The Westbrook Blake | Mike Westbrook Band and singers

UK exclusive – a rare opportunity to see the internationally acclaimed seminal work by
Mike Westbrook

Mike Westbrook piano/MD
Phil Minton & Kate Westbrook  voices
Billy Thompson  violin
Karen Street  accordion
Chris Biscoe  saxophones
Steve Berry bass
Matthew Bourne piano
Choir directed by Paul Ayres

William Blake’s poetry has run like a golden thread through the music of Mike Westbrook for over 50 years. His acclaimed settings of Blake’s visionary poetry continue to resonate powerfully with modern audiences.

The first songs were written in 1971 for the National Theatre production of poet Adrian Mitchell’s stage musical TYGER, a tribute to Blake. In 1974, Mike formed his touring group, The Brass Band. The Blake songs became a cornerstone of the band’s repertoire. They have remained so ever since.

From the beginning the Blake songs have been primarily associated with the voices of Phil Minton and Kate Westbrook, two of the most original and distinctive vocalists in contemporary music. Their unique partnership has been at the heart of many of Mike Westbrook’s compositions, notably his 1979 work, The Cortège.

The current ensemble, formed in 2007, brings together some of the UK’s finest and most creative musicians from the worlds of jazz and contemporary music. Karen Street is a brilliant accordionist and frequent Westbrook collaborator, violinist Billy Thompson is a dazzling virtuoso. Steve Berry is a master double bassist and a mainstay of the Westbrook Orchestra, while the incomparable saxophonist Chris Biscoe has played a central role in Westbrook projects since the 1980s.

Sharing the piano with Mike Westbrook is the highly talented young composer Matthew Bourne.

Since the 1990s, The Westbrook Blake has often been performed in a choral version, for everything from children’s voices to top festival choirs.

The Westbrook Blake has travelled far and wide, appearing in festivals throughout Europe and the UK, and as far afield as Australia, New York and Moscow. Blake was a Londoner, born in Soho and there have been many memorable performances in his native city. These include such historic venues as the Foundling Hospital, Cadogan Hall and in St James’s Church Piccadilly, where Blake was baptised in 1757.

Filmed and recorded at Toynbee Hall, the latest CD/DVD of Glad Day, The Westbrook Blake was released in 2014.