The idea behind Chris Biscoe's 'Music Is' is a simple one: take some of these great pieces by Mike Westbrook out of their context and play them with a small jazz group as you might an Ellington, Monk or Gershwin song.
Mike Westbrook is one of the most important composers in jazz with a huge body of work from small band jazz through big bands, cabaret, fusion, chamber works, opera, settings of poetry, creative re-workings of Rossini and The Beatles' Abbey Road, while always retaining his unique character.
Chris Biscoe has worked with Mike and Kate Westbrook since 1979, from Mama Chicago and The Cortege through On Duke's Birthday, London Bridge is Broken Down, Bar Utopia, Art Wolf and many other shows. Their closest and most enduring collaboration is The Trio, which has toured extensively and produced four records.
Arrangements are simple, or even created in the studio in partnership with input from the members of the quintet. The title track, 'Music Is', appears twice, in its original ballad tempo, and in a spontaneous trio recasting as a medium tempo waltz. There are also two unaccompanied sax tracks, one of them a multitrack improvisation for alto sax, alto clarinets and field recording of street sounds.
Chris Biscoe: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone, alto clarinet
Mike Outram: guitar
Kate Williams: piano
Dave Whitford: bass
Jon Scott: drums
