Charles Owens Trio Embody Free Release In “The Joy Of Letting Go” Hourglass Session
Did you really think the Hourglass team moving to New York City would stop them from spotlighting Central Virginia talent? Think again. For their first official entry of 2025, they shine the light on the Charles Owens Trio, led by the renowned saxophonist who is also a staple of Richmond’s concert stages and recording studios. Performing “The Joy Of Letting Go,” the trio delivers with their signature dynamic fluidity while striking visuals in the backdrop amplify the performance’s artistic depth.
Filmed in the vivid art studio of renowned local artist Jessica Camilli, also known as Rapid Eyes, the video places Charles Owens front and center, his saxophone soaring with expressive grace. He’s flanked musically–and visually–by Cameron Ralston on bass and Kofi Shepsu on drums, whose nimble, intuitive support feels like gentle propulsion, guiding Owens’ melodic expressions as they billow effortlessly into the jazz ether.
In a social media post, Owens reflected on the deeper meaning behind the song, sharing, “This is about letting go of old things, old dreams. It’s not a sad thing–it’s supposed to be a joyful thing.” As time passes, we often come to accept the unexpected turns life takes, and how clinging to unfulfilled dreams can become a burden. Letting go, he suggests, brings true liberation. “And not only is it okay to let go of that,” he added, “it’s great, because you’ve let go of the expectations those dreams imposed on you. If you let go of that, you can have more joy in your life.”
Running just shy of six minutes–and even featuring a moment where Owens trades his sax for keys–the song stands as a thesis statement in motion, radiating energy from start to finish. It serves as an open invitation to shed what no longer serves you and embrace life with intention, each spirited step soundtracked by the trio’s dexterous grace.
“The Joy Of Letting Go” marked the first of three singles from Charles Owens Trio’s stunning new album, The Music Tells Us, followed by “FJD” and “Nobody Else But Me.” The album’s artwork–like the single covers–features the work of Camilli, making the video a fitting visual complement to the aesthetic Owens envisioned. Blending original compositions with inventive takes on standards like “Nature Boy” and “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing,” the record also includes a brilliant instrumental rendition of “Tomorrow Never Knows,” the iconic closer from The Beatles’ Revolver. Ten albums in, The Music Tells Us reaffirms Owens’ masterful ability to breathe fresh life into familiar forms alongside Ralston and Shepsu, their interpretations feeling as effortless in their creativity as they are staggering in their execution.
This video marks the first entry in the Hourglass canon since Illiterate Light performed “All The Stars Are Burning Out,” this past October. In the time between videos, the duo behind the visual project, Tyler Scheerschmidt and Dillon Douglasson, have kept busy, continuing the “Pocket Plus One” video series with Nate Smith, that launched last fall (with the inaugural episode featuring Richmond’s own DJ Harrison). Despite relocating in 2024, the duo still has plenty on the docket when it comes to Richmond artists in 2025, including a mesmerizing video with Shera Shi they recently teased on Instagram.
Watch the video for “The Joy Of Letting Go” and make sure to follow both Charles Owens and Hourglass Sessions online so you can be one of the first to catch their next release.
