1 month ago
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As her contralto vocals melodiously reverberated off the walls of a soundproofed St Andrew recording studio, singer Apryl Jaye Raymond hit another high note of a jazz standard she’s refining to perfection.
It’s a weekend rehearsal date for Raymond, who’s putting the finishing touch on the set list for her first-ever, self-financed headliner event, titled ‘Jazz Must Be’, slated for this Thursday at The Summit in New Kingston.
With mere days to go, the quartet of backing musicians for the show going through practice sessions with this diva-in-the-making as she belts the late legendary crooner Nat King Cole’s Pick Yourself Up are bassist Glen Browne, drummer Oral Brown, electric guitarist Lamont ‘Monty’ Savory, and keyboardist Christopher Wright.
“I’ll be performing a mix of jazz standards and reggae-inspired pieces, bringing in the essence of artistes like Ella Fitzgerald and Beres Hammond,” she detailed to The Gleaner in a post-rehearsal sitdown of what’s to be included in her upcoming concert.
“The set list is carefully crafted to take the audience on a journey through love, loss, and resilience, all expressed through a unique jazz-reggae fusion. I’m most eager to share this unique musical experience with the audience and bring my vision for Jazz Must Be to life. The nerves come from wanting everything to run smoothly and ensuring that each detail aligns with the experience I want to offer. It’s a big step, but I’m ready and excited. I’m eager to see the crowd in all-white and to share what’s on my heart with them.”
The 31-year-old singer is ecstatic to see show day almost manifested. “Folks are excited, too. I undertook some of the ticket deliveries myself, so I’ve engaged with a few of the patrons. Some are a younger crowd,” explained Raymond, a member of Campion College’s graduating class of 2012. “The younger patrons have said a mixture [between] they’ve always wanted to go to a jazz bar, or they love the mixing of jazz with reggae, or they love to see a younger person trying and want to support,” she said of the advance feedback she’s received thus far.
Her passion for the music genre took root in her youth, as she recalled that while growing up, her parents would always play jazz records. “It has always been soothing to my spirit,” she told The Gleaner ahead of name-checking her fave singers, among them Luciano, Dennis Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, The Carpenters and Luther Vandross. “They all sing with feeling and are masters of their vocal instrument,” raved the singer, who began pursuing tertiary studies abroad a decade earlier.
‘Confident and expressive performer’
“I did an undergraduate degree in public relations at Lee University in Tennessee, where I was a part of the small jazz ensemble. Then I completed a postgraduate diploma in jazz and commercial music studies at Humber College in Canada. My time at Humber in particular was transformative, as it helped me develop as a confident and expressive performer,” she informed, remembering that during her high school years she had flirted with the arts.
“I dabbled, but I was not a fully committed performing arts kid. At Campion, I was actively involved in various school performances such as Chords, the singing group, and Cindy, a play that was staged in celebration of the school’s 50th anniversary.”
Assuming sole responsibility in mounting her show has not been without its own set of challenges.
The jazz chanteuse bluntly admitted to The Gleaner, “common sense dictates certain factors need to be addressed regarding the coming together of the show. But then, not knowing certain permits and licences pertinent to event staging and advertising was a roadblock for me. You don’t know what you don’t know until random folks mention certain things, you decide to investigate, and find out about certain protocols that you’ve missed.”
She added that in making a determination for accompanying musicians, talent was not the sole make-or-break factor.
“You need both talent and character. This means they’ll follow through on what they’ve promised, which is one less headache when single-handedly planning a show, so choosing your human capital wisely is key. Choose adults who manage themselves well,” she explained.
For Raymond, who maintains a nine-to-five as the entrepreneur behind the two-year-old natural haircare business, Washed to Go, she’s clear-eyed about why she had to mount her own show.
“I have a unique sound and something different to offer to the Jamaican market and the world. I wanted an opportunity to showcase what I offer, and I felt an urgency to not wait to be put on, but to put myself on. I want to connect with folks who resonate with my art. The name Jazz Must Be came from the phrase the ‘music must be’, which came from a conversation with a friend. I was feeling doubtful about my music journey and I wanted to quit. But then I said to him, even if I never monetise this career, I do feel compelled to express myself musically. So the music must be in any case,” she declared, before returning to the studio to weave more music magic with the band.
English (US) ·