In many ways I see myself as a storyteller. Each one of these melodies is like a little tale, a way for me to take all these feelings, arrange them as sound in time, and present them to you in a song. It’s me, opening up to you, sharing what I feel and how I understand the world, and hopefully giving what you feel a name, a sound, a melody.
Like a good story, I wanted it to have enough space for you to use your imagination to make this music your own. These songs are really for you as much as they are for me. And the core of the song is the melody. That’s the main thing for me as an artist.
People like to look down on Miles Davis, saying he plays the melodies wrong, or think Monk’s phrasing is funny, that Duke’s writing is corny, Wayne’s melodies are too abstract. That’s all wrong. The reason we connect with these artists on such a deep level is the gift of melody. If I can give you a melody, a song, it’s like I’ve given life to a dream.
Neil Gaiman wrote that the right song can turn an emperor into a laughingstock, can bring down dynasties - and he’s right. I see myself as a singer and melody is paramount for me. Having facility is nice, but can I really tell you a story or sing you a song - that’s how I want to connect.
###
credits
from Vol II,
released October 27, 2017
Jonathan Greenstein - Vol 2
Jonathan Greenstein - Sax, Keyboard ; Michael King - Piano, Keyboard ;
Takeshi Ohbayashi - Piano, Keyboard ;
Joshua Crumbly - Bass ;
Jonathan Pinson - Drums ;
Mix - Vishal Nayak, Black Lodge Studios ;
Mastering - Jeremy Loucas, Sear Sound ;
Art - Gil Chen
supported by 5 fans who also own “Bittersweet Jelly (Why Is It So Easy To Love)”
YES! The bass and the drums together with the horn section and a voice and message that goes straight through your spine. What an unbound force! Every track a gem. neltz
Jazz bassist Nim Sadot pays homage to the life of his his late grandfather, a Polish artist who escaped a Soviet labor camp. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 1, 2022
Florida improv collective Madre Vaca construct four long-form chamber jazz movements, each tied to a specific element. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 16, 2021
supported by 5 fans who also own “Bittersweet Jelly (Why Is It So Easy To Love)”
I was brought here after listening to a live performance of Makaya's on you tube. I instantly loved the song Holy Lands so much that I had to see if the album version was the same rendition as the live one. Then I listened to the whole album! Universal Beings is a just a groove... It's a mix of traditional and something new, very nice. pandr1900