A mix of scintillating sounds

By Mahes PERERA

Eighty-one years and you'd think for a musician he'd be on a low profile. But no, to the agile trumpeter Frank Dubier a jazz luminary in India, the stage holds a fascination that's hard to explain. It has been home to him from the time he was seven years old when he acquired the knowledge to play the intricate rhythms of the drums. He was nurtured in a home that echoed with music. His mother, he tells us, was a Western classical music pianist who led a band playing a repertoire of classical music. In the early years during the British era, the Madras Governors' Band or the Navy Band played a repertoire of classical and light music. This was essential.

Dylan Lye and his Combo

Frank Dubier

Frank Dubier now a veteran trumpeter, is a multi instrumentalist playing tenor sax, alto sax and flute. "When I married and went to Calcutta, this was in October 1960, my first job was as a band leader. I formed the Frank Dubier Jazz Quintet, we played at many hotels and at events, and later I moved over to New Delhi played for about thirteen years there, and we were featured at hotels. At Ashok Hotel I played for a record five years. All music arrangements are handled by me. I now have a 12 piece Jazz Ensemble and we are based in Madras. We are happy that we were invited to be featured at the Mount Jazz Festival. We play jazz standards and jazz classics but no avant garde jazz", says Frank Dubier.

At your age how do you keep fit to blow the wind instruments?

Pat came the reply "exercises"! On the opening might at the Mount Jazz Festival, the Frank Dubier quintet's performance was a programme of familiar jazz standards like Moaning, Brazil, All Blues, a composition by Dubier called Night in Sri Lanka which saw him soloing on tenor sax and flute. A blues original and a selection of jazz vocals by Sujan Daniel like 'All of Me', 'Fly Me To the Moon', 'Cheek to Cheek' which were quite straight forward in expression and were well received by the audience.

Dylan Lye and his Combo were totally in contrast with their exciting programme which leant heavily on Latin and Jazz funk and spotlighted the members who are well known in Hong Kong for their expertise.

Most of their music were original and with Dylan Lye on guitar, Jennifer Palor their vocalist, Mike Inot on sax, Adonis de Jesus - keyboards. A Hong - on bass, Anthony Fernandes - drums, Dulip Wijesinghe - percussion - the group were tight in their performance of the music which was fascinating. Jennifer Palor's version of 'How High The Moon' swung in Latin tempo with the band delivering fiery expressions that were captivating. It was an excellent note to end their performance.

The opening night to some extent belonged to Andrew Oh and his band Ohzone. A saxophonist and flautist Andrew Oh drew more from the soul and the blues world and gave the audiences something new they haven't heard in a long long time. Our very own percussionist Sunil de Silva was in fine form, his harmonic colours on his congas were scorching in speed that complemented the compositions played.

Of course Armondo Hurley the blues vocalist in the band held the stage and the audiences' attention with his many versions of songs like 'Send Me Someone to Love', 'Signed Sealed and Delivered' and 'September'. Andrew Oh's flute jazz interpretation of Chick Corea's 'Spain' was a standout. All in all the evening was a good mix of jazz.