Jonathan

4/3/11 - Week 14

Walking up Market Street the evening of 3/31/11, I was drawn toward him by the sweet sounds of a saxophone solo.  There was Jonathan jamming' away on his sax, swaying with the beat and thoroughly enjoying himself.  On the street before him was an open saxophone case, within it a few dollars scattered around and some CDs for sale.  People cast him a glance, but no one else was standing around to listen.  Jonathan was not the typical street musician trying to eek out a tune; he sounded professional.  When he finished his song and came up for air, I took the opportunity to approach him for some conversation.

Turns out, Jonathan is from my home town of Chicago.  He started playing the flute at age 7 and has been playing ever since; some 50 years.  He grew up in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the north side.  After I told him I was from Chicago and spent my early youth on the south side, we had quite a chat about the old Chicago neighborhoods.  Jonathan told me that one of his band members back in the Chicago days used to play with BB King.

 Jonathan said he's been in San Francisco for 25 years and plays in various clubs & lounges and sometimes on the street.  He recorded his own music on a Dell computer with software that simulates the other instrument tracks.  I bought his first CD and asked if I could take some photographs and post them on my website; perhaps that would even provide  some promotion.  He happily agreed and gave me his business card which has his web address.

I paid him for the CD + $2, listened a while longer and then turned to cross Market Street near Powell feeling more upbeat than after my earlier encounters that evening.