Ubuntu Music Signs Composer/Arranger/Saxophonist Josephine Davies for Album Release

Josephine Davies & The Ensō Ensemble

 The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite

Release Date: 28th February 2025

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0180

Josephine Davies (Photographer: Greg Heath)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of award-winning composer/arranger/saxophonist Josephine Davies for the release of The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite, her next project, on 28th February 2025.

Josephine explains: “This project began 10 years ago when I wrote my first piece for the London Jazz Orchestra during a period of extreme early rising. Inspired by the sun rise, I named it for Eos, the Goddess of the Dawn. Fast forward a decade, a number of jazz orchestra pieces under my belt, and a move during lockdown out of the city, I instinctively felt drawn to deepen my relationship with the earth and the wildness around me, whilst simultaneously wanting to expand upon this first piece. The result is the eight part suite, each movement inspired by a particular time of year and what it holds for me emotionally and spiritually.”

Josephine Davies (Photographer: Kate Butts)

Josephine describes the music for The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite: “An eclectic listener, I love the spirit of improvisation and spontaneity inherent in jazz, as well as the subtly considered precision of orchestral writing. I am on a continuous quest to blend these elements in a way that is both surprising and inevitable, challenging yet richly satisfying. Ultimately the album is a hymn to the beauty, power, and grace (if I may use such an old-fashioned word) of this magnificent earth.”

Two album launch shows will be hosted by The Vortex in London on Friday, 20th December. Ticket links are below:

First Show (7:30PM): BOOK HERE

Second Show (9:30PM): BOOK HERE

Josephine Davies (Photographer: @Sundrugs)

Josephine further comments on her new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I am delighted to partner with Martin Hummel and Ubuntu Music for my debut jazz orchestra release. This Suite is the culmination of a good few years of experimentation, learning, writing, and finally rehearsing and recording. It has been an immensely rewarding endeavour that I can’t wait to share with the world, and I can’t think of a better record label to do it with.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I’ve been an admirer of Josephine and her endless talent for years – as a composer, bandleader and as a saxophonist. ‘The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite’ perhaps represents her greatest challenge as a professional, with 16 stellar musicians in her orchestra, culminating in her eight-part suite. The end result is sublime, with each movement celebrating a specific time of the year and expressed through her personal spirit. We are so happy to welcome Josephine and her exceptional musicians to the Ubuntu Music Family.”

BIOGRAPHY:

Winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Award ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year’, Josephine Davies is a saxophonist, composer and bandleader at the forefront of the UK contemporary music scene. She has four album releases on Whirlwind Recordings with her trio Satori, and is known for her melodic focus, versatility and unique style as an instrumentalist. 

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. Josephine was resident composer and tenor player for the London Jazz Orchestra from 2012-2018, leaving at that time to form her own large ensemble.

Josephine subsequently decided on the name ‘The Ensō Ensemble’, which is inspired by the Zen Buddhist practice of a circle drawn in a single, unedited brushstroke, celebrating the beauty of incompletion and imperfection, and the polarity of movement and stillness. It is an inspirational tool for Josephine as she continues to play with the ever-shifting balance of written music and space for improvisation.

Enso Ensemble Orchestra (Photographer: Greg Heath)

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL:

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

Ubuntu Music Announces The Release of Trumpet Ace Sean Gibbs Big Band Project

Sean Gibbs / Confluence

Release Date: 25th November 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0124

Sean Gibbs (Photographer Colin Black)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of composer and trumpet player Sean Gibbs’ upcoming album, Confluence, featuring a 17-piece big band of exceptional musicians.

Sean Gibbs is a prominent jazz trumpet player/composer based in London. He leads a quintet, whose critically acclaimed debut album was released with Ubuntu Music and awarded Five Stars in BBC Music Magazine.

Helena Kay (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean explains the idea behind his latest project: “Confluence is without doubt my biggest project to date. The title refers to different aspects of my musical and personal life, which seemed to come together at the right time to make it happen. It also represents the joyous gathering of so many incredible musicians and friends. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved.”

Left to right: George Millard, Tom Dunnett, Chris Maddock, Calum Gourlay, Jay Davis, Freddie Gavita, Riley Stone-Lonergan, Helena Kay, Rob Brockway, Sean Gibbs, James Gardiner-Bateman, James Copus, Kieran McLeod, Tom Walsh, Richard Henry, Richard Foote, James Davison. (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean continues, concerning the music and the musicians for the project: “I was fortunate enough to be able to put together my dream big band lineup and record at AIR Studios. I wrote with the specific players in mind, and it was incredibly rewarding to hear what they brought to my compositions. I wanted to stay true to the fundamentals that resonate with me - lyrical melodies, hearty grooves and a deep connection to the blues. Having a world class 17-piece band to work with brought these concepts to new heights and opened up so many more possibilities.”

The 17-piece big band ensemble includes some of the most sought-after musicians on the jazz scene today:

                        Sean Gibbs – solo trumpet

                        Tom Walsh - trumpet

                        James Davison - trumpet

                        James Copus - trumpet/flugelhorn

                        Freddie Gavita – trumpet

                        Tom Dunnett – trombone

                        Kieran McLeod – trombone

                        Richard Foote – trombone

                        Richard Henry - bass trombone

                        George Millard - alto/soprano saxophone

                        James Gardiner-Bateman - alto saxophone

                        Helena Kay - tenor saxophone

                        Riley Stone-Lonergan - tenor saxophone

                        Chris Maddock - baritone saxophone

                        Rob Brockway – piano

                        Calum Gourlay – bass

                        Jay Davis - drums

Sean Gibbs (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean shares his thoughts about his continued relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I’m delighted to be releasing a second album with Ubuntu. Martin (Hummel) shows such enthusiasm and drive in everything that he does, and it’s a privilege to be on a label alongside many of my favourite musicians. Long may our relationship flourish!”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It takes someone like Sean to be able to pull together a project of significant magnitude with such professionalism and quality. And the big band musician line-up is outstanding, with many of the individuals having appeared on previous Ubuntu releases. Sean’s been the star throughout. We are truly blessed to be a part of the project and can’t wait to share this music all over the world.”

For further information, please contact:

Sean Gibbs (Artist)                                                     seangibbs@hotmail.co.uk

Emma Perry (UK Publicity)                                       emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

Sean Gibbs Biography

Sean is a prominent jazz trumpet player/composer based in London. He leads a quintet, whose critically acclaimed debut album was released with Ubuntu Music and awarded Five Stars in BBC Music Magazine. He is a member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, with which he has performed with guest soloists such as Kurt Elling, Joe Locke, Kenny Washington and Jazzmeia Horn. This has included appearances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues - New York’s Lincoln Center, Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan and London’s Ronnie Scott’s.

Other groups Sean is a member of include the Calum Gourlay Big Band, Young Pilgrims, Martin Kershaw Octet, Paul Towndrow’s Keywork Orchestra and Mike Fletcher Jazz Orchestra. He has freelanced with a wide range of artists, including the likes of Georgia Cecile, Eliza Carthy, Hannah Williams and Chris Dean’s Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Sean also recently appeared on Daniel Casimir’s celebrated album Boxed In.

Sean is a prolific composer of big band music, including commissions for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra. His compositions have been performed as far afield as the USA, by the University of Miami’s Frost Studio Jazz Band.

“When I spot trumpeter Sean Gibbs in a band my spirits lift; I know there will be spot on ensemble playing and expertly-turned, beautifully toned solos.”

--London Jazz News

“These fellows—braced with the blues, steeped in the swing classics, burnished with modernity—are going places.”

JazzTimes Magazine (USA)

Ubuntu Music Signs Tomorrow’s New Quartet For Debut Album Release

Tomorrow’s New Quartet / All Together, Now!

20th May 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0110

Left to right: Deschanel Gordon, Flo Moore, Rod Oughton, Helena Kay (Photographer: Teddy Smith)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the talented young ensemble, Tomorrow’s New Quartet, for the release of their debut album, All Together, Now!, on 20th May 2022.

Led by drummer Rod Oughton, the music was born out of the deepest, darkest depths of lockdown. It was composed in isolation in his north-west London flat, in the latter half of 2020, and rehearsed at irregular intervals throughout the spring months of the following year (restrictions allowing).

Rod Oughton (video image)

Rod is a British jazz drummer/composer who is currently based in Amsterdam. He has worked with the James Taylor Quartet, Hailey Tuck and Hudson Taylor, and has performed in Cuba, Dubai and Saudi Arabia as well as all over the UK and Europe. His own band, OK Aurora, released their debut album to a sold-out Pizza Express Soho audience in August 2021. The album went on be featured by BBC Introducing and Jazz FM and received a 5 Star review from Jazz Journal. 

Rod explains the genesis of his latest project: “I think the music encompasses everything I was feeling during that period, from fear and uncertainty to fleeting moments of optimism. There’s even one tune on the album dedicated to my neighbour who sadly passed away from Covid related complications in November 2020.”

Rod continues: “I named the band ‘Tomorrow’s New Quartet’ as I felt it embodied the optimism that composing this music and arranging the recording of this album gave me. This project provided a sense of purpose during that challenging period, and this album is the final product of all that work. The band’s line up comprises of Helena Kay, Deschanel Gordon, Flo Moore and myself. These guys are some of my favourite musicians to play with and I felt super lucky that they agreed to get involved and continued to contribute so much to the project.”

Helena Kay (video image)

Scottish saxophonist Helena Kay has recently spent time in New York City, studying and playing locally. Electric bass extraordinaire Flo Moore continues to manage her hectic schedule, performing and recording. And keyboard ace Deschanel Gordon, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, maintains his relentlessly demanding schedule.

Deschanel Gordon (video image)

Concerning his extended relationship with Ubuntu Music, Rod elaborates: “I’m really happy to release this album on Ubuntu. Martin’s help with the debut OK Aurora release (‘Only In Autumn’) was invaluable and I feel very lucky that he is involved with this release as well. I really feel as though Ubuntu is a force for good in UK Jazz, and the fact that they work just as hard for emerging artists as they do for their top talent is testament to this.”

Flo Moore (video image)

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his perspective: “It was a pleasure working with Rod on his OK Aurora release last year. When he approached me about Tomorrow’s New Quartet, it was a no-brainer. Helena, Deschanel and Flo have all appeared on previous Ubuntu releases. It’s an exceptional line-up and they delivered a fantastic record. These four are ones to watch. Welcome to the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Rod Oughton (Artist):                                                rod_oughton8@hotmail.co.uk

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

Ivors Composer Awards Nominations 2020 Announced

Bassist Calum Gourlay is nominated for ‘Jazz Composition for Small Ensemble”

Ubuntu Music Signs Gifted Bassist Calum Gourlay For Quartet Album Release

Calum Gourlay

New Ears / UBU0043 / CD & Digital Formats

Release Date: 6th December 2019

Calum Gourlay

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of bassist/composer/bandleader Calum Gourlay for the release of his quartet album, New Ears.

 London-based double bassist and composer Calum is known for his deep warm tone, controlled execution as both a supporter and improviser, and rock-solid time and pulse. Born in Glasgow, he began his musical journey playing the cello in primary school and by the age of 14 he started playing the double bass, having developed a serious interest in jazz and improvised music. Calum’s talents were noticed by many of Scotland’s premier artists and, as a result, he became the first bassist selected for the first Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra, as well as other ensembles.

“Gourlay’s note accuracy, unshakeable rhythmic sense and ability to follow a melodic line whenever possible make this a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”

-The Jazz Breakfast

In 2004, Calum started at the Royal Academy of Music in London and graduated with first class honours with a B.Mus. (jazz) degree.  Since then, Calum has become a mainstay on the London jazz scene while performing with the Kit Downes Trio, The Tommy Smith Group, Will Vinson, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe Lovano and John Scofield. Calum also works with Kurt Elling, Martin Speake, Martin Kershaw and Sheila Jordan. He writes for his own big band which has a monthly residency at the Vortex in London.

Calum Gourlay Quartet / New Ears / UBU0043

“Gourlay filled the space with a combination of spinning bass beats and a virtuosic exploration of harmony.”

-The Arts Desk

Speaking about his new project, Calum explains, “This project brings the experience I have gained from my two-and-a-half-year Big Band residency at The Vortex, London into my own quartet. This band has all the energy, sound and colours of a contemporary big band but with only four members.”

 And, in terms of forming his new quartet, Calum describes further, “The idea for the quartet came from my Big Band in residence at The Vortex Jazz Club. I write a new work each month for every gig. It’s hard to start a piece from scratch: I usually have a shell of an idea in place so I can write something. Occasionally, I workshop sketches hoping they will translate into an arrangement. With this approach, I experiment with form & instrumentation. With the quartet it was fun and easy to write things for trombone & tenor to play together. Helena, Kieran and James have been important musicians in my big band so I began to think this could be a great band in its own right.”

 Regarding his joining Ubuntu Music, Calum explains, “I’m very excited to be part of the Ubuntu Family. Martin has an authentic love for the music and supports his artists in a way that no other label does.”

 Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, said, “Calum’s been the unwavering backbone of many great jazz artists throughout his career. And he’s one of the hardest working guys in the business. It is an absolute pleasure to be releasing an exceptional album of Calum’s own material, along with his stellar band consisting of Helena Kay (tenor sax), Kieran McLeod (trombone) and James Maddren (drums).”

Left to right: Calum Gourlay, James Maddren, Kieran McLeod, Helena Kay.

The Calum Gourlay Quartet will be touring the UK from late October through November 2019. Please visit www.calumgourlay.net .

For further information, please contact:

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

Emma Perry/Publicity (UK):                                      emmasarahperry@gmail.com