For those not in the know, composer Satoko Fujii’s large-ensemble series, released in 2026, is a 55-minute recording capturing a magical evening in Berlin on May 3, 2026.

The suite “Second Attempt” is a composition that explores a technique for further developing improvisational elements — which she began conceptualizing during the pandemic — within a large ensemble; it even includes a section where sounds are produced without using instruments.

It premiered in Japan and was subsequently performed at workshops at universities in Hamburg and Melbourne; in those performances, the sections without instruments used items such as paper cups, disposable chopsticks, and duct tape.

Inspired by reflections on the ongoing turmoil in the world, the decision was made to “play” using newspapers for this performance.

1. Second Attempt - Part 1 [11:03]
2. Second Attempt - Part 2 [09:01]
3. Second Attempt - Part 3 [05:13]
4. Second Attempt - Part 4 [18:17]
5. Second Attempt - Part 5 [11:33]

A virtuoso piano improviser, an original composer and a band-leader who gets the best collaborators to deliver, Satoko opens on the impassioned, sculptural environment of Second Attempt - Part 1 and then brings us the percussively transforming Part 2, some intensely manipulated experimentation is then brought to the fore within Part 3, the set rounding out on the rewardingly nuanced opus Part 4, concluding all-too-soon on the emotively open, resonant and, perhaps, more musically aware Part 5.

Line-up/Musicians:
Gebhard Ullmann, Mathias Schubert - tenor sax
Paulina Owczarek - baritone sax
Nikolaus Neuser, Lina Allemano, Natsuki Tamura - trumpet
Matthias Muller - trombone
Liz Kosack - synthesizer
Jan Roder - bass
Michael Griener, Peter Orins - drums

www.satokofujii.com