Biography Mike Westbrook

Mike Westbrook (born Michael John David Westbrook 21 March 1936 in High Wycombe, England) is an English jazz pianist, composer, and writer of orchestrated jazz pieces. He became a key figure in the development of British Jazz in the late 1960s.

Westbrook spent his childhood in Torquay and went to art school in Plymouth where he began his first bands with such musicians as John Surman, Lou Gare and Keith Rowe. After moving to London, he became a key figure in the development of British Jazz in the late 1960s, producing several big band records between 1967 and 1969 for the Deram label, featuring such musicians as John Surman, Mike Osborne and Harry Miller.

Over the years he recorded as the Mike Westbrook Brass Band, the Mike Westbrook Orchestra, and as the Mike Westbrook Band.

Westbrook worked for some years in the early 1970s in the context of a jazz-rock band Solid Gold Cadillac before returning to works for large ensembles, notably in Citadel/Room 315 (1975) featuring John Surman. This was released on CD in 2006 to mark his 70th birthday.

In March 1977, the Mike Westbrook Brass Band, avant-rock group Henry Cow and folk singer Frankie Armstrong merged to form The Orckestra. The ensemble performed in London and several cities in Europe, their last concert being in Bordeaux, France in May 1978.

Westbrook continues to produce jazz scores, many for the theatre with his wife, the singer/songwriter Kate Westbrook. He was featured in the 2003 BBC documentary, Jazz Britannia.

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