We Jazz have consistantly released edge pushing jazz that's not only imaginative and original, it's also accessible - just like Berke Can Özcan and Jonah Parzen Johnson's 'Folk Memory'.
As edgey as the label's last two album's Pauli Lyytinen's 'Lehto / Korpi' (see review HERE) and Pete Evan's 'Extra' (see review HERE) here's a seven track album that sort of falls between the two whilst gaining fans like Enrique Domenech with it's dreamy, ambient meanerings like the title track or the more minimal/OST-ish 'Portrait Of A Brick' or the more progressive, 'The Cloud'.
The album was apparently recorded across continents, this debut album was a initiated from a meeting in 2022 of Brooklyn based Jonah Parzen Johnson (baritone sax) and Berke Can Özcan (drums/percussion) at a concert in Istanbul. So impressive the connectivity of the duo, the album sounds like more musicians are involved; even the mostly solo 'The Saint' (Johnson being a bit of a solo expert - see review HERE) and the creepy/electronics of 'The Others'.
Don't be put of by the title as there's mere glimses of 'folk' in the tracks; the most obvious being the title track whilst the rest of the album is definitely jazz; like the experimental (and my current favourite track) 'That's Not What This Is' (it's a bit gamelan, a bit sax ballad building to a climax) and 'São Paulo' (warning: this is not a Latin jazz-dance track) and it's been suggested that this is an album for fans of the disperate trio of jazzers Alabaster DePlume, Joe Lovano & Paul Motian - I can't argue with that and I think you'll find yourself returning to 'Folk Memory' many times; like muscle memory.
Enrique Domenech "Amazing Bandcamp listening event today. Amazing album! Thank you to Berke & Jonah and congratulations for the new album"
Artist: Berke Can Özcan & Jonah Parzen Johnson
Title: Folk Memory
Release date: 1st November, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP77
Title: Folk Memory
Release date: 1st November, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP77
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
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