Paul Lytton
Encyclopedia
Paul Lytton is an English
free jazz
percussionist.
Lytton began on drums at age 16. He played jazz in London in the late 1960s while taking lessons on the tabla
from P.R. Desai. In 1969 he began experimenting with free improvisational music, working in a duo with saxophonist Evan Parker
. After adding bassist Barry Guy
, the ensemble became the Evan Parker Trio. He and Parker continued to work together into the 2000s; more recent releases include trio releases with Marilyn Crispell
in 1996 (Natives and Aliens) and 1999 (After Appleby).
A founding member of the London Musicians Collective
, Lytton worked extensively on the London free improvisation scene in the 1970s, and aided Paul Lovens
in the foundation of the Aachen Musicians' Cooperative in 1976.
Lytton has toured North America and Japan both solo and with improvisational ensembles. In 1999, he toured with Ken Vandermark
and Kent Kessler
, and recorded with Vandermark on English Suites.
As well Lytton collaborated with Jeffrey Morgan
(alto & tenor saxophone) with whom he recorded the CD "Terra Incognita" Live in Cologne, Germany.
With Evan Parker
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
percussionist.
Lytton began on drums at age 16. He played jazz in London in the late 1960s while taking lessons on the tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
from P.R. Desai. In 1969 he began experimenting with free improvisational music, working in a duo with saxophonist Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
. After adding bassist Barry Guy
Barry Guy
Barry John Guy is a British composer and double bass player. His range of interests encompasses early music, contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, and he has worked with a wide variety of orchestras in the UK and Europe...
, the ensemble became the Evan Parker Trio. He and Parker continued to work together into the 2000s; more recent releases include trio releases with Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell is an American jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Crispell studied classical piano and composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. She has been a resident of Woodstock, NY since 1977 when she came to study and teach at Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio...
in 1996 (Natives and Aliens) and 1999 (After Appleby).
A founding member of the London Musicians Collective
London Musicians Collective
The London Musicians' Collective is a cultural charity based in London, England devoted to the promotion of contemporary, experimental and improvised music...
, Lytton worked extensively on the London free improvisation scene in the 1970s, and aided Paul Lovens
Paul Lovens
Paul Lovens is a musician. He plays drums, percussion, singing saw and various selected and unselected cymbals. He has also performed with the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra....
in the foundation of the Aachen Musicians' Cooperative in 1976.
Lytton has toured North America and Japan both solo and with improvisational ensembles. In 1999, he toured with Ken Vandermark
Ken Vandermark
Ken Vandermark is an American jazz composer and saxophone and clarinet player.A fixture on the Chicago-area music scene since the 1990s, Vandermark has earned wide critical praise for his playing and his multilayered compositions, which typically balance intricate orchestration with passionate...
and Kent Kessler
Kent Kessler
Kent Kessler is an American jazz double-bassist, best known for his work in the Chicago jazz and avant garde music scene.Kessler, born in Crawfordsville, IN, grew up on Cape Cod and began playing trombone at age ten. He and his family moved to Chicago when he was 13, and a few years later Kessler...
, and recorded with Vandermark on English Suites.
As well Lytton collaborated with Jeffrey Morgan
Jeffrey Morgan (musician)
Jeffrey Morgan is a United States-born jazz musician...
(alto & tenor saxophone) with whom he recorded the CD "Terra Incognita" Live in Cologne, Germany.
Discography
With Roscoe MitchellRoscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
- Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 is a live album by jazz saxophonist and composer Roscoe Mitchell recorded in Germany in 2004 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2004)
With Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
- Toward the MarginsToward the MarginsToward the Margins is an album by British saxophonist and improvisor Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble recorded in 1996 and released on the ECM New Series label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1996) - Drawn InwardDrawn InwardDrawn Inward is an album by British saxophonist and improvisor Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble recorded in 1998 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1998) - Memory/VisionMemory/VisionMemory/Vision is an album by British saxophonist and improvisor Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble recorded in 2002 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2002) - BoustrophedonBoustrophedon (album)Boustrphedon is a live album by free jazz saxophonist and composer Evan Parker and the Transatlantic Art Ensemble featuring Roscoe Mitchell recorded in Germany in 2004 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2004) - The Moment's EnergyThe Moment's EnergyThe Moment's Energy is an album by British saxophonist and improvisor Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble recorded at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in 2007 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2007)