Seretse
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Seretse

Kingston, Saint Andrew, Jamaica | SELF

Kingston, Saint Andrew, Jamaica | SELF
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"Seretse has a Giant Heart for Music"

Seretse Small is an extraordinary Jamaican musician. He has been involved in almost every aspect of the music industry and has demonstrated a great degree of stick-to-itiveness. Not only is he the CEO of Griot Music, but he is an accomplished jazz guitarist, who has made it his mission to take the Jamaican music industry on an uncharted course.

The concept (of changing the industry) germinated in the summer of 1995 when Small went on a travel and work programme to the United States (US). His love for music, and knowing that Quincy Jones, his hero, attended Berkley College, influenced his decision to enrol in their summer programme during his stint in the US.

"It was a wonderful experience and helped to chart the course for my jazz career," said Small, who acknowledged that his love for jazz should also be credited to his parents' love for the genre.

Also at Berkley College that summer, the experienced music educator learned the "concept of publishing as the heart of the music industry".

Storyteller

Like the Griot (storytellers) in African culture, the aim of Small's music company is to tell a story. "I am more committed to being a storyteller. I am more concerned about story than (musical) notes. We wanted the company to be about people who have a story to tell," Small said emphatically.

The strategy was to use weekly shows called Live Music Nation to find artistes and songwriters. But the company encountered difficulty. Lack of finance prevented them from getting the right artistes. In addition, the Jamaican economy was spinning out of control and created a ripple effect, thus resulting in Small abandoning his plan. By the end of December 2008, he had to lay off his staff at Griot Music and moved his company into Cyber space.

With what he called the "colo-ssal failure" of his first big show experience at the 1984 JamFest, the former music minister is not daunted by the change in his musical course. He has accepted "that mistakes were made. I took on too many responsibilities. We need to partner with people who are good at marketing and distributing."

However, he believed that it was necessary for him to wear the many hats to get people's attention. And he felt that the experience has helped him to recognise his strength - producing live shows.

Music-based projects

Life's wheel continues to turn and this Jamaica School of Music graduate and his online company must find ways to stay afloat. "Our strategy is to create more music-based projects and low-risk ventures, such as recording, as well as scale down the live shows," said Small. In the meantime, Small is keeping all options open, considering moving to the north coast to take up a job offer as musical director.

"I am looking forward to making more music, finding musicians and songwriters and continuing to work on the web. I know the challenge of working online will be different from live music, but I am not giving up," said Small.

Among his musical achievements, Small has taught music at different levels - from primary to tertiary, including heading the music department at his former school, Excelsior Community College. At these institutions he implemented new projects and conducted a music camp. - Jamaica Gleaner, Marcia Rowe


"Seretse Small was "Large""

THE SQUARE that is 'The Round' at the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts (PSCCA) was filled to capacity when persons gathered to see and hear Seretse Small present The Lover Within.

Two guitars and a keyboard were placed in the inner square and seating was arranged around this, to provide a rather intimate setting. Chairs were lined up on the lower levels of the room while cushions lined the steps which make up The Round's normal seating area.

Those who were late often did not bother to seek seating but instead simply stood or claimed a piece of the floor until seating was arranged for them. Prints and artwork which lined the wall all helped to complete the ambiance of quiet intimacy, with a hint of truth. Incense was the final touch.

The show was separated into three segments with two 10 minute intermissions. The performances were in more than just music. The Lover Within is a production of Griot Music. As such, storytelling is a very integral part of the event. Thus, between several of the pieces, especially his originals, Seretse told something of either why the song was written or simply what he was going through at the time it was created.

Seretse's first original piece of the night was She Can Dance, which he composed to express his feelings for his mother. Before beginning the song, he pointed out that he found it difficult to write about his mother because of all the details at his disposal as he was "always under she frocktail". Nonetheless, he distinctly remembers her ability to dance. To further get the audience to understand the song, he asked them to picture the Ring Road at carnival time and "a little boy and a sweet lookin woman goin' down di road".

She Can Dance, while still feeling like a jazz tune, easily evoked a feeling of the wild abandon of soca and drew applause from the audience before it was over.

As the second portion of the evening was set to begin, instead of the strumming of a guitar which was being expected, the shrill of a cell phone was heard instead. The audience therefore laughed as its owner skipped from the room to quickly answer the offending instrument.

This second portion of the night, 'Spirit, Flesh and Blood' dealt with Seretse's search for selfhood. As such it contained four original pieces, He Lives, Ocean of Love, My Love and She Loves Me as well as Mona Lisa and Jesus Loves Me. As he explained his search for identity he pointed out "Smokin an me couldn't get along, whisky is a horrible thing and beer I just can't understand, unless it's hot. But it's not Cool-Aid'.

Thus unable to find himself in any of these he turned to God, and was also greatly influenced by his daugther. In fact, She Loves Me is inspired by her love for him, even though he knows that she loves him in part because she has to.

Another lovely treat was the improvisational dance that accompanied the piece Message From the Forest. While Seretse played on the guitar, Neila Ebanks danced, creating an image of courtship among the music, the dancer and the musician.

Like the rest of the performances, this one went over very well with the audience. Several of the songs were accompanied by sounds of 'Wonderful' or 'Beautiful' as the audience voiced their appreciation. Alex Martin Blanken also provided accompaniment on the keyboards and when he wasn't thrilling the audience with his fingerwork he simply blended into the audience. - Jamaica Gleaner, Tanya Batson-Savage


Discography

Silo Sessions http://www.griotmusic.com/silosessions

Photos

Bio

Seretse Small is a guitarist who loves to improvise and compose music with passion and a Caribbean voice. Having thirty years experience playing music in Jamaica where he was born he is a lover and defender of Caribbean Music especially music from Jamaica. His music is a fusion of Reggae, Rock, Jazz, Classical Guitar and Latin styles reflecting him being influenced by Quincy Jones, Bob Marley, Van Halen, George Benson and Earl Klugh.

ACOUSTIC SOLO ALBUM

In 2000 Seretse was a participant in the OMI Composers Colony in upstate NY and took the time to record improvisations and compositions in the Silo that was on the 38 acre farm where the colony was located. When he returned to Jamaica he used these recordings to create an album which he called Silo Sessions which consist of his compositions and improvisations that he often recorded at 4:00 in the morning because of the need for quiet to record. This album is available at http://www.griotmusic.com/silosessions

TEACHER & PERFORMER

Seretse has many years as music teacher at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary level institutions. He has taught Caribbean Jazz and Guitar at the Edna Manley School of Music and headed his own music department at the EXED Community College. His own educational background spans attending the Jamaica School of Music and attending Berklee Jazz College, New England Conservatory and the Longy School of Music in short courses in Jazz Performance.

He has performed with Jamaican luminaries such as Sonny Bradshaw, Dean Fraser, Mickey Hanson, Benji Myaz, Wayne Armond and Cynthia Schloss and others. He toured the world with Sean Paul as his guitarist, making appearances on the Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live and Conan OBrian. As a guitarist Seretse has travelled the world performing at the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, St Lucia jazz Festival, Grenada Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival (performing with Sean Paul).

GIVING HONOUR

As Seretse prepares for a year of recording and touring in 2010 he acknowledges Bob Marleys 65th birthday and the passing of Sonny Bradshaw one of his mentors who passed in 2009. May the fire that they passed on to me never die and the music never stop playing