Globally acclaimed South African musician, Hugh Masakela, headline act at this weekend's San Fernando Jazz Festival arrived Wednesday evening, deposited his luggage at Hilton Trinidad and immediately asked to be taken to meet some local musicians, igniting what would turn out to be an extraordinary late-night jam session at the Belmont home of Mavis John.
By Terry JosephBest-selling author of Still Grazing and lead on scores of successful recordings, Masakela was yesterday introduced to a select audience at Hilton's Belmont Salon. A dynamic public speaker, he treated wide range of topics with equal candour, predicting self-inflicted trouble would result from some of his comments, including a swipe at Governments who fear the power of music and lament over the lack of locally-generated marketing of pan, expressing regret it couldn't be a Trini in the vanguard.
"When we hear pan anywhere in the world, we think of Trinidad and Tobago," the outspoken Masakela said. "I find it regretful that Andy Narell, who is my good friend (I played on his last album), is the person at the forefront. He does a wonderful job of promoting Trinidad and Tobago culture but that he should be the face of pan while the owners remain invisible is regretful. The authorities here should be more active in promoting the instrument."
He also spoke extensively about his 44 years of drug addiction, detailing what it did to him and his family, political contretemps in the then troubled SA, exile in the US, networking with Nelson Mandela, the influence of Miriam Makeba, his first trumpet from high school chaplain Fr Huddelston and the joy he felt jamming with the group ?lan parle at John's home on the night previous.
It was a different Masakela that night, less intense on social and political issues, more focused on his flugelhorn and fellowship with local musicians. After deliberately leaving his instrument at the hotel, he would later send for it and find himself developing anxieties over how long it took producer Dawad Phillip to return with the horn. "I really only came to chat with you," Masakela said, "but when I heard your music I said I had to be part of this."
With down to earth demeanour, he chatted with the players, joked with the few guest who could be summoned to Jerningham Avenue at 10 p.m. and delivered some stirring solos, falling in on the Caribbean classic "Island in the Sun", then ramping up his impromptu performance as the members of ?lan parle showcased portions of the band's repertoire, Masakela demonstrating instant brilliance of tone and air, ramajaying on songs like Andre Tanker's "Morena Osha" and Grandmaster Kitchener's "The Carnival is Over"; albeit never having heard them before.
He was highly complimentary of ?lan parle's music, the group that night comprising bandleader Ming Low Chew Tung on keyboard, Michael Nysus on bass, guitarist Theron Shaw and Gerry Banfield on drums with John on vocals, transforming the living room into a rehearsal space and conscripting John's son, Jason, as skin drummer. "I guess I will get to hear a lot more of you great guys at the show," he said, expressing regret he had to leave, jetlagged after flying for two days in order to get here from Johannesburg.
Although listed to play only tomorrow night, the second of three over which the San Fernando Jazz Festival is spread, Masakela yesterday promised to join Mungal Patasar & Pantar, who appear Sundaym that pledge coming after he described Trinidad and Tobago as an "African" country and Director of Culture Eric Butler sought to correct that impression. "South Africa," Masakela said, "is perhaps the most cosmopolitan country in the world but it is still an African country."
He then proceeded to throw a number of light and tasteful jibes at Butler during the rest of the presentation.
Tomorrow, Masakela shares the stage at San Fernando Hill with John, ?lan parle and five other acts. On Sunday, at the same venue, Patasar is one of seven acts on the playbill.
