Chris Biscoe - Music Is

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Then and Now
Two Of A Mind
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Chris Biscoe Quartet - Live at Campus West

Live At Campus West
Chris Biscoe
Profiles Quartet
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Profiles of Mingus
Chris Biscoe
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wobbly rail five

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Music Is - Chris Biscoe Plays Mike Westbrook
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Gone In The Air
Chris Biscoe Quartet
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CHRIS BISCOE PLAYS MIKE WESTBROOK

MUSIC IS

1. Music Is 6.26
(Mike Westbrook)
2. Mama Chicago 6.27
(Mike Westbrook/Kate Westbrook/Michael Kustow)
3. Goin’ to Chicago 6.03
(Mike Westbrook)
4. Aggro-Vancouver-Desperado 5.27
(Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook)
5. View From The Drawbridge 5.08
(Mike Westbrook)
6. July ’79 7.08
(Mike Westbrook)
7. Wasteground And Weeds 5.40
(Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook)
8. Music Is 5.22
(Mike Westbrook)
9. Wasteground And Weeds 8.53
(Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook)
alternative take: only available with download version

Sound samples on Bandcamp

Chris Biscoe soprano sax; alto sax; baritone sax; alto clarinet
Dave Whitford double bass
Jon Scott drums
Mike Outram guitar
Kate Williams piano

Music composed by Mike Westbrook,
arranged for this recording by Chris Biscoe
Produced by Chris Biscoe
Mixed and mastered by Andrew Cleyndert

Also available to download only from Bandcamp
The download includes an extra track not on the CD

More information about the band and the album

The idea behind Chris Biscoe's 'Music Is' is a simple one: take some of these great pieces by Mike Westbrook out of their context and play them with a small jazz group as you might an Ellington, Monk or Gershwin song.

Mike Westbrook is one of the most important composers in jazz with a huge body of work from small band jazz through big bands, cabaret, fusion, chamber works, opera, settings of poetry, creative re-workings of Rossini and The Beatles' Abbey Road, while always retaining his unique character.

Chris Biscoe has worked with Mike and Kate Westbrook since 1979, from Mama Chicago and The Cortege through On Duke's Birthday, London Bridge is Broken Down, Bar Utopia, Art Wolf and many other shows. Their closest and most enduring collaboration is The Trio, which has toured extensively and produced four records.

"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

Mike Westbrook has written about 'Music Is' on the WestbrookJazz Notice Board

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"The quintet here is ideal for the task – they are experienced, versatile and inventive players all. Like Biscoe, they have played across a broad spectrum of jazz and other musical genres... I love this album. It is a pleasure to hear these great Westbrook tunes being treated by Biscoe as the standards they deserve to be".
Jane Mann, London Jazz News

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Being Biscoe, these were never going to be straight ahead re-visits. Take 'Music Is' which is afforded two treatments: the upbeat waltz version perfectly counterpoints the cut, cast as a ballad, which itself reflects the original recording.
Andy Robson, Jazzwise

Arrangements are simple, or even created in the studio in partnership with input from the members of the quintet. The title track, Music Is, appears twice, in its original ballad tempo, and in a spontaneous trio recasting as a medium tempo waltz. There are also two unaccompanied sax tracks, one of them a multitrack improvisation for alto sax, alto clarinets and field recording of street sounds.