Pan Pan

This instrumental jazz five-piece from Bellingham also surprised me mostly because I didn't expect Pan Pan to rock so much. Okay, so rock isn't the right musical term to use when referring to these well-trained jazz musicians (a trumpeter, saxophonist, upright bassist, keyboarder and drummer respectively), but still t hey owned the stage during their set. - EarCandy Beat

At 21, Sarah Jerns plays the kind of intricate-yet-lilting compositions that should require a handful of older, more experienced musicians to write. Jerns is a near-prodigy, single-handedly playing piano, trumpet, flugelhorn, and accordion on her vocal-free songs. She brings this technical skill to compositions like "Understatement," which sound like one part Mahler symphony, one part indie rock, and all parts totally captivating. - Seattle Weekly

Like their namesake, Pan Pan conjures whimsy, the wilderness, and the quiet swell of subtle emotions with a simple flourish of horn set above piano rumble. The solo project of Bellinghahm’s Sarah Jerns, Pan Pan is Morricone by way of Beirut, a suggestive mix of cinema and exuberant release. Spare percussion underpins Jerns’ wandering trumpet. Her piano skips through a field-recorded dream. Horns catch your hair and buoy traveling spirits. It’s an abduction of your senses, a permission slip for wild abandon. Listen.

Jerns is already a veteran player in the local music scene, working with The Love Lights, Yogoman Burning Band, and The Presidents of the United States, and performing at The Paramount and Sasquatch. She and her backing band of Andrew Bybee, Austin Richey, Coltan Foster, and Natalia Oncina face off against Hooves and Beak, A Cozy Kitchen, and The Cat From Hue this Saturday at EMP|SFM’s second round of semifinals. - Seattlest

The second round of semifinals pits two Bellingham bands against each other, A Cozy Kitchen and Pan Pan. The fact that Pan Pan is involved in all this competitive music-making should come as no surprise to anyone that has followed the career of Sarah Jerns and her musical compatriots—in fact, I have a strong suspicion that 2010 is going to prove to be a fruitful year for the talented multi-instrumentalist. While the mysterious ways of the Sound Off! judges cannot be accurately predicted, out of all the local bands making an appearance, it is my opinion that Pan Pan stands a decent chance of bringing that Sound Off! glory right back here where it belongs. However, first they’ll have to get past the electro folk of A Cozy Kitchen, not to mention whatever Hooves and Beak and the Cat from Hue, who hail from the nearby environs of Camano Island bring to the table. - Cascadia Weekly

At Cafe Avellino, above the din of the Dixie Chicks on the radio and the clanking silverware of the latte-sipping patrons, Sarah Jerns, aka Pan Pan, tells it like it is.

“My audience has to understand instrumental music,” she said, explaining how her shows tend to go over. “It normally does well.”

Does well, indeed.

Since getting together last January, Jerns and her band–which also includes two other trumpet players, an upright bass player and a drummer–have garnered an overwhelmingly positive response.

And that’s not to imply that it’s surprising they’ve been successful. But when considering the nature of their music–jazz and classical with no vocals–along with the fact that they play a lot of the same venues as their rock ‘n’ roll peers, it makes their ascent all the more intriguing, in some ways.

Then again, her vast pre-Pan Pan resume, which includes stints in the Love Lights, the Yogoman Burning band and performing with Presidents of the United States of America, speaks for itself.

“Everyone’s been really supportive,” she said. Most of the artists mentioned also used her in the studio, as well as the stage. So, in a sense, the groundwork was laid; connections were made.

Jerns, a longtime trumpet, flugelhorn and piano player, found her talents to be in high demand over this particular time period. However, after years of side work, there always seemed to be a yearning to branch out and do her own project. While it was a fun experience–she’s been at it since she was 17–she felt the time was ripe last winter to begin her own endeavors.

She and her band mates–Andrew Bybee, Austin Richey, Coltan Foster and Natalia Oncina–are all music majors at Western Washington University, which has proved to be invaluable in the songwriting process.

“It makes it easier, when we’re trying to write, because we’re all music students,” she said, explaining the convenience of everyone having the same music theory acumen. Suffice it to say that everyone speaking the same musical language–not to mention sharing a lot of the same influences–greases the wheels a bit for songwriting.

Pan Pan recently released her record New Arms, (available on ITunes or her MySpace page), which gives one a taste of what her live shows offer. “Eventually, we want to redo all of the tracks, with more people and more instruments,” she said, explaining the band’s future debut for Clickpop Records, her label.

In the meantime, her Myspace tracks get the job done. Deep and brooding, light and airy; the songs lend an endless vibe and mood in some ways saying more than any lyrics could ever say.

“It’s worked up emotion,” she said. “Most of the songs were written during a breakup, and geared towards a specific emotion.”

It does, however, beg the question: how does she come up with the song titles?

“Some do mean specific things,” she said. “Other times, it’s just what fits.”

Regardless, the air of ambiguity is fitting, given that one can interpret the songs to mean whatever they’d like.

Over the course of the past year, Pan Pan has played the likes of the Wild Buffalo, the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern and Boundary Bay. As mentioned, most audiences adapt to the style and the shows go over without a hitch. There was one, however, at the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, that proved to be a bit more of a challenge. “It was loud and packed…harder to control,” she said. But, as it turned out, the virtues were wrapped in the vices, as the band’s jazz background allowed them to improvise with ease and win over the crowd.

The next few months are shaping up to be busy ones for Pan Pan. On Jan. 30, she plays the What’s Up! Awards Show at the Wild Buffalo. A little under a month later, she will follow that with an appearance at the EMP Soundoff in Seattle.

“There are three Bellingham bands on that bill, so it should be fun,” she said.

Her bigger ambitions, however, are reserved for after she graduates.

“We want to go on tour, hit the scene hard,” she said, adding that gigs at the Showbox, the Crocodile Cafe and Bumbershoot are in her sights as well.

“I’d also like to play Sasquatch one day,” she said, alluding to her main goal. All things considered, it’s a justifiably realistic one, given that she’s played there before, albeit not necessarily on her own terms (back then, she was on stage with PUSA).

One other notable aspect of her live show worth mentioning is the refreshingly unorthodox intros. From time to time, she’ll line up some of her musician friends outside of the venue, almost marching band style. The music starts, and they make their way inside. Her own band, upon hearing the spirited cacophony, will then begin playing as well, creating a musical merger with the outside players.

To say that the bar has been raised a bit when it comes to creative show openers would be a slight understatement.

Which just goes to show that sometimes, no words are needed to tell it like it is. - What's Up Magazine

April 24 - Old Foundry

by Robin McGarrity

Sarah Jerns is Pan Pan. On this night she brought together 11 horn and brass musicians to back up her trumpet and piano at the Old Foundry this night. Standing in front of them all, the first songs of her set entranced me with their waves of layered music theory. Retreating to a more conventional band arrangement of her piano backed up by her live band of trumpeter, drummer and standup bassist, the music continued to flow. When the set was over I was left in a state of awe at the compositions that had graced the venue. It felt like something special to hear music this different from the usual genres at the 'Foundry, a secret to be kept by the 50 or so in attendance. - What's Up! Magazine

By Nick Dillon

Pan Pan is an astonishing band for such a young age. Featuring members of the Love Lights, the quartet combines trumpet, piano, upright bass, and drums to create slow building instrumentals with a melancholy jazz feel. The instruments would often join in at different times, allowing each part to stand out as all four musicians built towards a triumphant climax. The songs were sparse and maintained a loose, almost improvised feel. This, coupled with the unique lineup of instruments, makes Pan Pan one of the more distinctive and experimental bands in Bellingham. - What's Up! Magazine

By Brent Cole- What’s Up! Magazine, Feb. 2009

Best known for her skills as a trumpeter with The Love Lights as well as hitting the horns with the Presidents of the United States of America, Bellingham’s Sarah Jerns has stepped into the lead with her solo project Pan Pan. Full of beautiful and haunting melodies on piano and trumpet, Pan Pan goes far beyond the standard fair of college rock, stretching the boundaries of local music.

A classically trained pianist with a year of jazz trumpet experience, the under age Sarah began writing songs under the moniker of Pan Pan two years ago when she started composing short piano melodies - though it took a lot longer for the songs to really come to life in front of others. “But I was shy about writing music and kept most of it to myself. I would only play when my house was empty or when it was really late. It’s only been as of recently that I’ve been able to take all the ideas floating around in my head and weave them into a song.”

Having written melodies for a while, it took a road bump in life to get her serious about Pan Pan. “A recent emotional train wreck is what triggered my need to finally get my act together and become active with my solo project,” she said.
While Pan Pan is a solo project, Sarah has added Andrew Bybee on trumpet and flugelhorn, Aaron Pearl on drums and Nick Masters on upright bass for her live set. Their addition helps thicken the sound while also providing the interaction Sarah likes live. “The musicians I’m playing with right now are just so amazing they blow my mind sometimes. They make everything possible,” she said. That being noted, Sarah will be keeping Pan Pan as a solo recording project. “I feel kind of selfish, but I like having Pan Pan based around me. I think it’s time to show the public what I can do.”

As for Pan Pan’s sound, French pop artist Yann Tiersen heavily influences Sarah. “He’s a musical genius. I think that’s why lots of my music is more of a soundtrack to my life,” she said. Lately, though, Sarah has found herself pulling from jazz bassist Avishal Cohen and jazz trumpeter Ron Miles – two influences she grew up with. “I can already start to hear some of their influences come out in my music.”

When it comes to writing, emotion plays a key role for Sarah. “New melodies are pretty easy to come up with. Especially if I’m having a rough day and my emotions are all a mess.” Piano and trumpet lines constantly floating in her head, Sarah uses music to express how she’s feeling. “I can clam up pretty good and hide how I feel, so I use Pan Pan to express my feelings. Piano is my base of my thoughts and trumpet is what shouts it to everyone else.”

As a younger musician, Sarah was hesitant to bring Pan Pan into the local music scene. “I was a little scared to enter the music scene with Pan Pan. I wasn’t sure if people would be interested. But the response has been awesome so far - the Bellingham music scene is so nice and supportive.”

Over the next year, Sarah hopes to record a full-length album, most likely out on Avocado Records. “Trevor Spencer, head of Avocado Family Records has also given a lot of support that has really gotten me into getting my music out there,” she said.

Sarah also plans on playing live as often as possible – not just in Bellingham but also on the road a bit. “I want to see Pan Pan on some killer stages and rocking out,” she said, adding, “I love performing live and I can’t get enough of it.”
For more, check out her myspace
- What's Up! Magazine

Pan Pan is an instrumental band from Bellingham, WA. Sarah Jerns plays piano, trumpet, and fluegelhorn, as well as composing all of the music for Pan Pan. Sarah has also played with The Love Lights, The Presidents of the United States of America, The Ghost and The Grace, and Rooftops. These are our questions to her:

1. What is Pan Pan?

Pan Pan is when I decide to record my music or perform it and share it with others. I keep a lot to myself, but I enjoy sharing a bit. I like to try and show you what I enjoy.

2. Why is Pan Pan?

I spent a long time playing in other groups, which is great, but I like doing my own thing. It was fun to be in other bands, but none of them were really my own personal genre. I’ve gotten a taste of what it is like to play on a huge stages to thousands of fans, and now I want to make it there myself. Sure, I could keep latching on to other people for aid, but it would be more fun to rock out on stage knowing that I accomplished it myself. And by myself I don’t just mean me; I mean the rest of the amazing musicians in my live band. They make the music I hear in my head come out on stage.

3. What is your ideal setting for composing music?

Sadly, I normally need to head to my parents house. I enjoy writing on my piano that’s carried me through the years of lessons and homework. But first I have to get worked up or energized about something. I once waited a really long time for the new Ipod touch to come out with a camera…and then it didn’t. I’ve never been so angry with Apple. I honestly headed straight to a piano and wrote the tune “Water Buffalo Run” right then.
I really enjoy studying music theory too. Learning new concepts of how others thought allows me to play around with my music. I once had to write a lot of composition homework assigned for a guy I call the Hemp Wizard. Doing that kind of school work is actually what makes me come up with new songs. Pan Pan is a very academic band. We nerd out all the time about what concept are going to be used and what sound that is going to make.

4. Béla Bartók or Steve Reich?

Bela Bartok all the way, man. Have you heard his Concerto for Orchestra? OMG SET THEORY! Give me some more of those atonal pitch classes!

5. Where did you record your new CD, “New Arms“? How?

My parents house! I also recorded one tune outside WWU’s PAC when it was raining and then finished it off in one of the practice rooms. I once told someone it would be ridiculous to record in a practice room because the pianos are terrible and the sound has no where to expand. Guess I messed that one up.

6. What is your favorite book, film, or piece of music?

Sarah Jerns doesn’t read books, kids…..or really watch movies. I couldn’t name a favorite piece either. But right now my favorite chord to play is E major in second inversion with a minor and major seventh. It can turn out some juicy things. Look forward to that.

7. Have you ever won a trophy? If so, what for? How many?

YES! I won second place in a soccer tournament in third grade, I believe. I also totally won a Drill Off the summer of Junior year. I was with a bunch of drum majors and we had to complete the commands that the squad leader called out. I dominated! Hella nerdy.

8. You are contacted by a race of extra-terrestrial Pan Pan enthusiasts who inform you that in 7 days you will be teleported to a planet in an alternate dimension, nearly identical to Earth, called Bearth. Everyone you know and love will be there, but you will only be known to them as the Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morrissette. This future is definite. There is nothing you can do to change it. After arriving on Bearth, how long do you wait before you start planning the “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie Reunion Tour”?

Dude, right away. I would be so gritty when I did it, though. I’m talking about no showers for weeks. That would make me super angsty. I would probably gig non-stop and demand that all my green rooms be filled with strongbow, sierra mist, and pocky (strawberry flavored).

9. You have the power to stop time, à la Zack Morris from Saved By The Bell. Do you use this skill to help others? Or do you engage in relatively harmless and often hilarious hi-jinx, either preceded or succeeded by an unlikely series of comedic misunderstandings?

Are you serious? Full on hi-jinx Harry Potter sort of stuff. Some would be harmless and some hilarious. But I would probably also go back to when I was in high school and tell my old self to stop being so lame. Getting asked by your dream boy to Homecoming really isn’t that important after all.

10. What can we expect from the upcoming Pan Pan Holiday EP?

I think I’m going to focus more on just piano recordings. I’m going to share the moments that come out when I’m alone with the piano and I let myself create music as I go. The first song done, “Cedar Crowns & Pocket Noise” is airy and delicate. Tones stick with you and conflict with others. I want to stick your head inside my piano and have you listen to the music that happens inside the strings. It’s not all about notes, its about the sound that the notes leave behind and how they interact. That’s what I am creating. - You Are We Are

By Chris Newton

I enjoy most local bands but have my particular tastes and Pan Pan definitely fills me up whole. Like a well-rounded espresso, I just want more. So having them open for one of my top 20 favorite bands, The Books, at the PAC, was like an early Christmas present. This is the most excited I had been for a show in a while.

When Sarah Jerns wants to make a good impression she knows how to bring on the heavy artillery. Her favorite tactic seems to be starting the show from behind the crowd and having a nearly 20-piece band work their way to the front as they play the opening song. That’s exactly what she did opening for The Books and it’s an obvious move because it delights and surprises.

I’ve seen Pan Pan quite a few of times in different venues and seeing them play at the PAC brought the songs to a whole new level. The clarity and natural dynamics of their music really came through, thanks to proper engineering and of course great songwriting. Pan Pan remained structured by just playing their music and didn’t have a whole lot of chatter in between songs. Doing that, they masterfully transitioned from song to song with little breaks for applause, which drew the crowd in to the performance. The best thing to me about Pan Pan’s performance is that they kept it personal in such a large venue just by playing their music. Opening for The Books at the PAC is a great opportunity and Pan Pan came through managing to impress and wow the audience. High fives to Pan Pan. - What's Up! Magazine