Mike Westbrook (1936-2026). Photo © Frank Eichler

After moving to London in 1962, Westbrook became a central presence in a fast-evolving scene, performing at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and helping to establish a distinctively British voice in modern jazz. His Concert Band recordings for Deram in the late 1960s, and works such as Metropolis (1971) and Citadel/Room 315 (1975), expanded the possibilities of jazz composition, fusing orchestral ambition with improvisational freedom.

Westbrook’s interests ranged far beyond the bandstand. He collaborated with writer Adrian Mitchell on Tyger, a music-theatre work based on William Blake, which became a cornerstone of his output. Projects such as Solid Gold Cadillac and the anarchic Orckestra blended jazz with rock, theatre and political satire, often featuring the striking vocals of Phil Minton.

In 1977, the Mike Westbrook Brass Band, avant-rock group Henry Cow and folk singer Frankie Armstrong merged to form the Orckestra. The ensemble performed in London and several cities in Europe.

A lifelong collaborator with his wife, the singer and librettist Kate Westbrook, he continued to compose and perform into his later years, producing works that drew on literature, visual art and jazz history. Pieces such as On Duke’s Birthday, a tribute to Duke Ellington, and Chanson Irresponsable exemplified his ability to bridge genres with wit and sophistication.

Westbrook died peacefully at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on 11 April.