Brooklyn based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson on Imagine Giving Up, his fourth album moves into new domains of sound as he uncovers newfound energy and pulse in his music. In addition to the sonically rich analog synth elements that accompany his earlier solo saxophone work, Jonah has layered heavily sound designed samples of his own saxophone to create truly one of a kind percussive snaps, reverberant basses, and warbling leads. At its core, the music remains deeply devoted to almost vocal sounding melodic lines and patiently developed themes almost more so than compositions, with the emphasis on a reverberating, layered sound rather than distinctive melodies. If you are seeking the latter, you’ll find some here, but they won’t be the prevailing element by any means. Essentially, it is sustained meditation. Yet, some pieces like “Stand Still” end abruptly, pulling one out a trance-like state while others like “Focus – Re-focus” may make one feel like he/she has slipped into an unconscious state of mind.
Yes, this is a challenging listen. It’s not for everyone but for those who appreciated experimental music, it offers a completely different sound palette. His solo performances are a deeply intimate experience, as he endeavors to share who he is, how he sees our world and the temporary moments of community that we can all embrace together. In his hands baritone saxophone and hardware electronics become a vehicle for “de facto folk songs,” (Bandcamp Daily) as if he is, “constructing a whole musical town from specific, character-driven notes”. Jonah is a long-time Brooklyn resident, but his circular breathing, multi-phonics and inclusively experimental style owe a debt to Chicago, the city where he was raised. His devotion to an almost vocal approach places him in new territory for the instrument. Paired with a one-of-a-kind compositional style that utilizes analog synths, and hardware samplers & sequencers, Jonah stands rather alone. In live performance, he combines distilled melodies on baritone saxophone with hardware synths and samplers that he manipulates with his feet.
These six originals make this Parzen-Johnson’s most ambitious album yet. While taking a step away from the previous world of “ambient jazz”, his new music stems from the use of drone-like sounds for baritone saxophone, a style that is uniquely his own. Electronics are blended in for good measure, creating a coherent vision of abstract jazz with depth. Using circular breathing and extended saxophone techniques he creates music that is both sonically experimental and musically familiar.
As with his previous releases, the music comes with a deeper narrative which he will continually explore in live performance. The manifesto for the album reads as follows: “Only a few people can really start over. Everyone else is left to struggle down the path they were assigned. The option to give up, to choose your own path, is power, and, hopefully, a call to action: take a risk to help someone.” Admittedly, you’ll be taking a risk by listening but likely will not be able to compare it to anything else either.
