Fusing Jazz, Pop, Rock: Safehaven

by Jennifer Guerra

Looking for a talented, new band that you can discover before the rest of radio­free America does? Then look no farther than SafeHaven, an eclectic, multi­genre band with the University of Michigan's own Ben Yonas on piano. (Yonas is a jazz pianist at UM's School of Music). However, SafeHaven is not a local band. The group (Elizaeth Callahan, Aaron Gin, Timothy Glenn, Eric MacDonald, and Ben Yonas) is actually from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where they tour frequently. After performing in Ann Arbor at Tower Records on South U., and at the Michigan League to a sold out crowd, it looks as if SafeHaven is earning a following that will soon make them a staple on U of M's campus.

The band members all bring different musical backgrounds to the group, which greatly contriutes to their eclectic sound. And although they are not trying to emulate any one particular band, the members' individual influences which range from Ani Difranco to Santana to Bill Evans come through quite clearly. SafeHaven, however, still manages to maintain its own style and its own sound.

On their first album, Catching Rain, SafeHaven mixes a variety of different musical styles and instruments in creative, innovative ways. In "Breadline," one of the band's few non­relationship themed songs, guest musician Danny Newton on accordian joins Glenn on drums for a syncopated, Latin­sounding introduction. Later in the song, Yonas' piano solo jams in a free­form improvisation jazz style that definitely keeps the song moving. It is too bad Yonas doesn't include more of these solos on Catching Rain.

Although admittedly some of Callahan's lyrics are clichés ("needing you is like a drug"), the sincerity and emotion with which she sings makes those lines effective. On "Tolerate," Callahan's intensity comes through in lines like, "he had a new bitch to share his bed but they talked about nothing." A major musical influence of Callahan is the great Ella Fitzgerald. And Ella's influence does not go unnoticed in Callahan's vocal style. While guitar and piano groove underneath to their own musical line, Callahan's voice glides above the instrumentation, following her own musical line with jazz slides and harmonies. The songs on Catching Rain are for the most part straightforward in their setup chorus, verse, chorus, verse. However, the interlude in "Tolerate" with its driving drum beat, piano and guitar independently jamming, and Callahan's sultry vocals shows that the band can, in fact, groove.

"Don't Break Don't Bend" is a perfect example of SafeHaven's rock style. Their instrumentation with acoustic guitar, drums, piano, and cello make the song move in a syncopated, fast tempo rhythm. Combined with Callahan's other vocal style (think Ani Difranco: half singing, half speaking) which shows the vindictiveness evident in her lyrics, "Don't Break Don't Bend" shows SafeHaven at their best.

The problem with Catching Rain is its lack of guitar, drum, and piano solos. Only on "Catching Rain" and "She Breaks Down" do Gin and Yonas get a chance to really jam. And when they do, it is for a maximum of eight bars barely one minute's worth of music! When they do play solos, however, they are extremely musical, showing the talent these musicians truly have.

What is not heard on their album is made up for in their live performances. And SafeHaven is definitely a live band. After playing to a sold out crowd at the Michigan League on January 30, and a promotional gig at Tower Records, SafeHaven left their audience wanting more. Along with their own songs, the band covers tunes ranging from "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding to Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet" demonstrating the scope of their ability and talent. And when they perform, their songs last well over the usual three to four minute CD range, (a stipulation record companies try to enforce, which tends to stifle any band's potential to truly jam), allowing the band to perform different, more instrumental arrangements. And because they play different arrangements of every song each show (so you never see the same show twice), the band members have the chance to improvise and jam more on their instruments, a major strong point of SafeHaven's yet an important factor missing on Catching Rain.

As SafeHaven's first effort, Catching Rain is quite successful in creating a sound and style that is a fusion of jazz, pop, and rock. And since all 11 tracks on Catching Rain are unique, the CD caters to whatever mood you are in funk, jazz, rock, pop, or acoustic rock Hopefully with their second effort (which will be coming out this summer) the band will feel more comfortable lengthening and experimenting with their songs showing their musical ability not only lies in quick, short, radio­friendly songs with the usual chorus/verse style as heard on Catching Rain, but also in the free­form jamming style seen at their lives shows.

Their current CD, Catching Rain, which is distributed by OarFinn Records, is available at Tower Records, Wherehouse Records, Schoolkids, and Borders. You should definitely pick up a copy ­ you will not be disappointed. And since it may be a long time before they produce a live CD, do not miss SafeHaven perform at the UClub on April 11 at 8:00PM where they will definitely entertain the crowd and make you jam. MR

This article was published in the 11 March 1998 edition of The Michigan Review (Volume 16, Number 8).
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