Jonah Parzen-Johnson - Helsinki 8.12.18 (2019)

Brooklyn-based saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson presents an inspired set of music for baritone sax and electronics, captured at Helsinki's We Jazz Festival in December 2018. The mood of the set is intense, with Parzen-Johnson's powerful music blending perfectly with the spacious feel of the room. His commentary in between songs gives the set a communal feel, which can now thankfully be revisited in the warm spirit of this wonderful evening of music.

Here's what Jonah says about it:

"I perform in a constant state of reaction. Rather than reaching for a specific compositional framework, or textural aesthetic, I’m looking for a partnership. Like any real partnership, I will sometimes expect more than I deserve, and sometimes compromise more than I feel like I should. I will recalibrate, doubt, become overconfident, challenge, experiment, give, and be grateful. But regardless of the state of our partnership, I will always remind myself that nothing I create can exist without the connection between me and those who choose to listen.

The concert in Helsinki was a special iteration of this partnership. I’m still learning how to adjust to environments where basically everyone is a stranger, but by the end of these kinds of shows I often feel a warmth and affinity that used to feel very rare. When I listen back to the recordings I hear the sound of rain water rushing from the roof and the unique decay of sound reverberating through the bespoke space, and instantly feel a sense of gratitude as I relive the partnership at the core of this set, and imagine being able to share it with you."

The release is tape only in terms of its physical distribution, while also a digital version is offered for streaming and download. "Helsinki 8.12.18" by Jonah Parzen-Johnson is a part of the ongoing "We Jazz Live Plates" series documenting the label's live activities.

Jonah Parzen-Johnson, baritone sax & electronics