Having worked alongside everyone from Laurence Olivier to a French circus, the 89-year-old is still composing, learning church bells, and using AI to resurrect a lost epicMike Westbrook is reflecting on his 89-year life from his cottage by the sea in Devon. Sitting with him in his cosy, book-lined sitting room under a signed picture of Duke Ellington, and next to his Broadwood grand piano, the experience is calm and peaceful.His version of jazz is anything but. For more than six decades, Westbrook has been composing vast, cinematic works. He was the first jazz artist to play at the BBC Proms, created theatre alongside Laurence Olivier, and in the 1970s merged his entire ensemble with the avant-rock band Henry Cow to form the groundbreaking Orckestra. The result is music full of brass fanfares, unusual time signatures, poetry, free improvisation, and genre-bending jazz that invites the listener into a continental circus full of elephants, acrobats, and clowns. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/12/jazz-legend-mike-westbrook-laurence-olivier">Continue reading...</a>

Mike Westbrook, una leyenda del jazz británico de 89 años, reflexiona sobre su notable carrera desde su cabaña en Devon. Conocido por sus composiciones cinematográficas y colaboraciones con figuras como Laurence Olivier, hizo historia al ser el primer artista de jazz en actuar en los BBC Proms. A pesar de recibir correos de odio tras su actuación en los Proms, Westbrook sigue innovando, utilizando IA y aprendiendo sobre campanas de iglesia para crear nueva música, invitando a los oyentes a una experiencia auditiva única.

Mike Westbrook, légende du jazz britannique âgée de 89 ans, réfléchit à sa carrière remarquable depuis son cottage dans le Devon. Connu pour ses compositions cinématographiques et ses collaborations avec des figures comme Laurence Olivier, il a fait l'histoire en étant le premier artiste de jazz à se produire aux BBC Proms. Malgré des courriers de haine reçus après sa performance aux Proms, Westbrook continue d'innover, utilisant l'IA et apprenant les cloches d'église pour créer de nouvelles musiques, invitant les auditeurs dans une expérience auditive unique.

Mike Westbrook, an 89-year-old UK jazz legend, reflects on his remarkable career from his cottage in Devon. Known for his cinematic compositions and collaborations with figures like Laurence Olivier, he made history as the first jazz artist to perform at the BBC Proms. Despite receiving hate mail after his Proms performance, Westbrook continues to innovate, using AI and learning church bells to create new music, inviting listeners into a unique auditory experience.

‘We got hate mail after the Proms!’ The towering visions of UK jazz legend Mike Westbrook

Ukraine to raise the overnight attack on Ternopil, in which more than 70 people were injured, at the security council tomorrowThe Dutch economy minister said he had moved to take effective control of Nexperia to ensure Europe was not locked out of chip production “in an emergency”.He said the decision to lift the legal move to prevent Nexperia from moving intellectual property and physical assets from its European factory in Hamburg and its corporate headquarters in Nijmegen was the “right step” after consultation with the European Commission and others.“The Netherlands has considered it the right moment to take a constructive step by suspending the order under the Goods Availability Act, in close consultation with European and international partners. The Netherlands will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the Chinese authorities in the period ahead.” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/nov/19/russia-ukraine-poland-zelenskyy-germany-sweden-turkey-europe-live-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>

Death toll from Russian attack rises to 25 as Ukraine says it will raise issue at UN – Europe live

In an unorthodox move, the Brazilian organisers have hatched an unorthodox plan to wrap up the trickiest topics at the climate summit by this evening, two days earlier than normalFor more on China’s position at this Cop my colleagues Fiona Harvey and Jonathan Watts had this story overnight<a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/">Carbon Brief</a> has a roundup of news from Cop30 including this, from Politico, on China’s top envoy criticising EU targets and Trump’s “bad example.”China’s climate envoy Liu Zhenmin has told Politico at Cop30 that the EU and other developed countries should achieve net-zero before 2040. However, China and the EU “could step up their cooperation” on climate issues, Liu is described as saying, according to the outlet. He also states that the absence of the US “really creates a very bad example”, but stresses there is “no real replacement” for the US in fighting climate change, the outlet adds.Todd Stern, former US climate envoy, tells the Shanghai-based news outlet the <a href="https://pdpwbj.clicks.mlsend.com/tb/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjI0OTYxNyxcImxcIjoxNzE0ODk1ODAyOTMyOTMzOTksXCJyXCI6MTcxNDg5NTkzODc3NTk1NTY0fSIsInMiOiJmNTdkMzFiMTE0MTA5MjQ0In0">Paper</a> that the participation of some US Democrat leaders at COP30, “while it may not have the same impact as the personal involvement of the US president, it is still very important and sufficient to demonstrate to the world: the US has not abandoned climate action; it remains ‘all in’”. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2025/nov/19/cop30-live-brazilian-president-lula-climate-summit-belem-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>

Cop30 live: Brazil aims for early agreement on ‘big four’ issues

Victoria Bond, from Cornwall, is named as one of those who died in Torres del Paine National Park.

British woman among five killed in Chile snowstorm

Pontiff backs statement by US bishops condemning raids and mass deportations under Trump administrationPope Leo has reiterated his disapproval of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, saying foreigners in the US are being treated in an “extremely disrespectful way”.Leo, the first US pontiff in the history of the Catholic church, made the remarks in response to questions about a statement adopted last week during a special assembly of US bishops that criticised the Trump administration’s mass deportations and lamented the fear and anxiety caused by immigration raids. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/19/pope-leo-donald-trump-immigration-policy-us">Continue reading...</a>

Pope Leo criticises ‘disrespectful’ treatment of immigrants in US

John Healey says the vessel is in waters north of Scotland and is being monitored by UK forces.

Russian spy ship pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking it, says Healey

Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries A Russian spy ship has entered British waters and shone lasers at military pilots, the defence secretary has said, as he warned the UK was facing a “new era of threat” from hostile countries.John Healey said on Wednesday that the Yantar surveillance ship had crossed in and out of the UK’s exclusive economic zone multiple times in recent weeks, not for the first time this year. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/19/russian-spy-ship-british-waters-lasers-military-pilots-defence">Continue reading...</a>

Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots

He played china mugs, bells, rattles and car horns for everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Benjamin Britten – and once got Laurence Olivier to bang a broomstick. We go behind the scenes of a Radio 3 celebrationSaturday night and the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings is filling up with 300 chattering punters. We are about to record a show that will go out “as live” on BBC Radio 3. This is a one-shot wonder: for one night only, in this drama-documentary, we are exploring the work of percussionist James Blades. Our setup neatly combines the most stressful elements of a live show, plus the key aspect of audience participation which we have – obviously – no proper chance to rehearse. Nerves are fraying. How did it get to this? And who is James Blades anyway?Born in 1901, Blades was one of the great percussionists of the 20th century, whose life spanned the century itself – he died in May 1999. His blazing talent combined with a startling capacity for hard work took him to the top of his profession and later made him a mentor to music stars as varied as rock drummer Carl Palmer, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and a young Simon Rattle. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/17/robin-blades-percussionist-broomsticks-olivier-britten-hitchcock">Continue reading...</a>

جيمس بليدز، عازف الإيقاع الشهير الذي وُلِد في عام 1901، أظهر موهبته الاستثنائية على مدار القرن العشرين، حيث قدم عروضًا لشخصيات بارزة مثل ألفريد هيتشكوك وبنجامين بريتن. احتفل تسجيل مباشر حديث في استوديو بريتن في سناب مالينغز بإرثه، مع مشاركة الجمهور وصيغة فريدة من نوعها للدراما الوثائقية. يُذكر بليدز، الذي توفي في عام 1999، لاستخدامه المبتكر للأشياء اليومية في الموسيقى، بما في ذلك الأكواب الصينية والعصي.

James Blades, un renombrado percusionista nacido en 1901, mostró su extraordinario talento a lo largo del siglo XX, actuando para figuras notables como Alfred Hitchcock y Benjamin Britten. Una reciente grabación en vivo en el Britten Studio en Snape Maltings celebró su legado, con participación del público y un formato único de drama-documental. Blades, quien falleció en 1999, es recordado por su uso innovador de objetos cotidianos en la música, incluyendo tazas de porcelana y escobas.

James Blades, un percussionniste renommé né en 1901, a démontré son talent extraordinaire tout au long du XXe siècle, se produisant pour des figures notables telles qu'Alfred Hitchcock et Benjamin Britten. Un enregistrement en direct récent au Britten Studio de Snape Maltings a célébré son héritage, avec la participation du public et un format de drame-documentaire unique. Blades, décédé en 1999, est connu pour son utilisation innovante d'objets quotidiens dans la musique, y compris des tasses en porcelaine et des balais.

James Blades, a renowned percussionist born in 1901, showcased his extraordinary talent throughout the 20th century, performing for notable figures such as Alfred Hitchcock and Benjamin Britten. A recent live recording at the Britten Studio in Snape Maltings celebrated his legacy, featuring audience participation and a unique drama-documentary format. Blades, who passed away in 1999, is remembered for his innovative use of everyday objects in music, including china mugs and broomsticks.

‘We got hate mail after the Proms!’ The towering visions of UK jazz legend Mike Westbrook

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