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Michael John David 'Mike' Westbrook (born 21 March 1936 in High Wycombe) is an English jazz pianist, composer, and writer of orchestrated jazz pieces.

Mike Westbrook grew up in Torquay. After a spell in Accountancy and the National Service[1] (some of it posted to Germany) he went to art school, studying painting, in Plymouth where he also began his first bands in 1958, soon joined by such musicians as John Surman, Lou Gare and Keith Rowe.

After moving to London in 1962 Westbrook led numerous bands, large and small, and played regularly at the Old Place and the Little Theatre Club. Together with Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath) Westbrook shared the role of House Band at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

He became a key figure in the development of British Jazz, producing several big band records with the newly formed Mike Westbrook Concert Band between 1967 and 1969 for the Deram label, featuring such musicians as Surman, Mike Osborne and Harry Miller. The band varied in size from 10 to 26 musicians. In 1968 his band made their international debut at the Montreux Festival with Malcolm Griffiths, Alan Jackson, Harry Miller, Mike Osborne and John Surman.


The 1970s saw a wide range of different projects.

Cosmic Circus, jointly founded with John Fox specialized in large scale, one-off high technology shows involving high-divers, tight-rope, carnival processions and more. It was part of Earthrise Tour in the UK (May 1970 to October 1971). This included also singer/vocalist Norma Winstone who performed on several of the band's albums at the time.

Adrian Mitchell drew Mike Westbrook in for his musical "Tyger" on the life of William Blake for the Royal National Theatre. This would become a major influence on Mike Westbrook's work (see paragraph on later work below).

In 1972/73 he also worked in the context of his jazz-rock band Solid Gold Cadillac. The most consequential effect of this was the participation of Phil Minton. His unmistakable voice would feature in many of Westbrook's later projects. A live performance of Solid Gold Cadillac (at the Paris Theatre in London) has been repeatedly broadcast by BBC Radio 6 between 2002 and 2007.

In March 1977 the Mike Westbrook Brass Band, avant-rock group Henry Cow and folk singer Frankie Armstrong merged to form The Orckestra. The ensemble performed in London and several cities in Europe, their last concert being in Bordeaux, France in May 1978.

Mike Westbrook - piano
John Surman - baritone, soprano sax
Mike Osborne - alto sax
Malcolm Griffiths - trombone
Harry Miller - bass
Alan Jackson - drums
Dave Holdsworth - trumpet, flugelhorn
Tom Bennelick - French horn
Dave Perrottet - valve trombone
George Smith - tuba
Dave Chambers - tenor sax, clarinet
Bernie living - alto sax, flute

01. Pastoral
02. Awakening
03. Parade
04. Echoes and heroics
05. A Greeting
06. Image
07. Dirge
08. Portrait