Benjy Myaz (left) presents an enlargement of the cover of his album, 'You've Got Me', to Jacqueline Archer at the official launch at Waterfalls, Liguanea, St Andrew, last Wednesday evening. - Contributed

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Benjy Myaz (who plans on adding drums to his playing credentials) officially presented his latest album, You've Got Me, to the public last Wednesday evening.

There were praises all around for Myaz at Waterfalls, Liguanea, St Andrew. The speakers included Jamaica Federation of Musicians president, Desmond Young; Broadcasting Commission chairman, Cordel Green; Dr The Reverend Alvin Bailey; and broadcaster Patrick LaFayette.

The last ran through some of the album's 16 songs with his recorded opinions on the songs and, as clips of each was played, bounced on his toes and occasionally added an enthusiastic live comment to what he had already set down for posterity.

So the title track You've Got Me was deemed "an invitation to a meal well prepared and served", while Between the Sheets (featuring Howard Messam) is "powerfully sexy". With the bass guitar and saxophone sharing lead billing, Lafayette said "the bass is mature, not intimidated or daunted".

'big tune!'

"The music jus' push up itself in your face," LaFayette recorded about Down in Jamaica, adding a joyful, "big tune"! as the music was played. Time Together was dubbed "a fitting representation of a time well spent together", while the mood and tempo of Intimate Relationship Pt 2 supplied the environment for intimate thoughts and words.

"One thing you will discover as you go through is that Benjy is a brilliant musician," LaFayette said.

However, by far the evening's most touching public input came from Maia Chung, whose Autism and Disabilities Foundation is slated for a financial shot in the arm from You've Got Me. "I am touched. It has been a very difficult road to get money to support autism causes in Jamaica," she said.

With immense financial burden placed on the parents of autistic children, Chung said there are people literally dying of hunger because they cannot leave their autistic child to go out and work. She added that women were also considering prostitution because of the sheer financial need.

autistic child killed

She pointed to a 2007 case of a six year old being beaten to death because the adult did not know what autism was and thought the child was simply being rude. Chung enlightened those present, who may not have known the signs of autism, that it is characterised by repetitive behaviour, rocking and flapping motion and delayed speech.

"It is neurological, so the child can come across as being spoilt," Chung said.

She said the work of the foundation is hard and she is supported by a strong team and people, like Myaz, who stepped in out of the blue.

"I am looking forward to the success of this album for many reasons," Chung said, to laughter. "Thank you for being such a great guy," she said directly to Myaz.

In the question-and-answer segment of the launch, Myaz said he chose to contribute towards the autism cause based on his personal musical experience. "Autism is something I have seen. I have seen musicians and after a while I figured there was something going on," he said.

He added, to murmurs of assent from members of the audience, that "a lot of musicians who are autistic are very talented", this including young children. He is very much into teaching and "to see autistic musicians play is a joy. I like to see them on keyboards. They remember everything."

Myaz also intends to support relief efforts in Darfur with proceeds from You've Got Me.

CHUNG