Hussain Jiffry:

Bassist harps on the feeling of rhythm

By Mahes Perera

Art is one of the few spheres in the world where you don't have to compromise and Sri Lankan born bassist Hussain Jiffry falls into this category. He enjoys playing music that's challenging for him and is mature enough to understand that and respect what that means.

Now a leading bassist in Los Angeles, Hussain has been featured in many groups at recording sessions, on tours and at concert stages. His heavy performance schedules reveal that he was a familiar figure on stage for Michael Bolton, Deneice Williams, Al McKay All Shars, Tito Puente, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Russell Ferrante, Hubert Laws and many more. Now a regular with Sergio Mendes and Herb Alpert his journey in music has resulted in success largely due to his creativity and talent.

One-time, a familiar figure on our stages Hussain Jiffry's decision to accept an invitation to play with a band in Switzerland was the launching pad to success in Los Angeles. Back home in Sri Lanka and this was not the first time he came back, Hussain was happy to meet up with all his musician friends and also share details of his career with us.

Question: It's been some time since you were here with us how has your career progressed till now?

Answer: "Since then I've been with Herb Alpert, he released his first CD and I've been a part of it, we've been together for almost six years. The single Besame Mucho sung by Lani Hall was nominated for a Grammy but we lost to Bela Fleck. However, it was an honour to be nominated. This band has recorded a second album "I Feel You" and now we are working on our third album which we hope to finish when I get back. I actually engineered the album, which was recorded at Herb's studio. The live orchestra which will be added later will be recorded at one of the biggest stages like Sony."

Type of music

Q: What was the type of music that was played on the album?

A: "Some are original tunes co-written by Herb Alpert, Jeff Lorber. Some of the songs are modern back beat, Brazilianish, world music influenced rhythms, and ballady jazz. Herb is playing better than ever, he really sounds amazing. At 76 he is one of the most inspiring people to be around. He practises his trumpet at least two hours a day. He paints, he sculpts, he works round the clock."

Q: In his early years Herb was noted for his Tijuana sound, is there a change in his style now?

A: Absolutely there is a big change in his music from the Tijuana brass. In fact that was one of the challenges the band faced when we first started out. How are people going to receive this because everybody knows him for his Spanish Flea and Tijuana Taxi days and now we are not doing anything like that. It's a smaller band more free and open and it's definitely more jazz influenced than Tijuana Brass ever was. For the older fans we do play the Tijuana Brass medley which lasts six to seven minutes in duration - such as Tijuana Taxi, Spanish Flea, The Lonely Bull and Mexican Shuttle. Incidentally, Lonely Bull was released as a single and could be downloaded as a thank you for those who supported him in the past years."

Exciting experience

Q: Last year playing at Montreaux must have been an exciting experience for you?

A: "It was amazing. I always wanted to play at Montreaux. It was my first appearance and it was very special. I lived in Switzerland but never played Montreaux and to be there with Sergio Mendes and to share the stage with Herbie Hancock and Four Play was great. To have friends and family in the audience was a wonderful feeling. Musty actually flew from Colombo to be there! We were the closing act, the setting was perfect and we were well received.

Q: The news filtered through the grapevine that Yanni will be performing in Sri Lanka. Will you be with the group?

A: "I talked to him about playing in Sri Lanka but I never got a response. No, I don't play with him now. The music is different. Unlike Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes who are improvisers and like music to happen spontaneously, Yanni is not an improviser. He likes structures. He wants to know what happens next. He doesn't want any surprises. I found it stifling as a player. If I played a solo that he liked, he'd want me to play that solo everyday!"

Q: Can you single out some highlights in your career?

A: "Being apart of Herb Alpeit's Quintet now is one. It's hard for me to point out and say this or that. There are so many highlights. Being a part of Sergio Mendes' band, playing for leading singers such as Whitney Houston, Michael McDonald, Dionne Warnick, Carole King, the list is long. Even playing with Yanni. He had a 30 piece band and a 70 piece crew - a big production. This was the only time I've been a part of such a big production. Sergio Mendes' is more or less open, we played in halls.

With Yanni we played at arenas, we had no contact with the audience. At the arenas we are on a stage that is 10 feet off the ground. We can barely see, everything is dark. We have to play with in-ear monitors and I'm not a fan of in-ear monitors because it takes away the natural acoustic sound of the instrument. Of course, I can't forget the Dave Weckl band. We did a DVD in Australia. Dave is now touring with the guitarist Mike Stern."

Jazz club

Q: Any tours for you in the offing?

A: "When I get back Sergio's got a couple of gigs in the States and then we go to Japan in April. With Herb we will be playing at the Carlyle in New York. This is a famous jazz club that holds only 80 people. We played there last year, five days a week for two weeks. All the heavy jazz players have been featured there. We will be there in March.

For the first six months when I go back, my schedule will be full. I have to complete Herb's new CD and then start touring with Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes. I will be doing a double bill on July 16 playing bass for Herb and Sergio at the Hollywood Bowl. The drummer Mike Shapiro and I will play in both bands. Herb will open the show and Sergio will close. We will be on a revolving stage and that will be something to look forward to."

Q: Your comments about the two online workshops conducted by you from LA?

A: "I thought the first one was a success but I was disappointed with the second as I expected a better turnout. I will be doing a third one next week. One thing I noticed is that musicians in Sri Lanka lack the understanding in the feeling of rhythm.

What I'd like to do is to bring to them the awareness of time and how to subdivide time, to play the music cohesively not just players playing to each other and not listening to each other.