Sonny Bradshaw's widow, Myrna Hague, pays tribute to her late husband in song at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Sunday. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Last Sunday's musical tribute to the late great Cecil Valentine 'Sonny' Bradshaw mounted in the garden of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel lasted from 4 p.m. until 11:40 p.m. Organised by Friends of Jazz, its extraordinary length reflected the duration of Bradshaw's musical career, some 70 years, and its excellence reflected the honouree's own.

The tribute lasted that long because some three dozen individuals and groups wanted to pay their respects to the trumpet player, composer/arranger and band leader who, for longer than most Jamaicans have been alive, contributed to the island's internationally acclaimed musical heritage.

personally touched lives

The desire flowed not from some abstract cause like patriotism. Bradshaw had personally touched their individual lives. Again and again, the large audience heard singers and instrumentalists speak about Bradshaw's loving, generous influence on their music. The warmth of their emotions was only enhanced by the coolness of the evening.

By virtue of her relationship to Bradshaw, his widow, singer Myrna Hague, headed the list of tribute makers and her second appearance on the show at 10:15 p.m. signalled for some its true climax. It certainly would have been appropriate.

For one thing, she sang, with great beauty and feeling, the jazz standard Our Love is Here to Stay, undoubtedly referring to both her own as well as the love of the musicians and audience for Bradshaw. Secondly, she announced that the proceeds from the evening would go towards establishing the Sonny Bradshaw Foundation which will offer scholarships to young music students.

tributes kept coming

Even after Hague left the stage, the tributes kept coming. She was followed by, as principals, trumpeter Mickey Hanson and guitarists Maurice Gordon and Benji Myaz. After them, co-emcee Keith Brown (the other was Michael Anthony Cuffe) announced the final segment featuring two dance bands, Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials and Fab 5.

Because of the lateness of the hour, the former band gave us only three numbers, I'm Still In Love With You Girl, My Willow Tree and I Believe, while the latter played only the ska tune Freedom Sound. By the time that powerful sound faded away, three quarters of the audience had already left.

That final segment was one of five. The first featured the Big Band (with Myrna Hague) and, for perhaps the first time in its long history, Bradshaw was not leading it. The second segment called 'Giving Youths a Chance', featured Sparrow Martin and the Alpha Crew and students from the School of Music, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

solo performers

With the 'Pop and Variety' segment, the audience heard the largest number of solo performers. They included Karen Smith, Ossie D and Stevie G, Dimario McDowell, Dwight Richards, Nambo Robinson, Mary Isaacs, Tony Gregory, Horace Forbes and Pam Hall.

In the fourth segment came the jazz combos. Principals included Rupert Bent, Seretse Small and Jon Williams on electric guitars; and Ozou'ne and Dennis Rushton on keyboards. Keyboardists Kathy Brown, Peter Ashbourne and Marjorie Whylie also lent their considerable talents to the segment.

Along with the musical tributes came printed ones from musicians in the different segments which were made available to selected persons. They read, in part:

"As the leader of the Big Band, Sonny made us not only dance but showed us what he believed - that jazz was 'black classical music' and that Jamaican music was classic and deserved to be treated with respect, honour and joy." (Big Band)

"It was at his (Sonny's) home, in his rehearsal room that many a young musician learned to read, improvise and arrange music. It was on the bandstand that Sonny would insist on discipline and musical accuracy. It was through his example, firm words and a system of fines, these musicians would become men and women able to support their families and form businesses later in life." (Giving Youths a Chance)

"It is through his vision that we have the Tastee Talent series that has contributed to the development of the multimillion-dollar industry that we are so proud of today." (Pop and Variety)

"When three or four musicians get together to play their instruments and attempt to move an audience, with the depth and intensity of a big band orchestra through improvisation and intimate jazz discussions, we are getting ready to experience the phenomenon of the Jazz Combo." (Jazz Combos)

"The Sonny Bradshaw Seven was an entertainment machine producing music for dancing, cabaret shows and variety shows. Out of the Sonny Bradshaw Seven came musicians like Dean Fraser and Desi Jones who went on to form their own bands in the 1980s that became household names." (Dance Bands)

Their voices full of emotion, Ozou'ne and Small gave their personal tributes. The former, saying he had "so many fond memories of Sonny", went on to plead, "Let's not wait until someone great dies before we honour him." Small confessed, "I try to be like Sonny Bradshaw - as a force helping to make Jamaica better."

On her second appearance, Hague declared to the audience and musicians: "I appreciate the outpouring of love for me and Sonny. I thank you very, very much."

The high quality of the evening of music, which was coordinated by ace drummer Desi Jones, the audience turnout, its applause and its cheers showed that all present thanked Mr and Mrs Bradshaw for their love, too.

Seretse Small in his element.

Benjy Myaz was smooth on guitar.

Marjorie Whylie (left), Peter Ashbourne (centre) and Desi Jones serve up a musical delight in honour of Sonny Bradshaw.