With the passing of the reedman Joe Pereira this morning, Bombay’s jazz age has truly come to an end. Jazzy Joe, as he was known fondly to three generations of Indian fans, was the last of the musicians from the swing era. He was 86.
Pereira started performing in 1941, aged only 14, in a band in Lahore’s Stiffle’s Hotel fronted by his cousin, the legendary Sebastian D’Souza. After spending much of his career in Lahore, Delhi and Calcutta, Pereira returned to Bombay in the 1980s and helped train a bunch of enthusiastic hornmen (and hornwomen) who performed occasionally as the Jazz Junkeys.
Visiting Pereira at his home in Victory Blocks, right behind Bandra police station, was always enlightening. Until a couple of years ago when his health began to fail, Pereira could be counted on to recall slightly risqué stories about his encounters with cabaret dancers and to tell, in mock horror, about his shyness at their routine state of dishabille, even off stage. He would tell about his musical journeys through India and his trips to Europe, his eyes lighting up with memories of musicians he’d jammed with and places he’d seen.
After Partition, Pereria played with the Johnny Baptist band in Bombay and Rudy Cotton in Delhi, before joining an outfit in Calcutta headed by the Russian violinist Walter Yashin. In 1957, he began to head his own band at the Blue Fox on Park Street.
Back in Bombay, many still remember his turn conducting the Foottappers Band at the 1984 Jazz Yatra, leading the group through his composition Flight of the Raga, based on Yaman. Like so many of his contemporaries, he also played in the film studios, and was an assistant to the composers Shankar-Jaikishen.
Pereira’s funeral will be held tomorrow, Saturday June 15, at 4pm at St Peter’s Church in Bandra. My condolences to his daughter Pamela, son Christopher and the rest of the Pereira family. As Jazzy Joe heads up to the Great Bandstand in the Sky, you can download some of his music here.
Joe Pereira, Delhi, 1957
Here is a section of a tribute concert for him held in 2013, featuring his son, Christopher,
17 comments
Dear Naresh,
Thank you very much for the lovely write up.
I am his daughter Pamela.
Dear Pamela,
My condolences to you and your family.
Regards,
Naresh
Dear Pamela….
I had the pleasure of hearing your father and the many musicians he influenced… at your parents Golden Jubilee…
I guess… that .. was the maximus in terra tributum.
He now hears the angels…. : )
Ricardo Valerie Eurico Oriel
England.
Pam so sorry to hear about your Dad, may his soul rest in peace and our prayers with you all.
Deepest condolences to Uncle Joes family on behalf of my parents, Braz and Yvonne Gonsalves, my husband Darryl and myself. He was a great musician and entertainer. May his soul rest in peace.
I am very sorry to hear this. I have sung on many occasions with Joe. He always brought a cheerful vibe to it all. He will be remembered fondly as he goes on to play his great gig in the sky.
I remember watching and hearing the Foottappers at the Jazz Yatra in Mumbai and was totally captivated and blown away by their music. Also remember Jazzy Joe playing the tune Poinciana at the Yatra and think of him every time I hear or play that tune. Thank you Jazzy Joe for your immense contribution to Jazz in India and for being an inspiration to musicians like me with your commitment to your music, your encouragement of young talent and your zest for life. RIP Jazzy Joe your music lives on..
My wife and I extend our sympathies to the family of “Jazzy Joe” who I had the pleasure of listening to many times at “Jazz by the Bay”. His solos were breathtaking and his musicianship was some of the best that I have witnessed throughout the years. We pray that God will grant the family strength to bear the loss not only for them but to one and all who listened to Joe and his Sax. RIP Jazzy Joe
On behalf of my family son Ashley and Gemma Fernandes i extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Jazzy Joe. His music will alway live on…
Our Deepest Sympathies to all the family. Joe. Natalie D’Souza and family
My deepest condolences to his family.
I’m repeatedly playing his CD right now & still get goose bumps hearing his solos, especially on tenor. It’s really like hearing the voice of God, through the horn of Joe. So many memories of him make me smile. His glare when we Junkies messed up, his nod to his fellow musicians to take a solo, his flying solos, his ability to freeze the whole audience with his gentle numbers & to rock them with his up tempo numbers. He played in our 20th anniversary, and for many of my medical colleagues, his music something never to be forgotten.
Most of all I remember & appreciate the fact he was one of the rare professional musicians who would let amateurs like us Junkies on his stage, repeatedly.
Farhad Kapadia (Jazz Junky)
RIP Jazzy Joe, I played piano with him at the Sea Lounge, Taj mahal Palace and Tower, for three years, and a countless number of gigs all over Mumbai, and the country. My deep condolences to Matty, Christopher, Pamela, and the rest of the family.
Clifton.
RIP Jazzy Joe, My Dad’s great pal and neighbour from Calangute. Did go to watch many of his performances. He performed for my Dad’s ( Reggienaldo ) 75th Birthday in Goa and also had the pleasure to sing along with accompanying music of Jazzy Joe.
I will never forget that experience.
My deep condolences to his family
Egbert
RIP uncle Joe and aunty Mattie, Pam,Chris and family praying for you all.
Naresh thank you for doing this article and if u r wondering why I am writing this – it is beacuse Uncle Joe, Braz, Yvonne were part of my life in Calcutta and my Dad was a trumpeter (J.B.Carvalho). The music scene in swinging 70’s in Calcutta was like no other and all the musicians who shifted to Mumbai were all part of the music scene in Cal! Just going down memory lane and Uncle Joe and Aunty Mattie were family friends.
I was shocked to come across this news.. I met uncle Joe( that’s what I called him) in a local train. I used to catch the same local train as he did on way home, after work. Once I casually asked him about the saxophone he carried and went on to check with him if he would teach me. He invited me home and gave me a few tips as well. He was very down to earth and I will never forget those moments.
My deepest sympathies with his family. And I pray his soul rest in peace.
I salute you Uncle Joe!
I used to hear Joe play his sax, along with a pianist and bass player at the Oberoi, Mumbai champagne Sunday brunch. My friends and I went every week we could get away from our work. When I left in 1999, he was kind enough to come and play with the group at my farewell party at the works beside Mahim Bay. He always played my favourite tune, “Take Five”, somewhere during every brunch. Great memories of a very talented musician and kindly person. He will have inspired many young sax players, some of who will become well known local players in the years to come.