The Way Out West collective of musicians, based in South West London, has been promoting concerts since 2004. Members are: Chris Biscoe, Emily Saunders, Gary Willcox, Nick Mills, Kate Williams, Larry Bartley, Nette Robinson, Pete Hurt, Tim Whitehead, Tom Millar, Tony Kinsey and Tony Woods. A fuller description/history is below.
There is a special concert this Sunday: ‘Music Is – Chris Biscoe plays Mike Westbrook’ at Riverhouse Barn in Walton on Thames.
They now also have a monthly residency at Jazz Café POSK
31st January 2025, Jazz Café POSK – Way Out West presents Miles & Monk
Line-up: Steve Fishwick – trumpet, Chris Biscoe – saxes, Pete Hurt – tenor, Nette Robinson – tenor and voice, Kate Williams – piano, Larry Bartley – bass, Gary Willcox – drums
28th February 2025 Jazz Café POSK: Way Out West plays West Side Story
Reimaginings of Leonard Bernstein’s work for four horns, vocalist and a rhythm section / arrangements by Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt and Kate Williams.
Line-up: Nette Robinson – vocals/baritone sax, Tim Whitehead – tenor sax, Tony Woods – alto sax, Nick Mills – trombone, Tom Millar – piano Larry Bartley -bass, Gary Willcox – drums
28th March 2025, Jazz Café POSK: Way Out West/Henry Lowther present the music of Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn
Line-up: Henry Lowther – trumpet Tony Woods – alto sax Pete Hurt – tenor sax Tim Whitehead – tenor sax Nick Mills – trombone Tom Millar – piano Larry Bartley – bass Gary Willcox – drums
BACKGROUND TO WAY OUT WEST (Courtesy of Kate Williams and Chris Biscoe)
Way Out West is a collective of jazz musicians dedicated to promoting gigs, supporting musicians, developing a varied programme of music and creating a network of venues.
Founded by Tim Whitehead in association with the late Eddie Harvey, WoW has always adopted a cross-generational approach, in contrast to most current collectives, which serve the interests of musicians of similar age, and, to some extent, similar musical approaches.
The first weekly Way Out West gigs were at the Ram Jam in Kingston upon Thames in 2004, moving to Richmond in 2009 and The Bull’s Head, Barnes in 2013. As well as these gigs happening every week there have been promotions at the Questors Theatre, The Orange Tree Theatre, King’s Place Church, and, since 2013, monthly concerts at the Jazz Cafe Posk at the Polish Cultural Centre. This developing pattern of promotion has led to creating over 700 gigs involving musicians from most areas of jazz and improvisation related music, as well as dance and poetry.
Starting in 2017 Way Out West has been taking a new approach to presenting music, with once a month gigs at a variety of venues in west London. The Cafe Posk is welcoming larger groups of 7-8 musicians, the Turks Head in Twickenham presents trio, quartet and quintets, while Riverhouse Barn in Walton on Thames is home to Way Out West presentations during the EFG/LJF, and occasional other concerts such as the upcoming ‘Music Is – Chris Biscoe plays Mike Westbrook’ .
The membership of Way Out West has been eclectic in musical styles and welcoming of performers of the widest range of ages (so far this has been from 19 to 97 years old). The current membership is Tim Whitehead, Emily Saunders, Kate Williams, Nette Robinson, Tony Woods, Tony Kinsey, Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt, Gary Willcox and Larry Bartley.. All the members are bandleaders and composers and encompass swing, bebop, contemporary, free jazz and improv, big bands and groups as small as a duo, with the occasional exploration of early jazz repertoire and contemporary popular standards..
