Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Benjy Myaz performing at Jazz in the Gardens at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston recently. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
BENJY MYAZ has proven to be quite a talent that has made his mark on jazz and reggae music.
He has become known for his vocal and instrumental abilities and has thrilled many audiences internationally and locally. Next month Myaz will be releasing his fourth album, Long Story Short., and it is expected that this latest effort will match up to the quality of its predecessors. "...This album was strongly inspired by fusion musicians like Herbie Hancock, George Duke and especially bass players, Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius," Myaz said.
TRACKS
Majority of the tracks were written and produced by Benjy and show his versatility and command of music. This command is something that has been nurtured through the years. He was born Benjamin Myers to parents Reverend Egbert E. Myers and Resa Myers, in a little town called Haddington, Hanover. At age seven, he and his other seven siblings were already being exposed to music. He played with the band at the Haddington Holiness Christian Church, where his father is still the pastor.
Benjy quickly learned the guitar and was always eager to play at devotions in primary school and do rehearsals with the church group. It was at this age that he first played the acoustic and electric guitar. At age eleven, he moved on to the bass guitar.
His musical idols at that time included Al Jerrau, George Duke, Nancy Wilson, Herbie Hanncok, Oscar Peterson, the late Aubrey Adams and Tony Dacosta (credited on his new album Long Story Short). "I didn't grow up on top 40, I am very selective with my music. Jazz gives me the freedom of expression, there is no limitations to it," he explained to The Sunday Gleaner in an interview.
Now, Myaz has developed skills in bass playing, arranging, song writing and music production and his career as a musician is credited to his vast knowledge about music. He has command of at least seven instruments, with his first love being the bass. "When you are formally trained, it allows you to appreciate the origin and growth of music," said Benjy.
NORTH COAST HOTELS
His career was basically launched when he started working in the Jamaica Tourism industry, playing in most of the North Coast hotels for nearly eight years. As a producer, he got his big break in 1986, when he arranged and produced a remake of Brooke Benton's classic So Many Ways (performed by Dennis Malcolm). With hopes of touring as a bassist, Benjy became a member of the Rhythm Kings Band, touring with Jimmy Cliff, Culture, Toots and the Maytals, Shinehead and J.C. Lodge. Benjy has been a musician most of his life, but his singing was brought to the fore through Trevor Baillie, present CEO of cable station Music+, for which Benjy made his first album Intimate Relations. It was on this album that the hit single Love You Higher appeared.
"I thought he was a great player. His ability to sing and play the bass was great. I thought he sounded good and I liked his playing," said Baillie. He then invited him to come by the studio. "There, he had the freedom to create what he wanted, his talent was worth that. He had no limits with what he could do," reflected Baillie.
Benjy realised his other dreams of singing, writing and arranging. He had been working on his voice for about three years before he actually started singing. "When I started to sing, it was just a transition, not a move, because I was already with the people who were doing it, the players in the game."
There is no doubt now about his vocal talent. The talented artiste is currently working on several projects, including his album Long Story Short. "It's about taking control of my direction and my sound. I'm involved in my thing up to my neck. It's not a matter of not allowing anyone to do it, but I am professionally an arranger and a composer, producer, so that's what I do. My singing is just a cream on the crop," explained Myaz.
PRODUCERS
Apart from Myaz, other producers on the album include Bobby Digital, Freddie McGregor, & Barry O'Hare. The album/CD contains songs in the lover's rock genre and has a rendition of Appreciate Nature (a tribute to the late, great Dennis Brown). But while the album seems destined for some success Myaz does not seem to be pre-occupied with only financial gain.
"My love for music drives my creativity. Music is not just a job, I have a very deep love for it. I've made my sacrifices for the music to be on this level, the money is secondary. I'm about chasing creativity, not the competition," he said.
Taken from The Sunday Gleaner,October 16, 2005
