Jonathan Arons

My First Music Video

Jonathan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:39:11 +0000

A tribute to my favorite news anchor, the smart and beautiful Alex Wagner on MSNBC!

Saturday Brunch Standards

Jonathan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:00:42 +0000

This has got to be one of the most fun gigs I’ve done in my life. I’ve finally gotten around to doing what I’ve always been afraid of doing – singing jazz standards as dinner music and being a little lounge lizard and piano-man-like. Feel like I’m reinventing myself in the best way possible.

The Race Issue: Money and Melanin

Jonathan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:42:56 +0000

Whenever the race issue is discussed in media, the main focus seems to be defining success by material accomplishment – primarily money and melanin. What is often discussed is the need to more equally link economic and intellectual accomplishments/opportunities with various skin colors, melanin. What is much less often emphasized is equally linking sensual, emotional, creative, and multi-faith driven accomplishments along the same racial lines. I believe neither money nor melanin ultimately define success. Sure melanin and money influence what others see and expect of us at different times in human history but they do not determine what we individually feel and believe, which are just as essential to success as having material things like money or genetics. Any amount of economic success or melanin does not ensure a set amount of “feelings, faith, or discipline”. Those are the lost code words in the discussion of the race issue today.

My Trombone Duel on Jimmy Fallon – Darth Vader versus Chewbacca

Jonathan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:58:41 +0000

Golden Rule versus Darwin

Jonathan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:05:42 +0000

A few weeks ago, I had the realization that it seems every action people take is either with the intent of “doing unto others as they would do unto you”, or with the intent of “surviving as the fittest”. In other words, everything I do is either with the hope that some will reciprocate a favor whether it’s just good karma or something more direct like a favor to be repaid down the line. Otherwise, most of my actions are taken so I can beat somebody out or be better than them ultimately so I can survive as the fittest. Then a few weeks later, a fellow trombonist David Gibson hipped me to this New York Times article by David Brooks discussing similar themes in terms of evolution. Interesting read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/opinion/17brooks.html?_r=1&ref=evolution

Choices

Jonathan — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:05:55 +0000

If I have to choose between the power of music and believing that God can only be known by one name, I will choose the power of music every time. However, when I am within the context of those who believe in Jesus Christ, I will respect their name. When I am within the context of Yahweh, I will respect their name. When I am within the context of Allah, I will respect their name. Similarly, when I am within the contexts of Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other religious belief system I will respect their relative expressions of God. But when we all get together to express through music and art, I believe semantics for God should be cast aside for the greater cause of united creation, within which lies the true spirit of God.

Welcome

Jonathan — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:26:57 +0000

Welcome to the new website. Please have a look around, there’s lots to see!