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Jonas was exploring different kinds of music when his daughter introduced him to a pop song called “Find Someone Like You” by Snoh Alegra.
He found the song captivating enough that he decided to learn more about its creator, a Swedish artist who had become popular in Los Angeles.
The melody inspired Jonas and his band to create their own version of the song, blending jazz and pop to create something new.
Take a peek into Jonas Wall’s current playlist—a fun mix of tunes he’s jamming to right now. It’s a little snapshot of his musical mood board, no saxophones required!
The instrumental cover of "Find Someone Like You" by Jonas Wall unexpectedly became a viral hit on Spotify.
The song catapulted to 1.5 million streams, seemingly out of nowhere, which is partly due to its inclusion in several major playlists. Most notably, the playlist: “Jazz Songs For Pets” and “Smooth Jazz Chill”.
The instrumental cover of "Find Someone Like You" by Jonas Wall unexpectedly became a viral hit on Spotify.
The song catapulted to 1.5 million streams, seemingly out of nowhere, which is partly due to its inclusion in several major playlists. Most notably, the playlist: “Jazz Songs For Pets” and “Smooth Jazz Chill”.
Explore the soulful echoes and innovative melodies in this curated playlist by Jonas Wall, featuring tracks from the saxophone legends who shaped his musical journey.
In his musical pursuits, Jonas strives to dissolve the traditional boundaries between jazz, pop, and other genres. He aims to make jazz more accessible and enjoyable to a broader audience by incorporating elements of pop and soul into his compositions.
Jonas was only six years old when his musical journey began with a gift from his father: a clarinet. Due to his small hands, reaching the fingerings was a challenge, prompting his father to creatively rewrite the songs so Jonas could play them.
As years passed, his father introduced him to the alto saxophone, but Jonas didn't take to it initially, finding more joy in playing the tuba in an orchestra.
During a collaboration with Doctors Without Borders in South Africa in 2010, Jonas Wall contributed to a humanitarian effort by donating musical instruments to a local school and teaching children how to play.
Jonas places a strong emphasis on improvisation in his live performances, ensuring that no two shows are the same.
He makes sure that a fan that attends multiple shows, may hear similar songs and melodies, but gets a different experience each night.
Playing in the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, he learnt of the importance of freedom to express yourself creatively during concerts, which leads to fresh and unique musical experiences for the audience each night.
Immerse yourself in the Holican-curated collection of our favorite tracks from Jonas Wall, showcasing the depth and versatility of his saxophone mastery. Experience the essence of his musical genius, captured in each note and rhythm that defines his unique sound.
Jonas’s latest musical project, "Umbaji," isn't just about creating sounds; it's about weaving the diverse threads of his heritage and experiences into a rich tapestry of music.
The name "Umbaji," which means creativity and creation in Swahili, is a nod to Jonas's childhood, where his Swedish father, an educator passionate about human rights and democracy, often traveled to Tanzania among other countries.
There, he immersed himself in the local culture, bringing back not just fabrics for clothes but also songs and stories, which he shared with his family back home.
Jonas was exploring different kinds of music when his daughter introduced him to a pop song called “Find Someone Like You” by Snoh Alegra.
He found the song so captivating that he decided to learn more about its creator, a Swedish artist who had become popular in Los Angeles. The melody inspired Jonas and his band to create their own version of the song, blending jazz and pop to create something new.
Their version was a hit and was streamed over 1.5 million times on Spotify and was even added to unique playlists like “Smooth Jazz for Pets” on Amazon. This fusion of genres sparked a new wave of curiosity for jazz among pop enthusiasts. By breaking down musical barriers, Jonas hoped to encourage listeners to embrace diverse music and challenge traditional genre boundaries.
Jonas’s latest musical project, "Umbaji," isn't just about creating sounds; it's about weaving the diverse threads of his heritage and experiences into a rich tapestry of music.
The name "Umbaji," which means creativity and creation in Swahili, is a nod to Jonas's childhood, where his Swedish father, an educator passionate about human rights and democracy, often traveled to Tanzania among other countries. There, he immersed himself in the local culture, bringing back not just fabrics for clothes but also songs and stories, which he shared with his family back home.
This multicultural upbringing, enriched with Swahili songs and a home bustling with people from various backgrounds, significantly influenced Jonas. It instilled in him a deep appreciation for the shared human experience and the creative exchange that can happen between differing cultures. Naming his band "Umbaji" was a way to honor that legacy and underscore the project's core mission: to blend and share cultures through the universal language of music.The concept of "Umbaji" also reflects Jonas’s approach to music, especially jazz and his mastery of the saxophone.
He sees "Umbaji" not as a destination but as a continuous journey of artistic exploration and creativity. Every composition and performance is an opportunity to experiment and innovate, striving to transcend traditional genre boundaries and invite listeners into new auditory experiences. In his concerts, Jonas frequently explains the significance of "Umbaji," sharing its roots and relevance, thus inviting his audience to partake in this ongoing creative journey.
In his musical pursuits, Jonas strives to dissolve the traditional boundaries between jazz, pop, and other genres. He aims to make jazz more accessible and enjoyable to a broader audience by incorporating elements of pop and soul into his compositions.
This approach not only enriches his sound but also invites listeners who might typically shy away from jazz to explore its complexities and enjoy its rhythms.
While Jonas understands that many purists may be opposed to this, he takes the stance that he makes music for the fans, for himself and his band, not for the purists who define what a genre is or isn’t.
See here his version of Autumn leaves, which perfectly encapsulates how he takes inspiration from other genres. Jonas says: "This song always been close to my heart. This is the song that made me decide to do an album with only me and my instruments. Arranging, recording and mixing this music was such an adventure and really developed me musically and personally. I wanted to keep the feeling in this song but add some of my touch. You can see this in the, midpart "the solo" which is more like a jazzy sax chorus instead of the part that's in the original version. The melody is almost like the original Eva way, I just changed the ending a tiny bit. Don't really know why.. Just felt right at the moment."
During a collaboration with Doctors Without Borders in South Africa in 2010, Jonas Wall contributed to a humanitarian effort by donating musical instruments to a local school and teaching children how to play.
This experience not only brought joy and new skills to the children but also reinforced the transformative power of music as a tool for education and empowerment in underserved communities. While they barely knew how to play, he fondly recalls the experience. While a philanthropic effort, it ended up inspiring music direction and impacting his future work.
During a collaboration with Doctors Without Borders in South Africa in 2010, Jonas Wall contributed to a humanitarian effort by donating musical instruments to a local school and teaching children how to play. This experience not only brought joy and new skills to the children but also reinforced the transformative power of music as a tool for education and empowerment in underserved communities. While they barely knew how to play, he fondly recalls the experience. While a philanthropic effort, it ended up inspiring music direction and impacting his future work.
Jonas places a strong emphasis on improvisation in his live performances, ensuring that no two shows are the same.
He makes sure that a fan that attends multiple shows, may hear similar songs and melodies, but gets a different experience each night.
Playing in the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, he learnt of the importance of freedom to express yourself creatively during concerts, which leads to fresh and unique musical experiences for the audience each night.
This practice of improvisation is central to his philosophy of live performance, creating dynamic and ever-evolving music that captivates listeners.
The instrumental cover of "Find Someone Like You" by Jonas Wall unexpectedly became a viral hit on Spotify.
The song catapulted to 1.5 million streams, seemingly out of nowhere, which is partly due to its inclusion in several major playlists. Most notably, the playlist: “Jazz Songs For Pets” and “Smooth Jazz Chill”. While an unconventional route to virality, it shows the change in music distribution and the new opportunities of commercial success.
Jonas was only six years old when his musical journey began with a gift from his father: a clarinet. Due to his small hands, reaching the fingerings was a challenge, prompting his father to creatively rewrite the songs so Jonas could play them.
As years passed, his father introduced him to the alto saxophone, but Jonas didn't take to it initially, finding more joy in playing the tuba in an orchestra. The resonant, foundational role of the tuba captivated him, and it became his primary focus when he attended music high school.
Despite his preference for the tuba, the saxophone remained part of his musical repertoire, stored away but not forgotten. It began to pique his interest more seriously when older students at his school invited him to join a jam session. The encouragement and enjoyment he found in these sessions made the saxophone increasingly appealing. A turning point came when his friend, Sebastian Nylund, suggested he apply to the Music University in Piteå. Jonas followed this advice, got accepted, and from that moment, the saxophone became central to his life, marking the beginning of his profound commitment to the instrument.
While we don't have any video evidence of Jonas's clarinet history, the way he can perform live with a range of instruments highlights his understanding and appreciation of a diverse range of sounds shown in this live performance with the Nils Landgren Funk Unit.
Jonas pays tribute to the legendary David Williams Sanborn who was an American alto saxophonist. Sanborn worked in many musical genres; his solo recordings typically blended jazz with instrumental pop and R&B.
Originally released in 1978 on the album Heart to Heart, Jonas pays tribute to a musical legend in his classic smooth jazz fashion. This cover was originally created to feature on a 2019 record Jonas was producing but never made the final edit.
We present it for you exclusively on Holican with a teaser preview below.
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