Three more Bandcamp releases
There are also three older recordings by Chris released on Andy Cleyndert’s Trio label which are now available as downloads, again with all proceeds going to Refuge.
Gone in the Air, with Tony Kofi examines compositions by the great multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy, as well as some of the tunes he played on recordings by other leaders. Live at Campus West, again with Tony, revisits some of the same material in more expansive, free interpretations, plus music by Monk and Mingus.
Profiles of Mingus combines iconic Charles Mingus compositions with solo improvisations to create a fresh portrait on the great bass-player, leader and composer. It features trumpet legend Henry Lowther and Kate Williams, 2020 winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for CD of the year.
Again, thanks to Chris Topley for producing the downloads and contributing to the fundraising effort.
100% of receipts to www.refuge.org.uk
See the three albums on Bandcamp
News
See Chris's Diary for more details
Chris Biscoe
Chris Biscoe endorses Brancher
mouthpieces, ligatures and reeds
Wobbly Rail 5
There’s a recent release by the Wobbly Rail 5 featuring Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt, Liam Noble, Steve Watts and Jon Scott. Recorded and mixed by Andy Cleyndert, it includes compositions by Chris, Pete, Liam and Thelonious Monk. The recording is available as a download only, produced by Chris Topley. The Wobbly Rail image is an original painting by Kate Westbrook, included as a free high-res download.
100% of receipts will be donated to Refuge Against Domestic Violence.
www.refuge.org.uk
The link to Bandcamp is
https://is.gd/ZBpfFu
When I recorded Then and Now, with Allison Neale, there were some tracks which didn’t make it onto the CD. I’m making some of these available for listening on this website. There are two Gerry Mulligan originals, Stand Still and Fall Out, plus alternate takes of four of the tunes from the CD.
Listen here
On this site we have a quartet version of ‘Mendacity’ livestreamed from Riverhouse Barn, Walton on Thames, Surrey on November 19th 2020.
Kate Williams - piano and arranger
Chris Biscoe - alto sax
Conor Chaplin - bass
Jon Scott - drums
Latest Gigs on the Diary page
New CD Music Is – Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook
TR607 released on Trio Records, distributed by Proper Distribution.
Downloads from Bandcamp.
CD on sale here
Featuring Dave Whitford, Jon Scott, Mike Outram and Kate Williams, the record includes music from groups in which Chris Biscoe has performed with Mike and Kate Westbrook since 1979, including the Brass Band, The Cortege, On Duke’s Birthday and The Westbrook Trio. The concept is a simple one: interpret these songs as a small jazz group might treat music by Ellington, Monk or Gershwin, with the freedom to change tempo, key or time signature.
"Everything about 'Music Is: Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook' is near perfect: the simplicity of the concept, the choice of material, the uncluttered nature of the arrangements, the quality of the performances, the clarity of the recording. A little gem".
Chris May, All About Jazz
To find out more go to the band page
To purchase go to the CD page
Music Is - CD cover
Mike Westbrook’s latest venture, the Band of Bands, features new versions of some 21st century Westbrook classics, and a couple of Mike’s favourite standards. Kate Westbrook sings, Chris Biscoe and Peter Whyman play sax and clarinet, Karen Street plays accordion, Marcus Vergette is on double bass and Coach York plays drums. All are long term members of a variety of Westbrook bands.
A live recording of the band was released in June 2024. Mike Westbrook Band of Bands (Westbrook Records WR014) is available as a CD from
https://westbrookjazz.co.uk/bob-cd/index.shtml.
As a CD and/or download, and for international sales buy through Bandcamp.
Full Monte, with Marcio Mattos and Chris Biscoe, and the late Brian Godding and Tony Marsh, played many gigs in the 1980s and 90s before the film The Full Monty precipitated a flood of letter from Mrs Trellis of north Wales demanding that improvised jazz be banished from the cinema screen.
In 1996 French violinist Dominique Pifarély recorded with Full Monte at Porcupine Studios in London. Never before released, the recording will be available as a download on Bandcamp later this year.