JUJU � MUSICIAN PAR EXCELLENCE
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Soft-spoken and well mannered with a smiling countenance, this tall and well-built bearded tenor saxophonist was liked by all among the tiatrist fraternity for his dedication towards music, down to earth professional approach and his human ways. BY DANIEL F DE SOUZA. |
Death is an uncertain certainty� goes the age old maxim. As uncertain as when on 9th December whilst entertaining guests at a restaurant at Raia, Juju Fernandes, the versatile tenor saxophonist and a popular music director, breathed his last. His passing away has not only shocked the tiatrist fraternity across the length and breath of Goa, but the void created by his sudden death would be very hard to fill. As it is the ever expanding tiatrist fraternity is faced with the bleak prospects of finding an experienced air instrument player with their tribe decreasing, and little prospects of seeing the younger generation taking a fascination for blowing instruments, Juju�s death has added further to their misery.
Baptised as Jose A. Fernandes, this musician from Pedda Benaulim, the cradle of Konkani stage art and culture, was an established crooner in a local band AVC Pops before making his name as a full-fledged musician. He even had his own beat group under the name Hard Rocks. Inspired by his musician father who was a church choir master in Benaulim church, Juju too took a serious interest in learning blowing instruments. But, it was only after he joined the tiatr bandwagon as a music director did he come into limelight and was a much sought after musician for his exceptional skill and mastery with the tenor sax.
Soft-spoken and well mannered with a smiling countenance, this tall and well-built bearded tenor saxophonist was liked by all among the tiatrist fraternity for his dedication towards music, down to earth professional approach and his human ways. Many professional artists whom GO spoke to said �Juju was a thorough professional and a perfectionist to the core. He was a great showman who had the capacity to entertain the audience individually with his Tenor Sax and singing too.�
Excellent Showman
As we are in the midst of the Christmas season, the tiatr lovers will miss Juju all the more for his Christmas carols. He was the only music director who would not only play instrumental carols before the start of the tiatr, but would actually render a couple of carols with his beautiful voice from his chair in front of the stage. This was something very rare among the present set of tiatr musicians. Juju was one of the best showmen I have ever seen when playing the tenor sax for Konkani musical shows. He would suddenly leave his position and rhythmically sway his way to the centre of the stage gracefully playing the tenor sax alongside the soloist in his inimitable style to the utter surprise of the audience and the soloist too. This was his specialty and such a spontaneous action was well received not only but the audience but it would give an additional boost and confidence to the singer on stage.
Juju produced his own audio album in 1998 titled �Biradd�. Juju was the music director for Rose Ferns dramatic troupe for the last five seasons. Incidentally this season he had taken a break from the shows and it is understood Juju had engaged himself as a one-man band for the hotel industry along the South Goa Coast. Paying rich tributes to this tenor saxophonist this is what his colleagues on the Konkani stage had to say:
Rose Ferns: With Juju�s untimely death the Konkani stage has lost a talented and dedicated music director. He was not only talented but also very committed to his profession. He was a capable professional and could even carry the show on single handedly. He would always keep his word and was a perfectionist. He would take special care of young and upcoming artist, and was very particular about rehearsals. He would conduct separate music rehearsals with his band members. As the number of brass instrument musicians is steadily on the decline in recent years, his death is a great loss to the Konkani stage and Konkani music.
Wilson Mazarello: I knew Juju for many years. As a human, he was very friendly and warm hearted, helpful in nature and had a great passion for music. He was the only band leader who would sing live before the commencement of the shows and entertain the audience in his own way. He paid a lot of emphasis on rehearsals and had a thorough professional approach towards them. His love for music and the Konkani stage was something great. With the present acute shortage of brass blowers his death has dealt a severe blow to the tiatrist fraternity.
Felcy: Juju, besides being a thorough professional, was a very co-operative musician. He made us feel comfortable and confident while performing on stage. I will never forget how he came to my rescue in 1995 when I had staged my own drama. He saved me from serious trouble when at very short notice he provided the entire music for one of my shows when the original music director could not make it. We will miss him very much and especially at Christmas time for his carols and other songs too. He had a special fascination for the English song �Falling in Love again� and attached sentimental value for this particular song and would never miss an opportunity to sing it. The stage is poorer by his exit.
Tony Dias: Juju provided the music for my two musical shows, two music albums and tiatr �Ti Mhoji Maim� Part I, II and III. It was pleasant experience working with Juju. His helpful and adjusting nature was his biggest asset. I never had any tensions or worry as long as Juju was in control of the music for my shows. His dedication and punctuality for rehearsals was exceptional. He will be badly missed by the entire tiatrist fraternity. May Almighty God grant him eternal rest.
Ulhas Tari: I had a close association with him as a member of Rose Ferns dramatic troupe. Juju was not only a good musician, but above all he was an excellent human being. He was stickler for time and very particular about rehearsals. Singing Christmas carols before the commencement of the show during the festive season was his passion. I will personally miss this beautiful human being.
Anthony San: I have known Juju for the last 15 years. Juju was to the Konkani stage what tenor saxophonist �Shamraj� is to the Hindi film industry. If Juju had to set himself up in Mumbai, I am sure he would have certainly scaled much bigger heights considering his immense musical talents and dedication to music. He was a great perfectionist and as a music director was very particular and emphasised on the combination when blending with other instruments. I recently completed my two recordings with Juju at the studios, one for my Konkani VCD film and the other for an audio �Goenche Saibacher Bhavarth�. Apart from being a committed and passionate musician, he was also an excellent human.
Abdonio Rodrigues (drummer): Juju was the only Tenor Saxophonist who could play excellent Jazz. We both played together at a hotel in Carmona on the night of 7th December. Besides we have teamed together to play at several beach-side resorts in South Goa. He was such a talented musician that he could improvise on his own and was in absolute command and comfortable while playing the 5/4 tempo. He exhibited a lot of deep interest in music and was dedicated to his profession. He played for me in Jose Rod�s �Tujem Naum Vhodd Zaum� his death is a personal loss to me and I feel I am handicapped without him. May God grant him eternal rest.
Great Loss
With the passing away of Juju the void will certainly be difficult to be filled for his fans and colleagues in music field will agree that he has made an immense contribution to Konkani music. With the number of air instrument musicians dwindling away and with no hope of seeing new talent rising on the music horizon, the tiatrist will be faced with a difficult situation resulting in the quality of tiatr music facing the brunt. For, after all, air instruments are the essence and flavour of tiatrs.
(courtesy: The Goan Observer)
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