Like the ever-changing seascapes of award-winning saxophonist/composer Josephine Davies' Shetland birthplace, the music of her Satori project presents a constantly evolving tableau, at once consistent and different every time. The music on Weatherwards, pays direct tribute to the islands that she left at an early age but that continue to exert a powerful fascination for her, drawing her back, just as the Satori project has continued to draw her back over the course of seven years and four albums - "Satori is where I find myself most at home as a saxophonist." All the compositions were inspired by aspects of Shetland and her personal history there, and in order to realize them fully she has introduced a new element to the band. For half of Weatherwards, longtime bassist Dave Whitford and drummer James Maddren are joined by pianist Alcyona Mick, dramatically expanding the textural and harmonic palette. Yet the essential qualities of Satori remain unchanged: Josephine's unique compositions are the launch pads for free-flowing, limitless improvisations in which all the players become equal partners in exploration. The music of Weatherwards is by turns expansive and daring and hushed and intimate, all expedited by the empathetic communion between the players, with their individual virtuosity united by the strength of Josephine's musical vision.
Weatherwards represents a boldly rewarding evolution of Satori as an improvising band, and of Josephine as a composer. "I was interested in having a theme for the album - I'm fascinated by the origins of creative expression and where it comes from. I found myself writing more harmonically dense material and felt there was more to say as quartet - I was hearing more exploration of harmony and texture, and it's been so much fun playing with those three." It's a deep and compelling statement from a world-class project that deserves total immersion from the listener.
