Alagazam.... Dylan's back!

by Mahes Perera

Musician Roscoe Mitchell once said "Anybody who is a good musician is constantly challenging themselves.... you can't get away with just doing this or just doing that.... you have to be able to do all the music..." That's what Dylan Lye has been doing ever since he turned a professional guitarist, from the years he played with the Jetliners led by Mignonne Fernando here in Sri Lanka and followed by 16 years in Hong Kong. Today, with stellar sidemen to challenge and inspire him, Dylan Lye heads his scintillating, amazing band Proteus and what's more he's back in Sri Lanka to perform for a month at the Curve.

What's intriguing is that you used to free lance with the group Red Taurus in Hong Kong and now you are leading your own band Proteus, what's with the name?

"Well Proteus signifies versatility professionally and my members are indeed professionally versatile. There's Hassan Musafer on drums and I don't have to say anything more on his artistry on the drum stool - you know it. I double up on guitar and bass, because some of the events and clubs require a trio to perform, so the switch to bass was a challenge but now second nature to me. However guitar will always be my first love. Then I'm more than happy to have Adonis de Jesus as our pianist, keyboardist, sequencer programmer and composer. He has performed at leading Nite spots in the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong as well. His wide repertoire is remarkable and we jell with no slips. Umara our vocalist is rare in her talent. Sri Lanka knows her only too well."

The last time we met, you mentioned you were playing in Macau, are you still performing in that island?

"No. I was playing in Macau at the Galaxy and MGM. I did that gig for a period of nine months and then came back to Hong Kong to free lance. I enjoy free lance. It gives me more opportunity to play a variety of music."

Have you had opportunities to play for presentations like it happened in Hong Kong?

"Yes in Macau we did a presentation for Omega Goldmaster and it turned out to be a great success. Then again, the music now depends on the client. Most of them go for trios and the bigger bands are less prominent.

Hassan Musafer, the Sri Lankan legendary drummer is now a free lance drummer in Hong Kong. He is an instructor as well, who teaches drums at the Baron School of Music and has been doing so far the past eight years.

"On Fridays I play in a band comprising Paul Candelaria on bass, the amazing blind pianist Jezriel and Balu on guitar. I get a great deal of satisfaction playing with these guys. The music in Hong Kong is more modern. Old songs are taken and twisted around to suit the modern requirements, and I'm thankful for my influences from Roy Haynes, Brian Blade, David Garibaldi and Harry Mason which has always been a concrete foundation for me," said the ever smiling Hassan.

Pianist Adonis de Jesus, hails from Manila and is little known here in Sri Lanka. On the other hand he is well known in the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and quite naturally now in Hong Kong. In a quick spool back he studied piano at an early age and used to team up with his school friends, formed bands to play at school functions. Today he is basking in the success he found for himself. In Hong Kong when he came over from Manila he found opportunities to play with Larry Hammon, Anthony Fernandez, Skip Mui and Blaine.

He has sat in as back up musician for many international artistes who performed in Hong Kong.

It is with ease that he slips into jazz, pop, R&B, Canto pop, Reggae, Soul, Funk, Rock'n Roll, Swing and Jazz Fusion. He will be releasing his DVD soon. He is like they say a "must see musician."Finally, we have to turn the spotlight on Umara, a singer on another level among singers in Sri Lanka. Her's is a voice that is incomparable and with the passage of time she has matured into a fine artiste which is unbelievable. She sings at the International Hong Kong as well as with all the gigs that Proteus plays for. So to the Crazy Colombo Cats as well as to Adonis de Jesus here's wishing you happy times in Sri Lanka.