Britain's What's On Event Guide
Music Is: Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook
‘Biscoe is sublime throughout and the music swings splendidly thanks to the superb rhythm section. A joy to listen to.’ Adam Baruch
Chris Biscoe saxophones, Kate Williams piano, Mike Outram guitar, Dave Whitford bass, Eric Ford drums.
The inspiration behind Music Is is a simple one: to celebrate the music of Mike Westbrook, from the unique perspective of saxophonist Chis Biscoe who has worked with Westbrook since 1973.
Once a regular fixture at Ronnie Scott’s ‘Old Place’ in Gerrard Street in the 1960s, Mike Westbrook’s various incarnations, small bands or hurtling orchestras, represent the best in British jazz composition. Westbrook distilled the sophistication of Duke Ellington, the tonal colours of Gil Evans and the unbridled spirit of Charlie Mingus into something uniquely his own, often in an exciting combination with multi-media showmanship.
Chis Biscoe will be joined by a stellar line-up to take some of Westbrook’s great pieces out of their context and play them with a small jazz group as you might an Ellington, Monk or Gershwin song while always retaining their distinctive character.
The arrangements are simple or created in partnership with the members of the quintet. The title track, Music Is, will be played twice, in its original ballad tempo, and in a spontaneous trio recasting as a medium tempo waltz.
‘Music Is: Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook’ is more than simply a celebration of Mike Westbrook, It is a tribute to a very fine, if quietly surprising, musician in Chris Biscoe.
Chris Biscoe saxophones, Kate Williams piano, Mike Outram guitar, Dave Whitford bass, Eric Ford drums.
The inspiration behind Music Is is a simple one: to celebrate the music of Mike Westbrook, from the unique perspective of saxophonist Chis Biscoe who has worked with Westbrook since 1973.
Once a regular fixture at Ronnie Scott’s ‘Old Place’ in Gerrard Street in the 1960s, Mike Westbrook’s various incarnations, small bands or hurtling orchestras, represent the best in British jazz composition. Westbrook distilled the sophistication of Duke Ellington, the tonal colours of Gil Evans and the unbridled spirit of Charlie Mingus into something uniquely his own, often in an exciting combination with multi-media showmanship.
Chis Biscoe will be joined by a stellar line-up to take some of Westbrook’s great pieces out of their context and play them with a small jazz group as you might an Ellington, Monk or Gershwin song while always retaining their distinctive character.
The arrangements are simple or created in partnership with the members of the quintet. The title track, Music Is, will be played twice, in its original ballad tempo, and in a spontaneous trio recasting as a medium tempo waltz.
‘Music Is: Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook’ is more than simply a celebration of Mike Westbrook, It is a tribute to a very fine, if quietly surprising, musician in Chris Biscoe.
Friday 10 Nov 23
Progress Theatre, The Mount, Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5HL
19.30 - 22.00Tickets: £19.00 (£17.00 concessions, £10.00 under 16s) plus max 5% booking fee
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