Mike Westbrook - Starcross Bridge (2018)

This album is rooted in the personal. Mike Westbrooks enduring creative partnership with his wife, the singer, lyricist and painter Kate Westbrook is represented by two songs they wrote together. Starcross is a rail station nearby the Westbrook home in Devon, near Plymouth where his creative life began all those years ago. His title track is dedicated to the tenor saxophonist Lou Gare, whose death in 2017 was a particular wrench. Starcross Bridge is an intricately woven network of musical and personal references. Born in High Wycombe in 1936, Mike Westbrook grew up in Torquay and was educated at Kelly College, Tavistock. He formed his first band while studying painting in Plymouth in 1958, moving to London in the early 1960s. He has led and composed for a succession of groups, notably his 1960s Sextet and Concert Band, his Brass Band, formed in the mid 70s, the jazz rock group Solid Gold Cadillac and the Mike Westbrook Orchestra. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, and as far afield as Australia and the Far East, Canada and New York. He has directed performances of his work with big bands in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland and Australia. He has broadcast on radio and TV in many countries, and made over 50 albums.

Tracklist:
01. Mike Westbrook - My Song Is Love Unknown
03. Mike Westbrook - 'Round Midnight
04. Mike Westbrook - Because
05. Mike Westbrook - Brasilian Love Songs
06. Mike Westbrook - Johnny Come Lately
07. Mike Westbrook - Monk's Mood
08. Mike Westbrook - I Got It Bad - And That Ain't Good
09. Mike Westbrook - View From The Drawbridge
10. Mike Westbrook - You Make Me Feel Brand Now
11. Mike Westbrook - If Thou Must Love Me
12. Mike Westbrook - Blues for Terenzi
13. Mike Westbrook - Rooster Rabelais
14. Mike Westbrook - L'amoroso e sincero lindoro