ACCORDING to musician, vocalist, song-writer Benjy Myaz, “A fine line separates musicians who play music to live and those who live to play music. I live to play music … it is my life.”

And that, on one level, sums up Benjy Myaz. But on another level there is so much more to this intense musical being. Reclusive is one word that readily comes to mind to describe Benjy, and that’s because he’s usually locked away in the studio, doing what he does best. But Benjy is also a man with a few passions other than music, one of which is giving back.

With the release of his latest CD, Benjy Myaz: You’ve Got Me, the artiste made known his intention at his recent album launch to channel part-proceeds to the local association for autism, headed by journalist Maia Chung. According to Benjy, “God has given me a mission. This idea has been in my heart for a long time … ever since I participated in the Telefood Project with Jimmy Cliff some years ago.”

He pledged his total commitment to this effort, even to the extent of seeking funding for the organisation through agencies such as UNICEF. Benjy feels that this CD, with its calming, healing music, is the perfect vehicle for this special project. “Oh … and it’s also the perfect Christmas gift,” he added.

Benjy, not surprisingly, is a firm believer in the power of music to effect change and speaks passionately about the need for music lessons to be a part of every child’s experience in school. “Music will lick out this Gaza/Gully thing,” he said. “We need to give our children music sheets and teach them to read music. Every primary school child needs to have a recorder and start out playing One Note Boogie,” he said explaining the importance of learning that one note. “It teaches consistency and discipline.”

He reminisced on his days at Herbert Morrison High School and the lasting effect of the music curriculum there on his own life achievements. “After perfecting One Note Boogie, we were then moved to to actually playing the recorder and then we got the opportunity to join the school band,” the musician recalled.

Herbert Morrison, from as early as 1976, benefitted from a union with Indiana State University which would send music teachers to assist with the curriculum. Myaz stated, with immense pride, that 75 — 80 per cent of the touring musicians are products of Herbert Morrison High.

A bass player extraordinaire, Myaz, while a member of the Riddim Kings Band, toured with several artistes, including Jimmy Cliff, Culture, Toots and the Maytals, Shinehead and JC Lodge. He was also the bassist for the chorale Sounds Of Blackness.

His newest offering, You’ve Got Me, is the first album of its kind ever produced in Jamaica, featuring the sound of the bass as the lead instrument.

He says this instrumental album was a special challenge as he “continues to chase the creativity … not the competition”.

Benjy states in the liner notes, “Over the years, musical geniuses such as Jaco Pastorious, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, John Pattatucci, to name a few, have advanced the technique of utilising the bass, not only as a root instrument, but also to hold together the melody of a song. With this influence, I was challenged to do so within the genre of my own musical accomplishment.”

You’ve Got Me has been on the threshhold since 1993, and as Benjy points out, he has since completed an average of one song per year on this 16-track composition.

“It’s been a long time in the making,” he admits, “and it came out capturing my many moods over the years.”

— Yasmine Peru