ARTIST OF
THE MONTH
Rhys Sebastian
You come from a family with renowned
musicians. What were your learnings in your
initial stages when you started out?
Looking back, I can say that I’m glad I had an ear for music,
which was always picking up on what my mother and father
were playing at rehearsals. With the encouragement from
my parents, I would be introduced to other well renowned
musicians and sit in on rehearsals, occasionally performing
with them. So I was quite blessed to be surrounded by a wealth
of talent, professionalism and experience at an early age. John Dias, used to play the upright bass and other stringed
instruments as well as the clarinet. They would have to keep
me focused on using my time right as I just entered the teens
and gradually got me to start something new. I learned the
clarinet while my interest at the piano waned slightly but it
was enough to get a glimpse into what professional musicians
do, as the institutional Jazzy Joe took me under his wing.
By the time I turned 16, he moved me onto the saxophone
and that’s the one that stuck through. I still do have an
inquisitiveness for the piano and now, the bass guitar.
When did you first know you wanted to
be a professional jazz musician? Who did you learn from and what
were your major learnings?
I think I’m evolving as a musician unconfined to genres at this
moment in time although, my journey did start with heavy
dose of Jazz and I’m very happy about it! I think this just sort
of happened when I was 17 years old. The late Jazzy Joe, was
my first clarinet and saxophone teacher and he’d take me with
all the other senior musicians and his students to perform at
Not Just Jazz By The Bay. He’d also request me to substitute
him at the Sea Lounge, Taj Mahal Gateway where I truly
learned while I earned, as my father would cheekily say. And
since I was still young, I let the waters just flow naturally and
allowed myself to play with people from different educations.
Jazz though has been and is still a great influencer for me and
I attribute that to one of my best people around me, Tala Faral.
My parents, taught me so much then about life really and what
it is to be a full-time musician while supporting a family. They
tell me less now but still keep a keen eye on me. I suppose I could
say, for me at least, I’m grateful for my parents and that they
are always around for me. Sound’s cliched, but I’m still learning
new things from my peers and friends, and feel great about that.
Are there any musicians you would
specifically like to work with?
Jacob Collier is a bit of a stretch and several leagues
and worlds out of my reach but I still dream.
Upcoming project
I’m looking forward to what 2019 has in store. While I’m
What made you choose the sax as an instrument to play? primarily a session’s musician featuring on other artist’s
I didn’t! I started the piano at a young age but it was clear
that football was dominating my studies and music while in
school. My parents had to act quick. Mum mother’s father,
20
The
Score Magazine
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work, I would like to present some of my own music this year.
I am hopeful that I give myself the chance to do more public
shows and am working on original content for that purpose.