This tall, thin man in glasses and a cap is playing cheerful Christmas songs near a traffic light at the Phu Nhuan intersection, one of the most crowded traffic hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, during rush hour on a Thursday evening.
As soon as he starts blowing his golden saxophone, he catches the attention of the passers-by. In the middle of the street, a couple of passengers put their heads through a bus window, trying to figure out what the strange man is doing.
Some vendors pass him by, turn their back, and check him out carefully, as if he is trying to compete with their fierce business on the street.
Bikers throw confused looks at the foreign saxophonist while trying to jostle through the traffic jam during rush hour.
With a small girl sitting in the front, a father of a family approaches the musician so that his daughter can listen to a few joyous tunes before they depart again when the traffic light changes its color.
Not limiting himself to only playing music on sidewalk, the musician steps into the street and walks between drivers and vehicles as if he is trying to get closer to his “audience”.
“It’s quite strange. I don’t know why he plays on the street and sometimes merges among people like that. It’s like something from a movie,” said Le Vinh, who used his phone to capture the musician’s performance.
When the saxophonist takes a break, Vinh and his friends approach him and talk to him so that they can have their questions answered.
The mysterious man’s name is Jeremy Danneman, and he is from New York. He arrived in Ho Chi Minh City a week ago and has performed at a crossroad, on a bridge, in a park, and wherever he can to catch people’s attention through his music.
Even though he graduated from New York University with a Bachelor's degree in British and American Literature, Jeremy decided to pursue his childhood dream and become a professional musician.
In March 2009, instead of having a birthday party, Jeremy decided to have a parade around New York, where he walked while playing a saxophone and was followed by friends and strangers on the street.
The foreign saxophonist tries to jostle through the traffic jam during rush hour to play with his saxophone to make people happy (Photo: Phuong Thuy)
In the same year, Jeremy founded Parade of One, an organization dedicated to removing the musician from the traditional, scripted role of recording albums and giving concerts, instead finding new ways to deploy musical talent.
Since then, he has travelled to Rwanda, Cambodia and now Vietnam; the countries that, according to him, have suffered the most from the pains of genocide and war, to give several street performances.
Most of the travelling, accommodation, and food fees come from his own expenses and donations on his websites. Depending on the amount of money given, philanthropists can receive specially-composed melodies, or have the musician perform at their door.
Jeremy has an attachment for Vietnam, a destination suggested by his father, who was involved in the Vietnam War more than 36 years ago.
To make up for the pains caused by previous generations, this American man has travelled to the Cu Chi tunnels, Vung Tau, and Mui Ne to perform for Agent Orange victims, children with disabilities, and those living with HIV/AIDS.
On December 10, he also joined other artists in a charity event at the city’s University of Industry called “Dreams of a Christmas Night”, which raised 2,000 dollars to support orphans around the city.
But most of his time is spent playing music on busy Saigon streets, among vehicles and drivers. Jeremy became fascinated by the city’s jams after witnessing the heaviest traffic he had ever seen when he first arrived last April.
“The traffic here is as intimate as the crowded subways in New York. In Vietnam, people ride motorbikes in the streets as if it is a social space where they experience traffic together,” says Jeremy.
Playing on the street, Jeremy does not take any tips. He is happy when there is someone who appreciates his music, even if they only show signs like a smile, a nod or thumbs up.
Still, Jeremy considers performing on the street a kind of charity in a non-conventional sense.
“The music is free, open to the public, and is meant to make people happy,” he explains.
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