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TIDES is a major collaboration between jazz sax player Tim Whitehead
and contemporary classical composer Colin Riley. TIDES challenges conventional musical boundaries weaving improvisational jazz with contemporary classical forms in a collaboration of musicians from both worlds. In this work the musicians are under the strict discipline of the conductor and written score at one moment and in the next are making their own compositional contribution to the piece. The title of this work reflects the constant movement of musical ideas back and forth across musical shores. "I met Colin when he invited me to play my 'Nine Sketches' at the Isleworth Festival. I asked for a recording of some of his music and the selection he gave me I played all round Cornwall on the car stereo. One thing I loved about it was no matter how demanding the music got Colin kept me in the middle of it and I couldn't get enough of it. We agreed to collaborate on a project where we would swop ideas over and over trying different ways of working until you don't know as a listener where the material originated. Sometimes I don't know who started what - a real human experiment" Tim Whitehead "The mysterious and exotic language of Jazz has always intrigued me, dragging me along in a real surge of energy. Watching Tim improvising was an incredible experience and it seemed a kind of musical surfing. He later described it to me as 'giving yourself up on the crest of a wave' and that stuck in my mind. I seized the opportunity to work with him as I strongly believe that a good collaboration brings unexpected and special results in its wake. Inspired by new possibilities I have tried to 'give myself up' in our exchange of ideas and this collaboration has turned out to be truly special." Colin Riley Tides is performed by the The Homemade Orchestra - Flute / Piccolo Jennifer Stinton Clarinet / Bass Clarinet Sue Gill Tenor Saxophone / Clarinet Tim Whitehead Trumpet / Flugal Dick Pearce Violins Hilary Sturt, Joanna Parker Viola Andrew Byrt 'Cello Sophie Harris Bass Sam Burgess Piano Liam Noble Percussion Rob Millett Drums and Percussion Milo Fell Conductor Colin Riley Sound Engineer Martin Atkinson Producers Colin Riley, Tim Whitehead Recorded at Brunel University Music Department Edited and mixed at M.A.R.S. Studios, Bellingham, Bucks Mastering by John Astley, Close To The Edge, Twickenham SEE WHAT THE PRESS SAY ABOUT TIDES Track Listing: Tim's most recent work includes a piece in progress entitled 'Tides'. This work is a collaboration with the contemporary classical composer Colin Riley. Colin and Tim are the recent recipients of the Peter Whittingham Award for this project. extended use of improvisation. An album of the same title is due for release in March 2002 on the "Homemade" label.
Between 1995 and 1998 Colin held the post of Composer-in-Association with the Bournemouth Orchestras, composing a wide range of pieces for them. These include Partners In Time, a set of pieces for the Sinfonietta with chorus, brass band, and youth orchestra, Frieze Frame for wind octet, The Sleep Of Reason for chamber orchestra, and >Taking Leaves for ensemble. Colin is currently working on his third full length opera for his performance company the Opera Band with co-director and writer John Ginman. The company was launched in 1995 with the highly acclaimed premiere of Noir at the Purcell Room. The children's opera Gulliver followed later that year. His latest four-part opera Science Fiction is scheduled for performance in 2001 and there is already a promotional CD available featuring the soprano Claron McFadden. This has been produced with assistance from lottery funding and the Contemporary Opera Studio at English National Opera. Recent premieres include Rhymes Of The Greenwood a music-theatre piece for soprano and ensemble (in collaboration with Toby Wilsher of Trestle Theatre Company), Where The Running Water Goes, a large scale orchestral work with narrator for the East of England Orchestra, and the dance piece Because (for choreographer Rafael Bonachela and Rambert Dance Company). Works for 2001 include a song cycle for soprano Alison Wells and the Smith Quartet and an innovative set of concerti for flute, bass guitar, electric viola, and improvising tenor saxophone. Colin has just been awarded the Peter Whittingham Award with jazz saxophonist Tim Whitehead to pursue a new collaboration. The CD will be available early next year with a UK tour following. Involvement in a wide range of education projects is another important facet of his work. Past appointments have included PRS Composer-in-Education (1992), Composer-in-Residence with the English String Orchestra (1993-6), Visiting Composition Tutor at Dartington College of Arts (1995-6), and Research Fellow in Composition at Brunel University (1993-7). He has also worked extensively on outreach projects with major groups such as the London Sinfonietta, the Nash Ensemble and the Composers Ensemble. Colin is presently a director of the spnm (Society for the Promotion of New Music), as well as Artistic Director of the Isleworth Festival and the ensemble Stringfactory. “…some of the most beautiful music you will hear this year… has the hairs standing on the back of your neck. Whitehead has a highly personal, always gorgeous sound on tenor and an infinite vocabulary – in a country of fine saxophonists he is one of the finest..” Peter Bacon, Jazz CD of the Week, Birmingham Post, Oct 2002 ***** “Tides” is the recent work of Colin Riley and Tim Whitehead …The result is an extremely intelligent and enjoyable experimental fusion, similar to a spider-web in all its extreme complexity, still beautiful to watch, and absolutely unpredictable…” Lara Bellini Musica Jazz Magazine Nov 2002 “A dark, cinematic…classical/ ambient/ worldbeat project…. Tides is a gorgeous thing, filled with strange grooves, angular chamber jazz arrangements and luscious string charts.” Time Out Sept 2002 “Tim Whitehead …is one of the most creative players of his generation. This joint venture, with Colin Riley, shows another side to this outstanding musician. These compositions are thoroughly composed but leave ample space for improvisation by…superb, sensitive pianist, Liam Noble…There have been many attempts to expand the barriers of jazz, to embrace classical forms and instrumentation. This is more successful than most.” Peter Lund Crescendo and Jazz Music Sept 2002 “This album is certainly more than the sum of its parts – a successful collaboration between contemporary composer Colin Riley and British Jazz musician/ composer Tim Whitehead.” Paul Pace Ronnie Scott’s Magazine Sept 2002 “…a very appealing fusion.” John Bungey, The Times Oct 2002 “Jazz and classical should get together more often, if the new album TIDES is anything to go by. The music is intelligent, confident and accessible.” John L Walters, The Guardian Sept 2002 “Many have tried to bring the jazz and classical worlds together, and most have failed. Whitehead and Riley, though, have succeeded……a thoughtful and impressionistic contemporary music that rewards repeated listenings.” Andrew Vine, Yorkshire Post Sept 2002 **** “..these top notch versatile instrumentalists prove well equipped to successfully straddle the divide between spontaneous and written forms. Overall the priority of group interaction on this project has ploughed unusually colourful and seductive depths all of its own”. Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise Oct 2002 “More gigs like this please” John L. Walters, The Guardian 29 Oct 2002 “a crowded house of vociferous and mostly young sympathisers…..” John Fordham, The Guardian 18 Sep 2002 review of Ronnie Scott’s gig “..one of the best things I've heard in the Purcell Room for ages!” Ben Spencer, Event Co-ordinator, South Bank Centre, March 2003 “a wonderful concert” Julian Knight, New London Orchestra, promoter of the Music and the Mind Festival April 2003 |
Colin
Riley (b1963) studied at Chethams School of Music, the University
of York, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His work has
featured at many festivals in the UK and overseas and his growing
reputation has led to commissions over the last few years from such
diverse groups as the London Sinfonietta, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta,
the East of England Orchestra, the National Youth Choir, the Smith
Quartet, COMA (Contemporary Music Making for Amateurs), the Continuum
Ensemble, Kokoro, and Triptych.