Windows is a unique album from award-winning British composer and conductor Benjamin Ellin. Uniting three of the world’s leading trombonists: Joseph Alessi; Christian Jones, and Blair Sinclair with the Orchestra of Opera North under the direction of Benjamin Ellin, Windows offers an intimate exploration of Ellin’s music for trombone.
This new release features two concerti , Pandora for tenor trombone and orchestra (soloist Joseph Alessi) and Gresley for bass trombone and orchestra (soloist Christian Jones). Also showcased are a standalone trio, 'Stow Sketches, and a kaleidoscopic world premiere for trombone trio and orchestra, Windows.
The album was the brainchild of Christian and Benjamin following the world premiere of Gresley in 2021 with the Orchestra of Opera North: the first bass trombone concerto ever commissioned by a British orchestra.
“The reception after the performance was really positive, so the next logical step was to take the orchestra into the studio and record it alongside Benjamin’s other outstanding trombone compositions. We wanted this album to challenge the many preconceptions about my ‘endangered species’ instrument and help to promote it as a dextrous solo voice in an ensemble”, explained Christian.
Christian and Benjamin dreamed of this collaboration since meeting in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 1996, while the relationship between trombone legend Joseph Alessi and Benjamin began when he was awarded the Barlow Endowment Prize for Composition in 2009 and was commissioned to write a new concerto for Alessi.
“The two main concerti are different in genesis but both are based around the brilliance of the soloists I have been afforded the chance to work with” stated Ellin. “That alone, for any composer would be a dream, but to cleanse the musical palette on the album with the two trios was an absolute treat and I hope the audience really enjoy the journey.”
