The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite Josephine Davies & The Ensō Ensemble

• 1 Eos (summer solstice) 10:18
• 2 Lammas 04:59
• 3 Mabon 05:56
• 4 Samhain 03:27
• 5 Gaia's Breath (winter solstice) 13:51
• 6 Imbolc 01:33
• 7 Ostara 08:24
• 8 Beltane 04:43
• Total Runtime 53:11

Info zu The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite

British saxophonist, composer and bandleader Josephine Davies marks a striking new chapter in her career with the release of The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite alongside her 17-piece group The Ensō Ensemble.

With roots in the Scottish archipelago of Shetland, the 8-part suite takes the listener on a year-long journey of ancient Celtic and seasonal festivals. From the darkness of winter to the renewal of spring, the harvest season, the Autumn Equinox, and the Winter Solstice, it weaves together classical, jazz, and folk influences into a cohesive, Nordic-tinged whole.j

Fittingly, it all started with the sunrise. The piece Eos - named after the Goddess of the Dawn - was composed during a period of early mornings while she served as composer-in-residence for the London Jazz Orchestra. Fast forward a decade, and several high-profile commissions, she felt compelled to complete the circle. “Having written several jazz orchestra pieces, and inspired by a lockdown move to the countryside, I felt drawn to deepen my connection with the earth and revisit my earlier composition. The result is the 8-part suite, each movement inspired by a particular time of year and what it holds for me emotionally and spiritually.”

Perhaps best known for her award-winning trio Satori, the depth of talent and inventiveness in the ensemble is testament to Davies’ long-standing position at the heart of the UK’s contemporary music scene. London jazz stalwarts Dave Whitford (bass), Noel Langley (trumpet) and Alcyona Mick (piano) sit alongside distinctive newer voices such as saxophonists Michael Chillingworth, Rachael Cohen and Tamar Osborn - each carefully chosen for their musicality, creativity, and unique soloistic voices.

Through this fascinating large ensemble and the rich history of Celtic mythology, the recording sees Davies stretch her compositional wings, blending the improvisation and spontaneity inherent in jazz with a highly distinctive compositional voice as a writer. As we embark on yet another cycle around the sun, it serves as both a milestone in her career and a calling card for future projects.

“A landmark recording…this is a captivating album of occasionally unsettling but always very listenable music” (Jazzwise, March 2025 – Editor’s Choice)

"Clearly, greatness knows no age, and as remarkable a saxophonist as she is a composer, Josephine Davies takes us by the hand from the very first notes of this album, guiding us on a journey through a world of absolute artistic depth...An ambitious project—one that might have seemed mad at first glance—reveals itself, in the end, to be nothing short of a dazzling splendor...Without question, this album earns its place, with pride, among our collection of “Indispensable” recordings." (Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move)

"'The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite' finds Davies upping the creative ante even higher, frankly, to inconceivable heights." (Blue in Green Radio)

Josephine Davies, composer, conductor, tenor saxophone
Michael Chillingworth, alto & soprano saxophone
Rachael Cohen, alto saxophone
Helena Kay, tenor saxophone
Adam Bishop, tenor saxophone, clarinet, alto flute
Tamar Osborn, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Noel Langley, trumpet, flugelhorn
Reuben Fowler, trumpet, flugelhorn
Nick Smart, trumpet, flugelhorn
Robbie Robson, trumpet, flugelhorn
Anna Drysdale, french horn
Olli Martin, trombone
Maddie Dowdeswell, trombone
Eddie Curtis, bass trombone
Alcyona Mick, piano
Dave Whitford, double bass
Shaney Forbes, drums

Josephine Davies
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).

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet