Release date: 11 October 2024
The debut album from the multi-award-winning trombone quartet Slide Action. As a group at the forefront of new British chamber music, Slide Action (Huw Evans, Jamie Tweed, Benny Vernon and Josh Cirtina) is renowned as an ensemble that is unafraid to try new ideas, discover new sounds and become a leading presence in contemporary music. This album is therefore the first major statement of their progress since their formation in 2018.
The album features: Henry Purcell’s ‘March’ from Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, Z. 860 arranged by Josh Cirtina; Ryan Latimer’s C. Exigua; INTERLUDE I — Smooth Place Cool Drink by Jamie Tweed; Laura Jurd’s Swamped; INTERLUDE II — Sit by Benny Vernon; Emily Hall’s Close Palms; INTERLUDE III — Flatt Consort by Matthew Locke and arranged by Josh Cirtina; Alex Paxton’s Hairy Pony Estampie; and Joanna Ward’s Playing frisbee May 2022.
The album began as a unique live performance at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2022, where Slide Action captivated audiences with a show featuring specially commissioned works by world-renowned British composers. However, Slide Action's artistic vision extended beyond a conventional concert compilation, and the quartet sought to create an immersive experience, leading to the development of the RE:BUILD concept.
In RE:BUILD, Slide Action goes beyond mere performance, crafting ‘Interludes’—original compositions or arrangements—that weave between the commissioned pieces. These Interludes serve as connective tissue, guiding the listener from one piece to the next with the fluidity and intention of a theatrical production's scene changes. Each Interlude is thoughtfully designed to coalesce with the surrounding works, whether through a shared pitch, an abstract theme, or a complementary mood, creating a cohesive and transformative musical journey.
The result is an album that defies categorization, where the boundaries between compositions blur, and new musical landscapes are revealed. Slide Action’s approach for this album is a bold statement on the potential of classical music to evolve and engage, offering listeners an experience that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant.
Slide Action (Trombone Quartet)
AUDIO
REVIEWS
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE - Best Albums of 2024
'The future of brass ensemble playing is – as yet – a relatively untapped area for contemporary composers... if any group is likely to move this on in leaps and bounds it is Slide Action.'
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE - Recording of the Month, December 2024
'A thrilling rollercoaster of new works ... Deliberate and fresh exploration - producing uncompromising and outstandingly mastered dynamics, slide control, multiphonics and, at times, outrageously comical moments.' ★★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording, Anne Templer, BBC Music Magazine
4BARSREST - LONGLISTED FOR 2024 SOLO/ENSEMBLE CD OF THE YEAR
‘a slam dunk misadventure hoot of surreal delight and visceral virtuosity’ ★★★★★ 4barsrest
FUNDERS
Slide Action would like to thank the Finzi Trust, VW Foundation, British Trombone Society, Denis Wick Ltd and NMC Recordings for generously supporting the creation of RE:BUILD.
NMC Recordings is a charitable company (reg. no. 328052) established for the recording of contemporary music by the Holst Foundation; it is grateful for funding from Arts Council England and The Delius Trust.
RECORDING CREDITS
All tracks recorded 26-28 February 2024, in All Saints Church, East Finchley, London.
ADAM GOLDSMITH Producer, Recording Engineer, Mastering
JACK WHITEHEAD Cover Artwork
Catalogue no: NMCD289