Saxophonist Joseph Shabason draws on ’80s jazz for new album with ambient hero Gigi Masin

A moving exploration of his mother’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Toronto saxophonist and composer Joseph Shabason is releasing a new album called Anne, this November via Western Vinyl.

Listen next: Hear Gigi Masin’s rare ambient vinyl mix

Described by the label as “a tonal essay on degenerative illness,” Anne weaves interviews of Shabason’s mother as she struggles with Parkinson disease across nine jazz-hued compositions.

“Snippets of such conversations see her [Anne] taking on something like a narrator role across Anne while the sound of her voice itself is sometimes effected to become a musical texture entwined into the fabric of the songs without always being present or audible.”

Listen to first single ‘Forest Run’ below.

Inspired by, and subverting, the aesthetic sheen of late ’80s jazz, as well as drawing on the Fourth World recordings of Jon Hassell, Anne also features a collaboration with Italian ambient composer Gigi Masin, whose work has been reissued by Music From Memory in recent years.

Pre-order a copy of the album here ahead of its release on 16th November via Western Vinyl, see the artwork and check out the track list below.

Tracklist:

2. Deep Dark Divide

3. Dangerous Chemicals

4. Donna Lee

5. Forest Run

6. Fred and Lil

7. Toh Koh

8. November (Ft. Gigi Masin)

9. Treat It Like A Wine Bar