Parzen-johnson, Jonah
Imagine Giving Up (black)
Brooklyn based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson presents 'Imagine Giving Up' on Helsinki's We Jazz Records. The album sees Parzen-Johnson move 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 compositional ideas. A compact set of six original compositions, 'Imagine Giving Up' is Jonah Parzen-Johnson's most ambitious album yet. While taking a step away from the previous world of "ambient jazz", this music stems from the use of drone-like sounds for baritone saxophone. Electronics are blended in for good measure, creating a coherent vision of abstract jazz with depth.