SATORI
JOSEPHINE DAVIES saxophone
ALCYONA MICK piano
DAVE WHITFORD bass
JAMES MADDREN drums
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7:30 p.m. Friday 2 MAY

Winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Award ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the year’, Josephine Davies is a musical artist at the forefront of the UK contemporary music scene, pushing the boundaries of jazz with her current main artistic project Satori – a sax/bass/drums trio with an emphasis on extended and collaborative improvisation. It is a project that combines her seeking of freedom of expression with her interest in Japanese philosophy and lifestyle. 
Now becoming equally known as a composer, her unique voice is a blend of classical, jazz and folk music, creating an intensely dynamic sound infused with the Nordic quality of her Shetland roots. Deeply influenced by the American composer Maria Schneider, Josephine was resident composer and tenor player for the London Jazz Orchestra from 2011-2016, and now has her own big band ‘The Enso Ensemble’.
As a saxophonist she is known for her melodic focus, versatility and unique style which has been described as “consistently inventive” (Jazzwise Magazine), “strong and authoritative” (The JazzMann) and “with winning immediacy” (MOJO Magazine).

Satori is a Buddhist word meaning a moment of presence and inner spaciousness away from the clutter of thought, and reflects saxophonist and composer Josephine Davies’ fascination with Japanese philosophy. It is her most recent artistic project, in which she demonstrates a continuing evolution of sound and style in both her playing and her writing. The deliberate omission of a chordal instrument as well as the frequent absence of regular harmonic sequence allows the compositions to serve as a loose base for the spontaneity and creativity of the players, giving rise to a uniquely integrated trio sound.
Featuring the irrepressible musicality of pianist Alcyona Mick, drummer James Maddren. and bassist Dave Whitford, Satori is an ever-evolving ensemble that defies the categorization of either avant-garde or mainstream jazz, instead shifting deftly and dynamically through various imaginative soundscapes according to where their shared inspiration takes them.

 "Definitely a band to watch."  (Downbeat Magazine)
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"Winning immediacy."  (Mojo Magazine)
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"Refreshingly imaginative and invigorating." (All About Jazz)
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"Inventive, Lyrical." (Jazzwise Magazine)
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"Spiritual, Spiralling, Joyful." (UK Vibe)
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DAVE WHITFORD (photo by © Brian O'Connor)

ALCYONA MICK (photo Andy Squiff)

JAMES MADDREN (photo by John Kelman)

JAMES MADDREN, DAVE WHITFORD & JOSEPHINE DAVIES

JOSEPHINE DAVIES