The Will Bartlett / Josephine Davies Quartet

Thursday 6th July 2023

The Spin is really pleased to be presenting these top-drawer musicians in quartet format, for the first time at the club.

Will’s career came to prominence as a brilliant young pianist, holding the piano chair for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) between 2005 and 2008. At Oxford University, he studied composition and Musical Analysis, while directing the Oxford University Jazz Orchestra.

Since these prodigious student days, Will has been hired to perform with many of the classiest British musicians, including Norma Winstone, Tony Kofi, Stan Sultzmann, Claire Martin, Jim Mullen, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. Will currently lives in Germany, where his diverse musicianship sees him working with the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra and directing the Freiburg Youth jazz Orchestra.

Up front with Will in the band is the outstanding saxophonist, Josephine Davies.

Josephine: Parliamentary Jazz Awards winner: Instrumentalist of the Year, 2019! Along with Will, Josephine is also a committed and prolific jazz composer, having been the resident composer and tenor sax player for The London Jazz Orchestra; she currently runs 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).

Folks, as you can clearly glean, these are seriously high-calibre musicians!

The rhythm section features 'new jazz generation' bass player from Germany, Tabea Kind! Tabea was a student of the great Larry Grenadier and she is now touring all over the world with various ensembles. Pat Davey on drums completes the band. With a CV that includes work with such innovators as Phronesis and Soweto Kinch, anticipate that this band is going to be powered from the kit with immense creative originality!