11 Facts About Mike Westbrook

Michael John David Westbrook was born on 21 March 1936 and is an English jazz pianist, composer, and writer of orchestrated jazz pieces.

Mike Westbrook is married to the vocalist, librettist and painter Kate Westbrook.

Mike Westbrook was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, and grew up in Torquay.

Together with Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Mike Westbrook shared the role of house-band at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Mike Westbrook became a key figure in the development of British jazz, producing several big-band records for the Deram label, with the newly formed Mike Westbrook Concert Band, between 1967 and 1969.

Mike Westbrook's music was given exposure on BBC Radio, on the Jazz Club and Jazz Scene programmes on BBC Radio One, and he started to act as a presenter and commentator on new British Jazz through 1968 and 1969.

Mike Westbrook was featured on BBC TV, when Jazz Scene transferred to the BBC 2 TV service.

Mike Westbrook was awarded an OBE in 1988, and in 2004 the University of Plymouth awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Music.

Kate and Mike Westbrook were joined by saxophonists Pete Whyman and Chris Biscoe.

The musicians at the performance with Kate and Mike Westbrook were Chris Biscoe, Chris Caldwell and Andy Tweed, saxophones; Karen Street, saxophone and accordion; Steve Berry, bass; and Simon Pearson, drums.

Mike Westbrook was 80 years old in 2016 and as part of the celebrations recorded his first solo piano album for 40 years, entitled PARIS.