Information
Music by Mike Westbrook
Texts by Arthur Rimbaud ⚬ Hermann Hesse ⚬ Federico Garcia Lorca
William Blake ⚬ Giuseppe Gioachino Belli ⚬ Pentti Saarikoski
English and Swedish Folk Songs
selected and edited by Kate Westbrook
Recorded at BBC Studio, London, on 25th October 1980 for Jazz in Britain, BBC Radio 3
First transmitted in two parts on 5th & 12th January 1981
Audio rebalancing and mastering Brian Masterson, Soundscape, Dublin, Ireland
Production supervision Fiachra Trench ⚬ CD package design David Ilic
Executive Producer Mike Gavin
Mike & Kate Westbrook Management Peter Conway
Westbrook Jazz website Management Chris Topley
Front cover photo The Cortège Bracknell Festival premiere 7th July 1979 by Jak Kilby
With thanks to
Paul Wilson (The British Library) ⚬ Laurence Aston (Original Records)
Remembering
Lindsay Cooper ⚬ Phil Clarke ⚬ Johan Etzler ⚬ Brian Godding ⚬ Malcolm Griffiths
John Jack ⚬ Corinne Leonet ⚬ Dave Plews ⚬ Alan Sinclair ⚬ Matthias Winckelmann
Cat no: SGCCD023/024
℗ 1981 BBC ⚬ © 2025 Cadillac Music & Publishing Ltd.
The Cortège story and lyrics booklets are available to view and download
Texts by Arthur Rimbaud ⚬ Hermann Hesse ⚬ Federico Garcia Lorca
William Blake ⚬ Giuseppe Gioachino Belli ⚬ Pentti Saarikoski
English and Swedish Folk Songs
selected and edited by Kate Westbrook
Recorded at BBC Studio, London, on 25th October 1980 for Jazz in Britain, BBC Radio 3
First transmitted in two parts on 5th & 12th January 1981
Audio rebalancing and mastering Brian Masterson, Soundscape, Dublin, Ireland
Production supervision Fiachra Trench ⚬ CD package design David Ilic
Executive Producer Mike Gavin
Mike & Kate Westbrook Management Peter Conway
Westbrook Jazz website Management Chris Topley
Front cover photo The Cortège Bracknell Festival premiere 7th July 1979 by Jak Kilby
With thanks to
Paul Wilson (The British Library) ⚬ Laurence Aston (Original Records)
Remembering
Lindsay Cooper ⚬ Phil Clarke ⚬ Johan Etzler ⚬ Brian Godding ⚬ Malcolm Griffiths
John Jack ⚬ Corinne Leonet ⚬ Dave Plews ⚬ Alan Sinclair ⚬ Matthias Winckelmann
Cat no: SGCCD023/024
℗ 1981 BBC ⚬ © 2025 Cadillac Music & Publishing Ltd.
The Cortège story and lyrics booklets are available to view and download
Order from
Order CD from Westbrook Records
UK ONLY
See below to purchase outside the UK
Other Westbrook CDs are available from
£20.75 inc UK P/P only
Love and Understanding
Selected Recordings
Says The Duke 2022
London Bridge Live in Zűrich 1990
Says The Duke 2020
Band Of Bands
the piano and me
take one
take one
the piano and me
take two
take two
the piano and me
take three
The Birds of Dartmoor
take three
The Birds of Dartmoor
the piano and me
take four
unedited improvisations
take four
unedited improvisations
After Abbey Road
the piano and me
takes one to four
takes one to four
The Cortege Live at the BBC 1980
Disc 1
1. It Starts Here 5:43
2. Democratie 8:28
3. Berlin 16.2.79 8:13
4. Knivshult/Ash Wednesday 8:11
5. Ruote Che Girano 7:28
6. Piano 2:12
7. Leñador 12:43
Disc 2
1. July ’79 13:53
2. Enfance 14:00
3. Cordóba 6:53
4. Santarcangelo 14:36
5. A Hearth Burns 4:31
6. Graffitti 7:22
1. It Starts Here 5:43
2. Democratie 8:28
3. Berlin 16.2.79 8:13
4. Knivshult/Ash Wednesday 8:11
5. Ruote Che Girano 7:28
6. Piano 2:12
7. Leñador 12:43
Disc 2
1. July ’79 13:53
2. Enfance 14:00
3. Cordóba 6:53
4. Santarcangelo 14:36
5. A Hearth Burns 4:31
6. Graffitti 7:22
Track Listing
Personnel
Mike Westbrook Orchestra
Mike Westbrook piano, musical director, tuba, voice
Kate Westbrook vocal, tenor horn, piccolo
Phil Minton vocal, trumpet ⚬ Dave Plews trumpet, flugelhorn ⚬ Guy Barker trumpet, flugelhorn
Dick Pearce trumpet, flugelhorn ⚬ Malcolm Griffiths trombone ⚬ Alan Sinclair tuba
Nick Patrick tuba ⚬ Chris Hunter alto/soprano saxophones, flute
Alan Wakeman tenor/soprano saxophones, flute
Chris Biscoe alto/baritone/soprano saxophones, flute
Lindsay Cooper oboe, bassoon, soprano/sopranino saxophones ⚬ Georgie Born cello
Brian Godding guitar ⚬ Steve Cook bass guitar ⚬ Dave Barry drums, percussion
Mike Westbrook piano, musical director, tuba, voice
Kate Westbrook vocal, tenor horn, piccolo
Phil Minton vocal, trumpet ⚬ Dave Plews trumpet, flugelhorn ⚬ Guy Barker trumpet, flugelhorn
Dick Pearce trumpet, flugelhorn ⚬ Malcolm Griffiths trombone ⚬ Alan Sinclair tuba
Nick Patrick tuba ⚬ Chris Hunter alto/soprano saxophones, flute
Alan Wakeman tenor/soprano saxophones, flute
Chris Biscoe alto/baritone/soprano saxophones, flute
Lindsay Cooper oboe, bassoon, soprano/sopranino saxophones ⚬ Georgie Born cello
Brian Godding guitar ⚬ Steve Cook bass guitar ⚬ Dave Barry drums, percussion
Mike Westbrook Orchestra
The Cortège
Live at the BBC 1980
2 x CDs
Released 14th November 2025
The Cortège
Live at the BBC 1980
2 x CDs
Released 14th November 2025
If you live in the UK and want to support the artist directly you can order the album from Westbrook Records here.
If you live outside the UK or want to buy the download, please purchase from Cadillac Records on Bandcamp.
Unfortunately, we are unable to collect the appropriate taxes for purchases outside the UK on this website.
If you live outside the UK or want to buy the download, please purchase from Cadillac Records on Bandcamp.
Unfortunately, we are unable to collect the appropriate taxes for purchases outside the UK on this website.
Listen to extracts from the double CD
Kate & Mike Westbrook
