Many years ago, when Chris was an undergraduate at U.C. Santa Cruz, I would often take some time off from a business trip to Silicon Valley and scoot over Highway 17 to visit him in Santa Cruz. On one of these occasions, we were walking down Pacific Avenue when we encountered a street musician, playing an extraordinarily small piano and singing songs that just hooked you in and made you smile. His name was Jonny Hahn. He was selling a CD of his music, called “3657“, and I bought a copy before we moved on. I thought nothing more of it, but over the years I found myself listening to the songs and wondering what had happened to him. But I didn’t wonder too hard: it felt like one of those ephemeral moments that you look back on and then let go.
And then today I was shopping for kitchenware in Sur La Table on Pine Street, right next to the Public Market, and as I came out of the shop I heard a familiar piano style. It was Jonny Hahn. I went and listened to him, and after he’d finished a piece we talked a bit. He’s a Seattle resident, and plays most of the year by the Public Market. He remembered that visit to Santa Cruz; he said that he’d always enjoyed going there because of the good vibe he got off the ocean, but recently the city authorities had made life impossible for street musicians, so he’d stopped going.
I bought four of his CDs: two of what he described as “very political” songs – “Thinking without a permit” and “Don’t feed the corporations” – and two of solo piano pieces – “Lost in the Inzone” and “Collage”. Lovely stuff. You can hear his music for yourself at CDBaby, and also at the iTunes Music Store.
But even though the CDs are really good, I know I’ll be heading back to the Public Market, because I prefer listening to Jonny in his natural setting. What a delightful rediscovery. Maybe ephemeral isn’t always what it seems.
UPDATE: From Richard McDougall‘s gallery: Jonny “in his natural setting”….