“On your way up, or on your way down, stop and pick up your pomegranate in town.”

Many senior citizens have allowed me into their place and space and have included me into their trove of ‘friends’.  From them I have learnt so much. Just being in their company means that I would have an opportunity to LEARN.

Sonny Bradshaw was one such. I lived quite near to he and his wife, Myrna. From the day he discovered that I loved pomegranates I would go home to a message on my phone or hear him directly as he repeated that pithy ditty, with which I started this article: “On your way up, or on your way down, stop and pick up your pomegranate in town.”

What is life really about? Life is about family, friends, love, relationships — of all sorts and forms — and respect for ALL and a Supreme Being.

Sonny was proud of the years he had lived and wouldn’t let you forget it. As each year rolled along and around he would change how he answered the phone, by simply adjusting one or two words. Those would be his age.

“Sonny Bradshaw 83,” this is how he answered the phone after his last birthday. Before that it was 82, 81, 80, etc. As a matter of fact I believe it was I who had brought it to his attention at one point that he was actually announcing the wrong ‘birthday’ in his salutation. Be that as it may!  Sonny was born on March 28, 1926.

I am not in the habit of taking invitations for granted.  Even when I am not attending an event, I reply, thank the sender and extend my wish for an enjoyable function. But there are some invitations that are indeed very humbling.

On Mr. Bradshaw’s last birthday I was one of six persons he asked his most elegant and caring wife to have around at a small dinner party. This was a very special invitation and it was indeed a splendid afternoon.

Sonny Bradshaw and Marjorie Whylie at his 83rd birthday party in March 2009. (Contributed photo)

Sonny Bradshaw’s ‘The Prayer’

The Jamaica Big Band is a Jamaican institution akin to the National Gallery of Jamaica, the Institute of Jamaica, and the Jamaica Military Band.  It has been an integral part of the culture and musical landscape and has helped to define our musical dexterity and genius as a Jamaican people.

Many of our best and most professional and creative musicians have had the privilege and honour of playing with the Jamaica Big Band.  And of working with Sonny Bradshaw as composer, arranger, trumpeter, pianist and director.

Sonny Bradshaw’s muse guided him to a most fitting and distinctive arrangement of the Jamaican National Anthem. I first heard this utterly captivating arrangement a few years ago and was transported to a new appreciation of what it means to be Jamaican.

I was particularly drawn to his nuanced interpretation and treatment of the section of the musical score, ‘Justice, truth be ours forever’, which distinguishes this anthem from any other by embedding its Jamaicaness through the music that defines us as a people — Reggae.

I haunted Mikey Bennett for close to a year and a half to get this recording done. Mikey had volunteered his studio. And sometimes I was also a tick in Dean Fraser’s back. I was ecstatic the day Mikey called me in the second quarter of 2009 with a, “Fae, wi recording this evening.”

Mr. Bradshaw never introduced it as The Anthem, but as ‘The Prayer, which it is. It would be a fitting tribute to this trailblazer and legend if his arrangement of the Jamaican Anthem could be one of the arrangements/versions used.

As Mikey Bennett said to me while our Jamaican athletes were creating records and mesmerising the world in Beijing, Sonny’s arrangement would have taken the Jamaicans at home and abroad to another stratosphere.

To create this work Sonny Bradshaw called on 18 of Jamaica’s most distinguished musicians. They are: keyboards — Marjorie Wylie; drums, Desi Jones; bass, Dale Aslam; guitarist, Maurice Gordon; trumpet, Dwight Richards, Vivian Scott, Everol “Sting” Wray, Hopeton Williams; sax, Dean Fraser, Everton Gayle, Tafawee “Tafanie” Buchsacab, Nicholas Larock; trombone, Barry Bailey, Nambo Robinson, Everton Peso, Romeo Grey; percussion, Alvin “Vinny” Haughton and Denver “Denvo” Smith.

It was recorded at Mikey Bennett’s Grafton Studios, 2B Grafton Road in Vineyard Town, Kingston. Recording and mixing engineer was Romel Marshall. The project was produced by the incomparable saxophonist, producer, composer, arranger and guiding light, Dean Fraser.

Myrna’s Mr. B

Sonny leaves behind one of Jamaica’s most elegant and sophisticated women, his widow, Jazz singer Myrna Hague. Myrna Hague was always there for Sonny. She was constantly at his side as friend, sounding board, lover, wife, collaborator, business partner,

Whatever you do Myrna please, complete your PhD, looking at the history of jazz, as it relates to the Caribbean (this isn’t the exact wording).  If you don’t, I believe Mr. Bradshaw would have every right to be cross with you when you meet again.

If William Seiveright, a baker by profession, who penned the PNP anthem, would allow me poetic licence and Jamaicans would remove the partisan political garbs for just a while, I say my farewell to master trumpeter, Sonny Bradshaw with these words:

“The trumpet has sounded, my countrymen all.”  And to those of us still continuing the journey I petition, “Awake from your slumber and answer the call.”

Sonny Cecil Bradshaw has made an indelible contribution to our national development and identity. And the clarion call is for all other Jamaicans to follow suit.

My column is published every other week, so back with you on November 1, 2009. DV. Walk good!