Jonah Jonathan has been playing four string instruments since he was ten years old. Jonathan points out, “Actually since age two, if you count strumming on the ukulele back where I’m from in Hawaii.” He was inspired to dedicate himself to music after his grandfather (who played French horn, trumpet, and piano) passed on suddenly just a few days after Jonah’s first orchestra concert. The bassist muses, “Had it not been for my grandfather, I would not be playing bass, let alone music in general. He was a huge inspiration and my first fan.” Jonathan played classical music in the orchestra from 5th grade but never took it too seriously until ninth grade when he found a good teacher. He recalls the first time that year when he became turned onto jazz: “I was on a field trip with my school orchestra to Boston Symphony Hall to see Wynton Marsalis rehearse All Rise, his Jazz/Classical composition. As soon as I saw the bass player Carlos Henriquez holding down the groove in the most bad ass way imaginable, I said to myself, hey, I bet I could do that!” 

Jonah Jonathan enrolled at 14 into a college jazz class at Berkshire Community College taught by saxophonist Alan Livermore. Jonathan was the only bassist in the class, and he was soon learning jazz theory and playing jazz walking bass lines, “At first, I never really studied how to play lines, I just used my ear and began doing it. I think this is the true way to learn how to play. Just do it!” The ensemble played through ten Duke Ellington tunes throughout the first half of the semester. In the second half of the semester the ensemble went and played “gigs” in various locales such as nursing homes and churches for community service. By 16 Jonathan was participating in the Jazz Ensembles and Classes at Williams College. He became one of the most in demand bassists in Upstate NY, Albany, and Western Mass

Used to run a little label that could called IAJ Records and play in Palmyra, Umberto and The Dumb and Ugly club.

Now in a band called The Fast Set and working on solo projects. 

Stay tuned for IAJ!-related demos, roughs, sketches, new ideas, finished songs and live performances, including newer solo work and Fast Set releases. 

Karl Hjalmar Nyberg, tenor
Martin Lie Svendsen, bass
Henrik Lødøen, drums

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