A new band with Sri Lankan flavour
By Mahes Perera
There was a time in Sri Lanka when, before the exodus of musicians,
the industry was flourishing with singers and bands displaying a high
level of artistry and a healthy competition among one another. The
reason that was attributed to this scene was that full-time musicians
and part-time musicians were a- plenty and quite naturally band managers
were necessary, and they were strict displinarians which helped to keep
the industry sizzling. One such band manager was Upali Edirisinghe whose
band Pioneers was a leading name in the industry. When Pioneers was
launched the members according to Upali, were Esric Jackson, Sandra
Rhode, Tilak Jinadasa, Harsha Makalande and Raj Dassanayake who stayed
with the band, even though members changed over the years, until he
decided to migrate to Australia.
"Pioneers was formed in 1970 and a year later to the surprise of
everyone we won The Beat King Band of Year, which was keenly contested
by more than 20 bands. In the same year we started playing at Ceylinco
for the Sun Down Dances. We played every day and it was amazing how many
patronised the dances some of them coming straight after working at
their offices! We enjoyed their appreciation of our music and they in
turn used to dance their feel off till late in the night. There was no
denying that we gained success and popularity" said Raj Dassanayake.
Question: You have come back home for a holiday and also to
meet your family and friends during this holiday season, it was
coincidence that Esric and Sandra Jackson too were in Sri Lanka with
their band Replay 6, were you involved in playing in Melbourne?
Answer: Yes I did. I played with a Sri Lankan band called Jade
which is led by the bassist Tony Rosairo. They have their fair share of
gigs and I was happy playing with them for dances and reliving our days
in Sri Lanka. I think and according to others Sri Lanka's New Year's Eve
celebration has a brand name all its own. No other country celebrates
the night like how we do. That's why every year from Australia and
England Sri Lankans fly in to enjoy themselves thoroughly before they
return. I was a freelance drummer filling in whenever a drummer was
needed.
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Shyane Fernando |
Q: Now when you get back will you continue with Jade or are
you having other plans?
A: I won't be a regular with Jade because another group
comprising Sri Lankans and Australians have got together and I'm their
drummer. The group is called Blue Leopard - it's an unusual name for a
band but the name will always be a reminder to most of us, of Sri Lanka.
This is the latest band to be launched in Melbourne for the New Year
2014. We thought we must move away from the karaoke scene and the
midi-file scene, because the highlight of most events in Melbourne is
the steady influx of visiting bands and solo artistes from Sri Lanka.
Q: Can you clue us in, on who the members of the band are and
how many of them are Sri Lankans?
A: The leader of the band is Lou Grimes, he plays guitar and
handles vocals. He has his origins in Malta and has been in the music
scene for more than three decades. He once had his own Creedence
Clearwater Revival Tribute Band for 17 years! At present he is heavily
involved in writing the arrangements for the musicians in the band.
The lead vocalist/percussion is Julian Packeer the name no doubt will
be all too familiar to Sri Lankans of an early era. Julian was the front
line singer for the bands Stargazers, Esquire Set and Sam the Man. He
was also singing professionally at night clubs in Colombo and then he
moved on to tourist resorts in Negombo which included his appearances
with 'Genuine Spares' at Blue Oceanic Hotel, 'Solid' at Browns Beach
Hotel, Seashells Hotel and Blue Lagoon.
Before, he left for Melbourne he had his own band 'Love Machine'. In
Melbourne Julian Packeer continued his music. He formed a band named
'Catseye' and Blue Leopard Trio and has now teamed up with his manager
Smokey Jansz and launched 'Blue Leopard'. Julian hopes to release his
first gospel CD 'Agape' soon."
We cannot however leave out the glitz in the band the female lead
vocalist Monika Ciara. She is of Polish descent and is a percussionist
as well. A voice trainer and piano teacher her repertoire stretches from
songs of the past to the present. The members we understand feel she is
an asset in their band.
The others in band we learnt from Raj Dassanayake are Ravi Silva -
keyboardist/lead guitarist/vocals - a familiar figure known to many Sri
Lankans in Melbourne. When he was in Sri Lanka he started his music
career playing drums and now he is a versatile professional musician in
Melbourne.
The bass guitarist Shyane Fernando handles vocals as well. Of Sri
Lankan origin he hails from a talented family of musicians and is a
self-taught bassist. He played with Daya & the Clan, Into the Groove and
at present plays with a South African band Rhythm Tones.
Q: Overall who will be handling all the entertainment
arrangements of the band. Does it fall on the shoulders of Julian
Packeer or Lou Grimes to keep the group in trim?
A: The manager of the band, following a tradition we had in
the early years in Sri Lanka is Smokey Jansz who learnt his ABC under
Donovan Andree and was involved in the arrangements of the performances
of the Duke Ellington Orchestra when they performed in Sri Lanka, and
other singers such as Tony Brent for instance.
When he migrated to Melbourne he continued to promote Sri Lankan
singers and bands for performances in Australia. He is no stranger to
the entertainment scene."
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