This is an excellent album that once again confirms that there is nothing that Westbrook does better than arrange for a big band playing his own compositions. Citadel/Room 315 follows in the tradition of Release, Marching Song and Metropolis and is a fine major work. The choice of sidemen is good and the most featured soloist, John Surman, plays with characteristic authority. One might single out his plaintive soprano on Tender Love or his powerful baritone on Outgoing Song but he plays well throughout. As with all Westbrook records there is plenty of room for solo statements and Griffiths and Lowther deserve mention for their outings on Love And Understanding, Lowther for his long solo on Pastorale and Wakeman for his clarinet, which is such a delightful surprise on Sleepwalker. Godding has a weli-built solo appropriately on Construction, and MacRae has a good acoustic piano solo on Pistache, although it sounds as if it would have had more impact played on the electric instrument. (His phrasing suggests this.)
Bebop De Rigueur is an imaginative trio piece with Surman, Lawrence and Jackson. More than any other it demonstrates the scope of Jackson’s drumming. In this setting he is superbly subtle yet his work in the full band context can only be described as strong. Without trying to over-rate anybody concerned he has become Danny Richmond to Westbrook’s Mingus.
Having said so much about the soloists, this still remains a group triumph. The band parts are really exciting. The scoring for reeds to close Bebop is quite vital and the climax of Construction is really exciting. It is great to have a good big band blasting out Westie’s charts and putting memories of the anonymous Solid Gold Cadillac behind us. Everybody knows how difficult it is to keep a big band with such outstanding players together but this record proves that it is worth it.
Discography
Overture; Construction; Pistache; View From The Drawbridge; Love And Understanding – Tender Love; Bebop De Rigueur; Pastorale; Sleepwalker; Awaking In Sunlight; Outgoing Song; Finale
Nigel Carter, Derek Healey. Henry Lowther, Kenny Wheeler (tpt/fgl); Malcolm Griffiths, Geoff Perkins. Alf Reece (tbn); Paul Rutherford (tbn/euph); Mike Page (alt/flt/bs-clt); Alan Wakeman (ten/sop/clt); John Holbrooke (ten/flt); John Warren (bari/flt); John Surman (bari/sop/bs-clt): Mike Westbrook (MD/elec-pno); Dave MacRae (pno/elec-pno); Brian Godding (gtr); Chris Lawrence (bs/bs-gtr); Alan Jackson (dm); John Mitchell (perc). London 21-22/3/75.
(RCA SF 8433 £2.57)
