Mike Westbrook's Uncommon Orchestra: On Duke’s Birthday

Booking now closed, a few tickets still left on the door.

Mike Westbrook

THE UNCOMMON ORCHESTRA

On Duke’s Birthday

Mike Westbrook, “Britain’s most innovative Big Band leader” the Wire, and The UNCOMMON ORCHESTRA return to the club with one of Mike’s best known and most loved works On Duke’s Birthday dedicated to the memory of Duke Ellington. This is the first time that the full-scale version of the piece will be performed in London.

Compositions for Jazz Orchestra have been a thread running through Mike Westbrook’s career since the 1960s. Regarded as Classics, works like Marching Song, Metropolis, Citadel/ Room 315 and The Cortège were widely performed at Festivals throughout Europe and the UK. His Big Band Rossini was the first jazz work ever to be performed in the BBC Proms. A three-day festival in Catania, Sicily in 1992 devoted to Mike’s work for the Orchestra, is commemorated in his recent album Catania.

The Uncommon Orchestra “ambitious, unapologetic and uncategorisable” Jazz Wise is a West Country-based big band formed ten years ago. The band is now established internationally through its performances, including Ronnie Scotts in 2019, a triumphant tour in Italy and the release of the acclaimed album A Bigger Show.

“A roaring ensemble, orchestrated by a master of the Art” Listomania

The Uncommon Orchestra

Saxophones: Roz Harding, Chris Biscoe, Pete Whyman,  Sarah Dean, Alan Wakeman, Ian Wellens.

Trumpets: Graham Russell, Robin Pengilley,  Andy Hague   Sam Massey.   

Trombones: Joe Carnell, Sam Chamberlain-Keen, Stewart Stunell,  Ashley Nayler.

Piano: Billie Bottle

Guitar: Jesse Molins & Matthew North .

Violin: Dominique Pifarely

Cello: Frank Schaefer

Bass: Marcus Vergette 

Drums: Coach York  

Vocals: Kate Westbrook & Phil Minton  

Musical direction: Mike Westbrook  Matthew Bourne  

www.westbrookjazz.co.uk