Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Benjy Myaz performs at the launch of his new album, Long Story Short, at JAMPRO Headquarters, Trafalgar Road on Thursday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
BENJY MYAZ saved the title track of his latest album, Long Story Short, for second to last on Thursday evening at the Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO) headquarters in New Kingston.
It started slowly, evolved into lover's rock, Myaz playing bass and singing what's the use in beating around the bush/just wasting words, wasting time, then hitting the meat of the matter with to make a long story short/baby I love you.
Then he stopped playing, turned side-on to the microphone so he could look at the trio of female harmony singers and, with the bass drum thumping steadily, sang their names individually, finally singing "too much woman now."
There was laughter from the full house inside the room where the band was set up and the official proceedings took place, as well as outside, where speakers carried the story to the many outside, close to where an art display complemented the display of musicianship.
STORIES
Before the music came the stories from people as diverse as the President of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, Desi Young, and Kirk Kennedy, executive director, Markets, at JAMPRO.
Natalie Corthesy, director of entertainment policy in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, said "Our musicians, our lyricists, our poets, are not just entertainers. They are visionaries who see our country, our society as it is, as well as how it can be."
Thelma Porter, who gave snippets of information about Myaz as she hosted the evening, noted that his first big break came in 1986 with So Many Ways, performed by Dennis Malcolm. It went to the top of the charts in Jamaica, England and New York. Gary Wisdom of JABLUM, one of three sponsors whose representatives spoke on Thursday, said "Collaborations of this nature are just an example of what is required to etch brand Jamaica in people's minds." Representatives of Cooyah, whose T-shirts made their mark on the musicians, and website developers First Point who are responsible for www.benjymyaz.com, also spoke briefly.
DEVELOPING THE CREATIVE SECTOR
Kennedy said that one of the main things in the organisation's mandate is to develop the creative sector, noting that "Creative industries contribute to seven per cent of world GDP." Kennedy questioned, "Why are we not cashing in on our music industry?" noting that it is a $32 billion sector.
Myaz was short on words and long on song and, for the opening number, without his bass guitar, singing the opening track from the album, Thank You Lord. A love song, You and Me, the fourth track of 15 on Long Story Short, Myaz singing what is the status/you and me I want to know about us.
Myaz hosted changes of musicians and there was laughter as he introduced his newly-bought fretless bass for the slow One Sunshine. "Sometimes we go through some terrible things in our relationships, but the most important thing is making up," he said to introduce Make It Up To You.
Dreamin' was a song of encouragement that "if you believe, in time it will come true" and Myaz took the lead on bass for an instrumental rendition of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On? After the title track Myaz called on drummer Kirk Bennett for the closing song Do For Love.
The night was not over, though, as it was over to The Deck nearby on Trafalgar Road for the after party.
