Madison, WI 53703
USA
Jonah Parzen-Johnson, a resident of Brooklyn NY, plays music for solo baritone saxophone and hardware electronics. Imagine the raw energy of an Appalachian choir, balanced by a fearlessly exposed saxophone voice, resting on a unique combination of electronic components sitting on the floor in front of him. It all breathes together, as he uses his feet to weave square and sawtooth waves into a surging base for folk inspired saxophone melodies, overblown multi phonics, and patiently developed circular breathing passages. Every element is performed and recorded live, solo, without any looping or overdubbing. It is music with texture, and depth, but most of all, it is direct and grounded in performance.
Jonah remains deeply committed to music that connects to the listener. In July 2017, Jonah released his third full length solo album, I Try To Remember Where I Come From (Clean Feed). The release has been described as, “haunted by abstraction but guided by a compassionate pulse” (New York Times), as it, “vividly channels free-jazz with elements of improvisation and composition, combining to create a sustained meditative mood, transporting listeners to another world.” (Downbeat Magazine).
A Chicago native, Jonah’s circular breathing, multi-phonics and inclusively experimental style owe a debt to the Chicago saxophone legacy, but his devotion to a quirky almost vocal approach places him in new territory for the instrument. Since 2012, Jonah has toured thousands of miles, by himself, across Europe, the US, and Canada. Highlights include shows at The Stone in New York NY, Constellation in Chicago IL, Culturgest in Lisbon (Portugal), WeJazz Festival in Helsinki (Finland), and Worm in Rotterdam (The Netherlands).
Café Coda’s regular Thursday event, Night of the Improviser, will start up after Parzen-Johnson’s show, around 9 p.m.
This concert is produced by Scott Gordon’s excellent cultural blog, Tone Madison. $10/$5 for Tone Madison Sustainers (tonemadison.com/donate)
