Josephine Davies & The Ensō Ensemble | The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite | February 28, 2025
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 (28th Feb 2025, Ubuntu) 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.
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.
Line up
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
Track Listing
Eos (summer solstice)
Lammas
Mabon
Samhain
Gaia’s Breath (winter solstice)
Imbolc
Ostara
Beltane
PR Quotes
Downbeat (US)
“blends sumptuous harmonies“
Paris-move (FR)
“An ambitious project… reveals itself, in the end, to be nothing short of a dazzling splendor”
Jazz Journal (UK)
“if I still contributed to end-of-the-year polls this one (even in April) would be there or thereabout”
Blue in Green (UK)
“continues to prove an incomparable perspective for contemporary jazz; an artist that redefines the artform and craft that goes into envisioning a project as a complete album and an artist who will continually redefine expectations of her own music”
Esensja (PL)
“Hopefully The Ensō Ensemble will not turn out to be just ephemera and will return every few years on subsequent albums with the British artist’s music”
Hilary Seabrook (UK)
“a really fine collection from this brilliant musician and her large ensemble”
Bebop Spoken Here (UK)
“An ambitious undertaking that would have been labelled ‘pretentious’ if the composer had fallen short. Fortunately, far from falling short, the end product possibly even surpassed everything composer Davies had hoped for.”
Jazzthetik (DE)
“multi faceted and colourful sound language … lyrical saxophone lines … classic big band moments, impressionistic arches, pushing rhythm parts, occasional drama, and cinematic flourishes”
Jazzwise (UK)
“a landmark recording”
All About Jazz (US)
“grand and atmospheric, with slowly evolving luminous melodies and richly orchestrated textures”
Jazz Views (UK)
“an album that surely will find its place in many ‘Albums of the Year’ listings before the year is out”
Jazz Podium (DE)
“lush sound tapestries alternate with delicately floating harmonic clouds and gently nuanced brass arrangements“
Jazz-fun (DE)
“Another album by this British artist that you cannot pass by”
Musik an sich (DE)
“highly individual… reveals the great skill of both the composer and the musicians as a unit, embellished by the respective soloists”
The Jazz Man (UK)
“Her compositions are intelligent and evocative and her arrangements and orchestrations rich, wide ranging and colourful, allowing Davies to bring out the best from her hand picked cast of musicians.”
Cuttings
