London Bridge Live in Zurich 1990

Release Date: 4th Nov 2022
Catalogue No: WR011CD
Label: Westbrook Records
Length: 2 hours 26 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Westbrook: London Bridge is Broken Down

Work length12:43

$2.05

$3.05

$4.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Wenceslas Square

Work length29:00

Album only

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Nähe des Geliebten

Work length7:42

$1.50

$2.30

$3.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Traurig aber falsch

Work length17:38

Album only

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Ein Vogel

Work length8:05

$1.50

$2.30

$3.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Viennese Waltz

Work length5:49

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Für Sie

Work length23:09

Album only

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Blighters

Work length5:09

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Les Morts

Work length5:17

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Picardie

Work length15:56

Album only

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Une Fenêtre

Work length11:33

$2.05

$3.05

$4.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

Westbrook: Aucassin et Nicolette

Work length4:22

$1.00

$1.50

$2.05

Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Docklands Sinfonietta

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The first-ever release of this stunning 1990 recording of esteemed British jazz composer/pianist Mike Westbrook's two-and-a-half-hour composition for voice, jazz orchestra and chamber orchestra, "London Bridge is Broken Down".

A collaboration between composer Mike Westbrook and vocalist/librettist Kate Westbrook, the work was inspired by travelling and performing in the mid 1980's through a Europe at that time divided by the Berlin Wall. It includes settings of poetry in French, German and English. Its five movements are entitled London Bridge, Wenceslas Square, Berlin Wall, Vienna and Picardie.

First performed in Amiens in 1987 with Le Sinfonietta de Picardie, 'London Bridge' was recorded at the Path Marconi Studios in Paris and released on Virgin Venture. The UK premiere of London Bridge took place on November 9th 1990 at St Anne's Church, Limehouse in the Jazz Lunarcy Festival and involved the Docklands Sinfonietta (35-piece string and woodwind ensemble) directed by Rupert Bond.

The following day the ensemble flew to Switzerland to appear in the Zrich International Jazz Festival. The new album 'London Bridge Live in Zrich 1990' is taken from the 'live' recording of that concert made for SRF radio. This was to be the last time that London Bridge was performed in its entirety.

In 1989 the Berlin Wall had been taken down. Europe's conflicted history is not easily swept away. Richard Williams wrote of 'London Bridge "we are left in little doubt that here is a lament for the endless folly to which man is heir, pierced by the knowledge of his curious resilience and half-buried instinct for good."

'A dense, haunting contemplation of irony, ambiguity, courage and love' - Chris Parker, The Wire

Kate Westbrook: voice

Mike Westbrook: piano

Graham Russell: trumpet, flugelhorn

Paul Nieman: trombone, electronics

Pete Whyman: clarinet, alto and soprano saxophones

Alan Wakeman: tenor and soprano saxophones

Chris Biscoe: baritone, alto and soprano saxophones, alto clarinet

Andy Grappy: tuba

Brian Godding: guitar

Tim Harries bass: guitar

Peter Fairclough: drums

Docklands Sinfonietta conducted by Rupert Bond

London Bridge Live in Zurich 1990

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