Satori’s opener ‘Old Happyhansel’, with its neat little tenor theme leading into a measured solo over a steady lope from the rhythm team, suggests a session in classic saxophone trio mode. That would be welcome if done this well. Josephine Davies on sax, Dave Whitford on bass and James Maddren on drums display the perfect rhythmic understanding the format requires. No wonder Davies says in the notes that Satori is where she is most at home as a saxophonist.
However, the fare on this fourth recording from Satori is more varied than that, sonically and compositionally. Davies can do the Rollins thing when she wants to, but typically presents pieces with more complex writing than an old-school sax trio, subsisting on lines that last just long enough to provide a jumping off point for improvising, might call for. Here she excels herself with a set of compositions inspired by aspects of Shetland, where she grew up. The addition of pianist Alcyona Mick on half the tracks affords scope for richer harmonies, unison lines (blending beautifully with Davies’ soprano sax), and much lively four-way interaction.
‘Saxa Vord’ offers a jaunty soprano/piano theme, the two then interweaving in both written and improvised sections of the tune as it shifts tempos and moods, leading into a percussive duo for piano and Maddren’s drums. ‘The Simmer Dim’ is a piano and soprano duet; ‘Ronas Voe’, remarkable, sounds like an atmospheric piece of writing but was apparently freely improvised in the studio. A second improvised piece, ‘The Long Dark’, has a sweeping propulsiveness reminiscent of Keith Jarrett’s 1980s European quartet, while the last but one offering, ‘Song of the Selkie’, is a wistful soprano sax ballad. The closer repeats the trio piece ‘Up Helly Aa’ with piano, inviting us to consider the contrasting possibilities of trio and quartet.
It’s a great way to finish a consistently satisfying set. Weatherwards was recorded at the end of August, and is here, mixed, mastered and released, barely two months later. Maybe they thought it was so good they wanted to bring it to us as soon as possible. If so, you can hear why.
Satori begin an album launch tour this week.
