Elvis Costello thrilled with LIPA Horn Section collaboration

Celebrated singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has described his collaboration with the LIPA Horn Section as “beautiful”. 

The septet - which includes two students, three graduates and one tutor - performed nine specially created arrangements with Elvis at the Liverpool Olympia on 11 September and are due to share the stage with him again as the tour reaches its finale at the London Palladium on 21 September. 

Elvis Costello is one of the UK's most prolific and critically acclaimed songwriters. His career has encompassed new wave, R&B, country, jazz and classical music and includes songwriting collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach. His current tour with pianist Steve Nieve features new arrangements of material from across his 50 year career.

Speaking on a visit to LIPA ahead of the Liverpool gig Elvis told us he was delighted with how rehearsals had gone. “There was a shared approach among the players, I felt a real sense of curiosity from them and the spirit of the playing is so very good. It was a beautiful thing. These arrangements are not without challenges, but the playing is of a very high standard.  

“When I was writing the arrangements I didn’t know which parts would be played by students and which parts by the more experienced graduates. There’s a tenor saxophone part played by a student that is so melodious. It’s just how I imagined it.” 

LIPA Horn Section: 

Trumpet: Alex Smith, graduate/Music lecturer                    

French Horn: Dan Edwards, second year Music student                      

Alto sax:  Eric Animan, graduate                      

Tenor sax: Megan Roberts, third year Music student                  

Bari sax:   Tim Pike, Music lecturer                           

Trombone: Simeon Scheuber-Rush, graduate           

Tuba:  Max Lozowsky 

Photography: Brian Roberts