From Bargain Basement to Roof Garden, the elevator doors open to reveal glimpses into the life of the Trio in twenty years of Geographical and musical travel.
L'Ascenseur/The Lift, a piece conceived by Kate Westbrook and developed collectively by the trio, exists in English, French, German, Portuguese and Italian versions, reflecting the group's European history. The premiere of this new piece in Nancy on 23 April 2002 was followed by performances in Metz, Zurich and Esch, Luxembourg. Further performances, including the Brit-Jazz festival in Dortmund (recorded by WDR) and Braga, Portugal, preceded the recording of this album with Jon Hiseman, and the U.K. premiere at Kettle's Yard, Cambridge on November 13, 2002.
Martin King. Editor: Smith's Academy Informer.
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐒:
This is a wonderful album full of evocative images of their tales and travels, including Kate in various languages, as they make their way across the globe.
Stacey Kent JAZZ LINE-UP - BBC Radio 3
Drama King & Queen Mike & Kate Westbrook, plus superior reeds player Chris Biscoe, celebrate their 20th Anniversary, combining elements of German expressionism with cabaret and music-hall via far-out jazz.
Chrissie Murray - RONNIE SCOTT MAGAZINE
An intriguing stroll in the dark. Think of Kurt Weill crossed with J G Ballard at his most dreamlike, and you have some idea of this imaginary, multilingual odyssey, the settings shifting endlessly across the globe.
Clive Davis - THE SUNDAY TIMES
Westbrook's disciplined ear for structure ensures that both Kate Westbrook and Biscoe have solid bases on which to develop their improvisations. 'Lunar Eclipse Over Western Australia' shows Biscoe at his most eloquent, recalling Konitz in the way he constructs his solo: note by note, and phrase by phrase.
Hugh Gregory - JAZZ REVIEW
credits
released October 8, 2019
Kate Westbrook - Vocals / Tenor Horn
Chris Biscoe - Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones / Piccolo
Mike Westbrook - Piano / Tuba / Voice
Music by Mike Westbrook and (5) by Chris Biscoe
Texts by Kate Westbrook
Versions in Italian (2) by Sergio Amadori, in German (3 & 10) by Tommy Bodmer, Portuguese (5) by Teresa Carvalho and Matt Meyer, and French (8) by Lucienne Droz
Recorded at Temple Music Studios, Sutton, Surrey, September 14-17, 2002
Recording Directed, Engineered and mixed by Jon Hiseman
Produced by The Westbrook Trio
Cover Photograph by Nick White
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.
Gerard Masters captures the looseness, magic, and swing of jazz in this second installment of the Composition Series. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 5, 2020