ISAACSToussaint Smith, Staff Reporter
JAZZ SONGBIRD Mari Isaccs grew up in Jamaica, but wanted to take her unique blend of
reggae and jazz across the world.
The former lead vocalist for one of New York's leading dance bands, The People's Heritage Band, in the 1970s, Mari has toured internationally and performed with some of the world's leading musicians. She has released a number of singles in her career, starting with her début, a
reggae single You and I in 1982, followed by Come Back in 1984, and A Little Bit of Heaven in 1985.
Now two albums So Good So Right and I Want You I Need You and a host of other recordings later, Isaacs has come home to perform.
She will perform alongside Karen Smith, Dr. Kathy Brown, Keith Brown and Maurice Charles at 'Jazz in the Gardens', to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel this Sunday. The Gleaner had a brief chat with the songstress before her big weekend performance.
DG: How long have you been a jazz musician?
Mari: "Well I've been a singer since 1975, in New York City where I lived for 30 years. Jazz has been my repertoire in the past, but since my return to Jamaica, I have focused more heavily on Jazz."
DG: How did you get started in the business?
Mari: "Music is in my bones. I was born in a musical family, so it's inevitable (laughs), that music is a part of my life, and will be for a long time, as long as I have a rocking chair."
DG: Who are some of the musicians that inspired you while you were growing up?
Mari: "In my era, I used to listen to Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday those are some of the music I used to listen to around the house, those are some of the kinds of music I really loved, and emulated."
DG: Describe some of your best moments.
Mari: "The very first time that I appeared in Madison Square Garden. I've also done quite a a lot of work in New York and I've played at some of the greatest music halls such as Madison Square Garden, Apollo Theatre, Lincoln Centre and halls with the Caribbean theme as part of a Caribbean show. So, I think I look back at those as major accomplishments in my career."
DG: Describe some of your worst moments.
Mari: "I was in a club in Brooklyn performing and I had on a dress I had bought off the rack in a shop. A lady had on the same dress in the audience and she got up and showed it to me (laughs). That was my worst
experience ever!"
DG: What are some of your special achievements?
Mari: "Well I'm fortunate to have recorded two albums, and several
singles. I've been afforded the opportunity to work in radio as well, and I've also had the opportunity to entertain in New York for a lot of... I would say affairs, events, profit sharing, promoting Jamaica. I sang on behalf of the Jamaica Consulate and many of their fundraising philanthropic efforts; a part of King Short Shirt's 25th anniversary celebration in Antigua and I was given the opportunity to perform in front of 17,000 people in the stadium in Antigua. Those have been some of my accomplishments."
DG: What else would you want to achieve out of your career?
Mari: "Well, we always want more and more (laughs). Right now I'd like to be a recognised name in Jamaica. That is my goal, and not many people know who I am, because I've done all my work in the United States. So right now, that is my goal to break that barrier and be a recognised name and appreciated by the Jamaican audience. I love Jamaica with my heart and I'll take it from there."
DG: Do you think it is important to develop local upcoming jazz musicians?
Mari: "Oh yes! As a matter of fact, I'm a member of JAVAA and I'm on the executive committee and JAVAA has many goals. One of those is to help the young people, in addition to assisting the artiste who has been forgotten, so by all means. I've always never shied away from helping in any area that I can. As a matter of fact, I think I've done more pro bono work than I've done work that I've gotten paid for, especially in the Caribbean-American community. So I will always be ready, willing and able to give back."
DG: What has jazz music done for you over the years?
Mari: "It's good music to listen to. It's good to play, it's good to perform, Jazz will never die and it's music that I love and appreciate."
DG: Who is Mari Isaacs outside of jazz?
Mari: "Well right now I am a mother, a wife and a mini-entrepreneur. I'm trying to live a Christian life, trying to be helpful. And in everything and everywhere that I go, just a regular girl, a regular woman who loves jazz, who is a mother and a wife and the girl next door and a friend and, hopefully, with all the integrity that I have, and the values that I have, I will lift my head up high in everything I do."
DG: What are your future plans?
Mari: "I'm going to take it one day at a time (laughing), I do have goals, as I said to be a household name and a recognised face within the community and internationally and to take it one day at a time (laughs)."
DG: What is your advice to young aspiring jazz musicians?
Mari: As I said, jazz will never die. Study hard, listen to some of the great works that have been done in the past. Put your own style to it. It doesn't really pay the bulk of money that you expect, but at least there's a lot of
people who appreciate jazz "
