OVERSEAS

"Very few people can play this voluptuous black beauty with the shining keys because nobody wants to take the trouble," says the be-wigged Joseph Pereira's, the Jazz King of India.

They lie side by side on his bed, "like all lovers do...the big shining one.. that's the tenor sax", says Joseph Cajetan Pereira, pointing to the voluptuous beauty he has just been polishing. "That's an alto sax, this is a trumpet and this is the clarinet," continues Jazzy Joe "the Musician", who plays during Sunday brunchies at the Oberoi's Rotisserie in Bombay and who is on a tour of Europe with a break in London from 20 to 24 August.

"Very few people can play this voluptuous black beauty with the shining keys because nobody wants to take the trouble," says the be-wigged Joseph Pereira's, "the Jazz King of India". His musical career spans the evolution of jazz from Dixieland to present day modern jazz. He is best known for being one of the pioneers of bebop in India. He has played with Charlie Parker and even jammed with Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra sometime in the sixties. Joe has also played in New Orleans--the Mecca of Jazz.

We became friends, myself and Quincy--you know the famous Quincy--you know the famous Quincy Jones ? We'd send each other cards. Those were the days long before the emails had arrived, he tells me. Joe keeps repeating himself, with a strong Portuguese accent.

Joe was born in Calangute-Goa in 1927. By the age of eight he had learnt to play the Violin and by the age of fifteen he was a virtuoso on the clarinet; his forte to this day. Joe continues, "When I was about six, I started learning the theory of music at the chauri--a Portuguese school--in Goa and soon, I could play the violin. At 11, I heard a brass band and somehow liked the sound of the clarinet. Within a couple of months , I had mastered the instrument" says the "wind" man, who now leads the Jazzy Joe band. The current repertoire includes western classical, New Orleans, modern Jazz and Dixie.

Joe began his musical career in Lahore-Pakistan, back in the days of undivided India. He formed and managed his own band at the age of 19. "I was the youngest band leader at 19". The band "Joe Pereira and his Strings" played at the Stiffles until 1948.

Then followed the period of partition; there was prohibition and bars were being shut down. "So a number of musicians left Lahore and came to Bombay," he says. At one stage Joe left the band he used to play with as he grew disgusted "because Bombay musicians never dressed properly".

He has performed in Singapore, Colombo and Bahrain and recorded a song with the swing club of Calcutta. He has also played for the Calcutta Symphony Orchestra and insists he is the best clarinet player in the country..."I maybe the only really good clarinet player in India now".

He has played in Pakistan with Quincy Jones but most of his memorable moments where on his trips to New Orleans where he played at Night Clubs, even going on a record-breaking 14-hour session of playing. He says, "I am healthy because of my music, even when I sleep there are melodies in my head." Joe sums up the secret of his success: "The more I play jazz, the harder I can blow."

Even though jazz is on the decline, Joe says optimistically, "There seems to be a reversion towards sophisticated jazz. I have never compromised I still play jazz, but keep up with the changing times and play modern jazz as well as bebop."

Joe is looking forward to meeting as many Goans as he possibly can whilst in London, he has this great ambition. He wants to bring Jazz into Konkani music and has promised to compose a song for the "Jazzy Joe's London Workshop". He is an arranger and a composer with a flair for the unconventional. He is equally proficient on the violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet and tenor/alto/soprano. He continues to arrange music for Indian films and has worked with eminent music directors like OP Nayar, Shankar Jaikishen and Salil Chaudhury.

The Goan Musical Society is working closely with other Goan Musicians in London to make Joe's dream a reality and make this "workshop" a day to remember. Emiliano D Cruz, who is at present in the Maldives, sends his best wishes for the occasion.

We are expecting participants from Brighton and one from as far as Scotland! On 22nd August from 10.00am to 1.00pm at the Vestry Hall, 336 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 3UD (South London).

Rene Barreto