Sun by Zoh Amba

On the free jazz extravaganza Sun by Zoh Amba, joy manifests as a journey, as a path of inner discovery that passes through many finite moods and energies on its march towards transcendent knowledge. Take the album as an abstract narrative, and the ever-expressive saxophone becomes the protagonist, reflecting the most aware portion of our consciousness as we dive deeper into our most unknown insides. This eager, energetic voice bounces off the walls of the narrative environment, speaking in rushed, frenzied tones while charging through the shifting walls of improvised piano, bass, and drums. Here, we see what we may first think of when we picture joy, an innocent whimsy as a playful environment matches an equally adventurous character. However, the process of joy soon takes us places we wouldn’t expect, through thoughtful ballads and mournful downtempo moments that reflect on loss and darkness. When we accept joy as a process of finding the truth, all emotions join into the choir of elation, all helping us unmask the sacred and mysterious deep within.