Brittany Davis - Black Thunder

Black Thunder is the fully improvised new album by Seattle-based musician Brittany Davis, featuring her on keys and vocals, Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, and D’Vonne Lewis on drums. The trio, who barely knew each other prior to recording, created the album in just two days, bringing an intense, interactive energy to the studio. The result is a work deeply influenced by Black and Afrocentric cultural elements, and a powerful, cathartic expression of Davis’s artistry. Producer Josh Evans emphasizes the musicians’ emotional and musical preparation, allowing them to create freely and vulnerably without overthinking.

The album marks a departure from Davis's previous work, replacing drum machines and programmed keys with live, organic performances that showcase her stylistic maturation. With a range of themes from celestial reflections to raw self-exploration, Black Thunder captures Davis's evolution as an artist. Tracks like “Amid the Blackout of the Night” and “Black Thunder” blend spiritual, personal, and cultural explorations. Evans describes Davis’s improvisation as channeling something beyond the room, tapping into voices and spirits larger than the moment. The album concludes with “...Ancestors,” a track where Davis felt connected to ancestral voices, adding a deep, almost theatrical layer to the music.

Black Thunder isn’t just a collection of songs but a creative, emotional thunderclap, challenging easy narratives and creating an immersive, unforgettable listening experience. This album is jazz at its core, pushing boundaries and embracing the spirit of improvisation in its purest form.