s to the Westbrook Trio and the Uncommon Orchestra.
In BAND OF BANDS there are re-creations of Westbrook classics alongside new compositions, and arrangements of some lesser known standards, all interpreted by some of the UK’s most original and distinctive soloists.