In Tune

Jazz in Sri Lanka inside out

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

CONTRARY to its nowadays’ apparently diminished and rather muted disposition as a commercially well-established art form, jazz was Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed and urbanely widespread style of music in the 40s and 50s.

Although one hardly gets to hear any jazz being played in the city’s famous pubs, sports clubs or night clubs any more than a beat group playing one or two jazz songs from a podium as of today, the spicy sounds of the Caribbean and Mexico were once gaining wider notice in the country’s big hotels.

Burgeoning Jazz sessions were taking place at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, the Taprobane and the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The musicians were all European nationals for there was no local jazz bands or musicians in Sri Lanka during those early years of post-independence. Most of these European bands resembled Swing or Big Bands in the US while some of them resembled the characteristics of Territory Bands that were playing jazz in smaller United States cities.

There were no electronic keyboards or electric guitars available at the time of the development of jazz. The instruments in use were pianos, clarinets, harmonicas, oboes, saxophones, trumpets, drums and semi acoustic-guitars.

The European jazz musicians brought these instruments to the country to play their music.

This is the early history of the beginning of jazz music in Sri Lanka.

The current article has been composed by us to serve as material for future reference outlining the history of jazz music in Sri Lanka.

As pointed out by pianist Suriyakumaran Veerasingham, a second generation jazz musician and an authority on Western music in Sri Lanka, “Most of these EU bands played a lot of jazz. They also played standards and ball room music.”

The city of New Orleans with a well-established large black population is regarded as the place of the origin of Jazz and or its evolution by many authorities.

Jazz great Louis Armstrong, and his teacher, one of the first great cornetist Joe “King” Oliver, and other influential musicians including Jelly Roll Morton hailed from New Orleans.

In the early years, Brass bands paraded in New Orleans and played to comfort families during funerals and performed at numerous functions including social dances, a character that is discernible from so call “Papare” bands in Sri Lanka.

A Papare band uses trumpets, a bass drum for beat, a pair of cymbals and most of these bands play simple jazz standards like “When the Saints Go Marching In.” After the EU jazz bands left the country, several Indian musicians came to Sri Lanka from Goa, who settled in the country, said Suriyakumar.

Among these Goanese families were good jazz musicians. The Menezes family was one among them with Roger Menezes.

The family of Manilka Vasagar was another family of jazz musicians from India. Lucky , Valantine and Nesen Vasagar became acclaimed jazz musicians. Among the characters of musical importance were Erin De Selfa, who was the wife of Donovan Andre. Erin brought down a number of foreign jazz bands to the country.

Jazz singer Yolande Bavan is another key figure. She went to America where she formed the famous Lambert Hendrix and Bavan trio, which received international acclaim.

The first generation musicians played predominantly light jazz or ball room music and jazz standards.

Saxophonists Harold Seneviratna and Edgar Hebber, Milroy Passe De Silva, guitarists Gazaril Amith, pianists Eric Batholomeusz, Sunny Batholomeuz, Dr. Gulasekaran (Dr. Gulli), Jimmy Emmanual, Jerry Crake and Raddy Fereira features prominently in the early development of jazz in the country. This was the time the piano style, which developed from ragtime was popular.

The first generation includes drummers Faleel Ziard and Cass Ziard, pianist\drummer Adrian Ferdinandz, Patrick Nelson Combo and Arden Nelson Combo.

As pointed out by Suriyakumar the musicians who came after the first generation of jazz musicians took the level of music to a higher level.

“There are no pure jazz musicians in Sri Lanka for the fact that it will be hard to earn one’s bread if one is a pure jazz musician here,” he said.

“The basis of jazz is improvisation. technically speaking if you are playing “Funeral March” and improvise on it, it means you are playing a jazzy version of Funeral March,” he explained. Helen Lucus, Steurt De Silva, Sisil Rodrigo and trumperters Papa Miskin and Latiff were among those who played jazz in Sri Lanka.

Guitarists Raja Jalaldeen, Dilan Lye, Raj Seneviratna and Derek Wickremenayake are among the second generation of musicians. Also the pianist\singer Priyanthi Manamperi, Noeline Honter and Dalrene Suby.

Musicians Aruna Siriwardena, Upali Fernando, Sunil De Silva (the percussionist for Santana), Hussain Jiffrey (who plays for George Benson and Yani) have also contributed much to the development of jazz.

Among those who promoted jazz music in Sri Lanka are Tommy Perera, Tita Nathaniez, Mahes Perera, former Minister Haren Coreya and Bala Namasvayam.

Jazz Unlimited, the jazz club of Sri Lanka to promote jazz music organise sessions of jazz music every month at CR&FA with the participation of many up and coming jazz bands and singers. Among them are senior players like Harsha Makalanda and Dilrukshi Sirimanna.

Shani to play piano in Colombo

THE internationally acclaimed young Sri Lankan pianist Shani Diluka will perform in Colombo at the invitation of the Alliance Francaise. The concert will be held at the Bishop’s College auditorium on November 3 at 7.00 p.m.

Shani Diluka is considered one of the finest pianists of her generation. She was born in Monaco and is an outstanding product of the hallowed Conservatoire National Superieur de Musiques et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), a top music academy in France.

She has performed at international music festivals such as the Young Master Series at Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Festival Chopin de Bagatelle, Festival Davos, and Roque D’ Antherron International Piano Festival, and won numerous prizes.

Shani Diluka has worked with world’s acclaimed pianists. Murray Perahia, Leon Fleisher, Christoph Eschenbach, Menehem Pressler, Claude Frank, Francoise Bouquet, George Chamine and Maria Joao Pires are among them.

She has received grants from renowned foundations including the Foundation Prince de Polignac, Natexis - Banque Populaire, the Wilhelm Kempff Foundation, Foundation CIMA. More recently she received a grant from the International Piano Academy in Lake Como which is presided by legendary Martha Agerich. The Academy selects six pianists from the world for this purpose every year.

Shani has preformed in several renowned orchestras including the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France, the french National Orchestra of Nice, the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine, The Philharmonic Orchestra of Monaco and the Symphonia Varsovia.

She has also collaborated with leading composers in the callibre of Gyorgi Kurtag, Helmut Lachenmann, Wolfgang Rhim and Bruno Mantovani.

She will collaborate with Quatour Berg, and Quatour Tallisch. Her success with Guatour Yase Quatour Mogdliani has held her self-esteem. She has performed with renowned soloists Roland Pidoux, Eric-Maria Couturier and Nemanja Radulovic.

Shani’s first CD was released early this year by Mirare/Harmonia Mundi with Greig’s celebrated piano concerto with the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine an Greig’s Lyric Pieces.

The recording has won international recognition with ‘Choc De La Monde De La Musique’ from Monde De La Musique’ with Gold label from RTL, The Choice of ARTE, Radio France Music and 5/5 of Diapasson, among the others.

She is also featured in the new CD “Roque D’ Antheron 2’ along with several outstanding pianists namely Boris Berezovosky, Andrei Lugansky, Philippe Guisano, and Brigette Engerer.

The forthcoming piano recital in Colombo will provide a wonderful opportunity for Sri Lankan classical music lovers to listen to music performed by the artist.

Derrick, Kelly and Deborah to perform with Misty

DERRICK Junkeer (Derrick J), will sing with two Aussie vocalists, Kelly Symthe and Deborah Wilson at the BMICH, Colombo on October 27 (Saturday). Misty will provide music.

The show has been organised by St. Joseph’s College Colombo Sports Council, headed by Joel Selvanayagam.

Derrick J became popular in the island with his single “Come What May”. He migrated to Australia in 1973 to pursue a musical career.

Derrick J made success in Australia with his singing, once bagging a Best Male Vocalist award. He loves doing covers of Engelbert Humperdinck. However, he plans to add variety to the present concert by singing several hits of Tom Jones, Michael Buble, Elvis Pressly and Platters.

Kelly Symthe and Deborah Wilson will perform several selected songs made popular by Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Etta James, Olivia Newton John and Anastasia.

BDFI Dancing on Wheels Festival on Oct.25

THE Ballroom Dancers Federation International of Sri Lanka (BDFI)’s Dance Festival of the year and dinner dance will be held at the Water’s Edge, Capital City on October 25 with an International Wheel Chair Dancing Competition.

The theme of the festival this year is “Dancing is a co-ordination of mind, body, soul and the Audience Eyes - Do not separate them.”

Mihin Lanka is to give a return air ticket to Bangkok to the winner of the ticket draw of the event. Competitors from six countries will participate in the Wheel Chair Dancing Competition. They will be flown to the country by Mihin Lanka.

The contestants will perform Latin, Standard, Line and Hip Hop dancing items. Music will be provided by Friends.

There will be performances by the World Showcase Dance Champions. The Hilton Colombo sponsors the event.