ilolli-Pop – Alex Paxton
CD + DL | Out on Thu 6 Oct
“I’m just trying to make the most sonically sensuous, magic sound-stuff-thing that I can.” – Alex Paxton
ilolli-pop is the second album by prolific composer and trombonist-improviser Alex Paxton. The release is a collage of Paxton’s commissions for Ensemble Modern (Germany), Nevis Ensemble (Scotland) and HYPER DUO (Switzerland). The album is joyous, playful, often loud and maximal, yet always carefully composed. It combines both improvisation and triumphant melodies, alternating between solo trombone, percussion duos, electronics and orchestra.
The release is accompanied by an essay commissioned by Nonclassical and written by Robert Worby, excerpt below. Read the full text here.
Press
Highly innovative, exceptional creative imagination and musical energy, packed with life force, unlike anything else.” The Ivor Novello
“It’s frank and vibrational, emotional and dizzyin […] It’s bizarrely moving music—go and hear it.” The Wire
“Really quirky, fun, dynamic…Wow! gives your senses a bit of shake...absolutely terrific.” James McDougall, BBC Radio 3
“Fantastic delirium” Tom Service, BBC Radio 3
"something between cartoon music, free jazz and contemporary classical music" Gaudeamus Festival
"This is what an orchestra can be like in the 21st century: an ensemble that speaks with one voice yet also gives voice to each of its members'' The Times.
“This is the most joyous sound I’ve heard in ages!” New York Times.
“Paxton is a system-crasher of genre, stylish wit and sophistication and extremely entertaining…virtuouso ad absurdum.” Musikderzeit Schott.
Alex Paxton is a composer & improvising-trombonist based in the UK.
He was elected to the 9th International Composition Seminar with Ensemble Modern, won an Ivor Novello Award (multiple other nominations), RPS Composition Prize, Dankworth Jazz Prize, Leverhume Art Prize, Harriet Cohen Award, as well as represented in the Orchestral section of the ISCM.
He is a commissioned contributor to John Zorn’s Arcana X 2021. His albums to date: MUSIC for BOSCH PEOPLE released to critical acclaim in 2021. Upcoming releases include HAPPY MUSIC for ORCHESTRA & iLOLLI-POP. On labels including Birmingham Record Company, NMC, Delphian, Nonclassical, Listen Pony, Everest records.
He has performed his music as a soloist with leading orchestras: Ensemble Modern, London Sinfonietta, Philharmonia Orchestra , Royal National Scottish Orchestra & Ensemble x.y. Further works/ commissions include pieces for, AskSchöenberg, Ensemble Klang, Riot Ensemble, Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain, Wigmore Hall, Explore ensemble, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Kammer Klang, BSO, Psappa, BBCproms, NYO and NYJO.
Music theatre works include 6 operas hosted by English National Opera, Helios Colective, Tête à Tête Festival.
Tracklist
1. ilolli-pop, 1lolli-pop 03:12
2. ilolli-pop, 2lolli-pop 06:12
3. ilolli-pop, 3lolli-pop 05:24
4. ilolli-pop, 4lolli-pop 03:25
5. ilolli-pop, 5lolli-pop 07:08
6. Sometimes Voices 09:24
7. Corn-Crack Dreams 02:26
8. Mouth Song, Take 1 10:42
‘ilolli-pop 1-5’ Performed and recorded by Dreamusics ensemble and Alex Paxton (improvised trombone solo). Originally commissioned and premiered by Ensemble Modern and Alex Paxton, and conducted by Enno Poppe at Cresc Biennial of Modern Music Frankfurt 2020. Nominated for Gaudeamus Composer Award 2022. ‘ilolli-pop’ will be published by Ricordi from September 2022
‘Sometimes Voices’ Performed and recorded by Dreamusics ensemble: James Larter (Drum Kit), Alex Paxton (Keyboards). Originally commissioned by HYPER DUO. Nominated for the Gaudeamus Composer Award 2022. 2021 winner of Ivor Novello British Composer Award in the Chamber Music category.
‘Corn-Crack Dreams’ Performed and recorded by Dreammusics Ensemble: Alex Paxton (trombone) and Dominykas Snarskis (Drum Kit). Originally commissioned by Nevis Ensemble. Nominated in 2021 for an Ivor Novello British composer award in the jazz composition category.
‘Mouth Song, Take 1’ Performed and recorded by Alex Paxton (Trombone).
All compositions by Alex Paxton.
Editing and mixing by Alex Paxton.
Mastered by Helmut Erler.
Watch the video premiere of Ben Nobuto's Baby Lexicon, performed by Abstruckt percussion quartet at our July gig.