Josephine Davies – tenor saxophone
James Maddren – drums
Dave Whitford – bass.
Saxophonist and composer Josephine Davies leads this beautifully expressive and dynamic trio with drummer James Maddren and bassist Dave Whitford.
Satori is a Buddhist word meaning a moment of illumination or clarity away from the clutter of thought. The name was chosen for its resonance with the musical focus of the trio; spaciousness, spontaneity, and simplicity of melody and harmony. The deliberate omission of a conventional chordal instrument leaves a more open texture for the three musicians to explore the basic compositional elements contained within the writing. This is a new direction for the band, and one that showcases their creativity, group interaction, and strongly melodic improvisational approach. They released their first album last year on Whirlwind Recordings to wide critical acclaim in the UK and across Europe, and they returned to the studio this spring to record their second, which is being launched tonight. The music for this album has been deeply inspired by some of the qualities celebrated in Japanese philosophy; transience, imperfection, impermanence, and unity.
“What makes the album so striking is Davies’ refusal to abandon melody even as she lets go of defined changes. Her irrepressible tunefulness not only leads the improvisers in fruitful directions but also offers the listener an open door into the music” (Downbeat Magazine)
“A truly gifted and imaginative saxophonist, Davies undoubtedly possesses the art of the improviser and has produced an album of exuberant lyricism and consistently engaging tunes.” (All About Jazz)
“Satori is so full of ideas, vision, and joyful improvisation that one can only take pleasure in the listening” (UK Vibe)