By Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter, Jamaica Gleaner, Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Four Jamaicans were awarded for their contributions to Jamaican music by the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival on Saturday night.
The award ceremony and concert took place at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande hotel in Ocho Rios. The four awardees were Herbie Miller, Eddy Thomas, Cedric 'Im Brooks and Gary Crosby. Two of the awardees, Eddy Thomas and Gary Crosby, were unable to attend the ceremony.
Marjorie Whylie, herself an outstanding Jamaican musician, read the citations for the four men, while the awards were presented by African-Canadian lyricist Lorraine Klaasen. For the most part the presentations were entertaining and to the point. Whylie struck the first comic note when, after having her microphone adjusted to a more accommodating height, she told the audience, "I'm not afraid of admitting that I'm short." Her efforts were complemented by Klaasen, whom Dwight Whylie, the evening's host, had described as "one of the most dynamic singers I've ever had opportunity to listen to." Even though she did not perform, Klaasen certainly gave the audience a taste of her dynamism.
Cedric 'Im Brooks was the first to receive his award. In her citation, Whylie described him as "almost the perfect blend of musician and educator." She went on to highlight his several contributions to the development of Jamaican music as a performer, through his work with The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and The Light of Saba - both of which he helped to found. On the side of education she noted his involvement as head of what was once the African American Department at the Jamaica School of Music, as well as his pivotal role in the creation of Mutual Life Jazz. The citation referred to Brooks' 'musical exploits' as 'the material of legend'. It was summed up by describing Brooks as 'ever the entertainer, ever the performer'.
Brooks' response to the reward was short and gracious. "Ah don' know wah fi sey," he said. "I only try to give back a little of what I've received over the years." By the audience's enthusiastic applause, it was safe to assume that they were appreciative of what he had given back.
Like Brooks, Herbie Miller was being awarded because of the numerous hats he has worn over the years. In her citation, Whylie said Miller's contribution came through his roles as lecturer, promoter, producer, teacher and performer. She also noted that his opening of Jamaica's first jazz club of its kind, The Blue Mount Jazz Gallery, which featured not only live jazz musicians but also art greatly contributed to the local development of the art form.
For his acceptance speech, Miller elected to read 'sketches' from a possible 'Letter To The Editor' with regards to the problems facing the redevelopment of jazz in Jamaica. He stated that among the major problems facing jazz is the lack of financial support for straight jazz events, which has lead to the creation of events billed as jazz which feature rap, reggae, R&B etc., rather than jazz musicians.
Mr. Miller also had a problem with the way jazz events are reported. He noted that while The Gleaner had improved on its coverage of jazz events, the reporter elected to do the job obviously does not know enough about the genre to do justice to her reports. As evidence, he selected one of the three reports of the launch event of the Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Kingston, at the Little Theatre on June 8.
Mr. Miller noted that while the reporter in question made 'grandiose' statements about Ernie Ranglin, she did not give adequate details about his performance.
Unfortunately, as is wont to happen when acceptance speeches go on for too long, the audience got somewhat restless and a few shouts of 'time' could be heard.