JTJazz Gives Vintage Performance

JTJazz, the jazz quartet of the Rev. John Teye Memorial Institute (JTMI) last Friday thrilled patrons who watched their formal outdooring at the British Council, Accra with a superlative performance.

The music presented by the four young people, three boys and a girl, was a real luxury for all of us privileged to enjoy it.

Joseph Akiti, 15, on drums, a J.S.S. graduate awaiting his BECE results, Janet Yeboah, vocalist / trumpeter and currently the senior girls prefect and Emmannuel John Teye, pianist / composer / arranger of the group's original material and senior boys' prefect of JTMI and Philip Khingo, 18, bassist, an S.S.S. graduate awaiting his SSCE results, formed the JTJAZZ that earned a standing ovation after their extraordinary performance.

The programme, which attracted a compact audience of jazz lovers, pastors and people from all walks of life showed what young people can do if given the requisite training and opportunity.

Irene Logan, winner of the recent 'Stars of the Future' contest and an old student of the school, gave a rousing rendition of the song, 'Great is Thy Faithfulness'. She then performed a duet with her mother, Tina backed by father, Charles Tachie-Menson on keyboards.

Joy Kabutey, another old student, gave a refreshing presentation of 'That Name' before the JTJAZZ took over.

Scaling through songs such as 'Amazing Grace', 'He Lives' and Hugh Masekala's 'Grazing in the Grass' which they rearranged. They really showed their class.

In 'Jesus Loves Me' which Janet sang and played trumpet solos on, the maturity and professionalism of the youthful quartet was manifest.

Each of the four played well-crafted solos on their own compositions. In 'Judgement Day', Akiti show how good he was on the drums in the offbeat and regulated solos he did.

'In Peace', it was the turn of Emmanuel to show off on the piano. 'End Times Groove' was another occasion for Emmanuel but not before Akiti started a highlife drum rendition beginning with the congas and the over 20 assorted percussion instruments he had at his disposal.

But 'Questions and Answers' was the song that really exposed the creativity, commitment and professionalism of the young players on their instruments.

The call and responses between piano and drums, bass guitar and drums and piano and bass guitar was indeed an excellent display which called for a round of applause from the highly elated audience.

The Jazz Society of Ghana, on behalf of two American musicians, Amina Claudine Myers and Cecilia Smith of Berklee College of Music, later donated musical works by some renowned jazz artistes to the quartet.

Nii Addokwei Moffat Graphic Showbiz