It is with very great sadness that I announce the death of jazz composer, pianist and band leader Mike Westbrook who died peacefully at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday 11th April.
He is survived by his wife, musical collaborator and muse Kate Westbrook and by his son Guy, daughter Joanna and his step children Josie, Clio and Jason Barnard.
Mike’s huge importance
for European jazz is summed up by German journalist and festival director Bert
Noglik: “Mike Westbrook has not only
incorporated some of the best minds in jazz in the UK into his bands, he has
also given European jazz its own sound. The way he has managed to absorb the
very essence from the American pioneers, and then moved forward innovatively to
reflect European culture from the perspective of a jazz-inspired musician is
without parallel anywhere. His work, combining the best from the two worlds,
has created one of its own. Here, music and art, sound and poetry, complement
and sustain each other. In his inspirational collaboration with Kate Westbrook,
works have been created that, for all their diversity and richness, represent
what amounts to a genre. Just as Mike often took Duke’s Birthday as the opportunity
to give concerts, it is in sincerest gratitude that we salute Mike Westbrook.”
Mike will be missed by us
all. May he Rest in Peace
Peter Conway Manager
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