Hershel Rodrigo-a rare creative musician

By Mahes Perera

The thought goes that there should be no inhibition in music, because music allows us space to be free, since we can't always have that in our lives. Music is the one place where it is important to maintain that kind of freedom.

There is no doubt that pianist, guitarist, bassist Herschel Rodrigo enjoys space to be free and through his music he has achieved it. To many of you Hershel Rodrigo may just be a name you are reading about on a morning like today but to a good many others he is a musician who have enjoyed and experienced his artistry of a rare calibre.

Musical career

In a spool back Hershel Rodrigo when in Sri Lanka launched on a musical career at the young age of 16 when he joined the band Gaylord Revival. He then played guitar for the elite singer Michelle Lembruggen, her pianist was Cecil Rodrigo and soon after moved into something totally different when he was invited by Harold Seneviratne to play guitar for his Combo and later Helen Lucas invited him to join her band.

The other part of his musical career in Sri Lanka was concentrated on foreign tours. There was Afghanistan with the Esquire Set led by Claude Selvaratnam, then Jordan in 1975 and back again in 77 to Afghanistan. Foreign gigs saw the band jet to Switzerland and at the turn of '81, it was good news for Herschel when he met his wife Bambi married her and decided to go to America with her.

In the States he had a hiatus from regular music work because he had Candice his daughter now a singer to take care of. He went in to electronics and electronic research and kept in touch with music by playing in churches.

Question: In our conversation we had earlier you referred to a CD that Tate Publishers one of the largest publishers in US have released for you, how did it come about?

Bass

Answer: When I played in the churches, I played bass. The last church I played in was the Jubilee Christian Centre in San Jose, California. It is a mega church with a congregation of about 12,000, the musicians are all professional musicians and the choir has a strength of 35 choristers. I wrote some songs and put one of them on the internet and it was picked up Tate Publishing. They produced the music offered me a contract and they produced the album, titled Just Hold Me Close. I had Hussein Jiffry with me on bass, a drummer who tours with David Gilmore of Pink Flayd, a Canadian pianist, Michael and a guitarist from Oklahoma.

There are eight tracks on the album - a funky "How Many Times', the pop, 'Hold Me Close', Two smooth jazz tracks. He's in My Soul and Jesus Loves You', two rap rhythm songs 'I Need You' and 'Hallelujah'.

I used to play these songs at the churches I worked at, where I was the Music Director. I included a Christmas song The Saviour is Born' which was composed by my father Walter who was a pianist.

Q: How did you draw the inspiration to compose these songs?

A: In 1984 I was ill and couldn't work for about an year and during that time I had a lot of time to reflect on many things in life. And so the lyrics reflect hardships, answers to prayers and normal difficulties in life.

Pianist

Q: To be the pianist that you are today who were your influences?

A: I like Oscar Peterson. My favourite artistes of all times are

Michael Franks, James Ingram. Actually several pianists from several bands influenced me, but Oscar Peterson stood out.

Q: You are a composer and a multi instrumentalist as well, how important is it to keep in touch with the art form, the mechanics of it and communication?

A: It is important to be successful. I listen to different artistes on my computer. I even listen to Sri Lankan artistes on youTube. I communicate world wide on email with international musicians, who have played with me.

I don't consider myself a great musician but I've played with great musicians. It is important to keep in touch with people. I also like to help anyone who needs help where music is concerned. When I was in Sri Lanka I have done this help since I was 16.

You'll find musicians here today who will tell you that they used to come to my house for lessons. Today musicians especially the young can learn from the youtube - re song or the music. They need a teacher if they have to read music or to develop a feel for music. What is important is to be able to play with feeling.

Q: Talking of rhythms what's your preference in music. Is it Latin, soft fusion or rocking fusion?

A: All my music has been Latin When I first started to play the guitar it was Brazilian - my favourite guitarist was Antonio Carlos Jobim. Brazilian artists are fabulous, their sense of time is probably the best in the world. But then on the other hand I've known Hussein Jiffry for about 30 years. He did a fantastic job on my album. He helped me arrange some of my songs, along with a Canadian arranger. I'm very proud of him. He's achieved what no other Sri Lankan has been able to achieve. He's like a younger brother to me.