It was a pleasant surprise to see saxophonist/vocalist Ricky Senn walk on stage with no undue fuss or elaborate introduction, while guitarist Revel Crake and the Barefoot Band were performing at the JU Session. At the end of the tune that the band played, Ricky moved towards the mic to sing in the gravel voice of Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World - the anthem of his late brother Gavin, a vocalist and saxophonist himself. It was an apt dedication to Gavin and was appreciated by the large audience present.
Ricky Senn was a leading name in our music industry before he left in 1982 with the Adrian Ferdinands Combo to perform in Norway. Adrian changed the name of his band to Colombo Gems to give the group more clout and it did. The Sri Lankan Colombo Gems were a popular outfit and their tight schedule earned the band more and more fans. A year in Norway, and their next stop was Switzerland and no sooner the band completed their contracts, Adrian moved back to Norway.
Colombo Gems is no more, now, how do you keep in touch with music in Norway?
“I freelance with the big bands that are playing in Norway. It’s interesting because the bands play a varied repertoire – trad, swing, bob, smooth, jazz, fusion with folk and pop songs. In my early years in Sri Lanka, I was with bands that played pop, dance, soul, reggae, so it was no problem for me to fit in. Now, I also do a regular duo scene with Jon Henrik Tronsgaard. We call ourselves, ‘Midnight Special’ and our repertoire stretches from the 40s to the 90s with a lot of soul and reggae.”
Are you following a particular technique or philosophy in your style, and who would you classify as your influences in playing the saxophone?
“Actually, I learnt saxophone and piano from the late Miki Menezes. He tutored me to play the alto, tenor and clarinet, and I played in all his bookings along with stalwarts Malcolm de Zilwa, Cass Ziard and Lucky Manickawasagar. Miki was insistent that I learnt piano so that it would help me in playing the saxophone. It did immensely.
My initiation into the sax was my Dad Bernie Senn the vocalist’s influence. He had LPs of Coleman Hawkins and Stan Getz, and he made me listen to them often. My other influences were Charlie Ventura, Benny Goodman, Pete Fountain, David Sanborn, Dave Koz. I prefer the style and technique of Gerald Albright.
The reason being, his improvisations are intricate, he makes the instrument talk because, from the lowest to the highest altissimo, he achieves on a sax in a rapid phrase.”
In the early years of the Sri Lankan music industry many were the bands vying with each other to gain prominence and hold centre stage. The standard of musicianship was high, but unfortunately, the remuneration was not on a high, unlike today.
But yet, the integrity of the musicians and discipline they displayed was laudable. Ricky Senn belonged to that era and his early career, before he left for Norway, was indeed interesting, to say the least.
“After my stint with Miki Menezes, I joined Gaylord Revival managed by Vernon Perera and led by Clinton Fernando, the drummer. There was Ossie Perera on guitar, Rodney Bernard on electric bass, vocals were handled by Luke Henricus and Fahmy Nazik, with Hilary Christie on piano. We played at the Supper Club, Lanka Oberoi, alternating with the Peter Prins Combo.
“Thereafter, I moved over to guitarist Revel Crake’s band Intrigue, which was featured at The Blue Leopard, Taprobane. The other members were Ray Gomes, Cathy Menezes – piano, Verna McLeod – drums, all name musicians in our country.
“As it always happens, musicians enjoy spreading their wings and flying overseas to display their talents. Luck would have it, I was invited by Chinti Perera to join Ice and Fire for a contract in Beirut. I was happy to play along with Joe Thambimuttu and Neville Davidson. When we returned, Noeline Honter formed her band Galaxy, managed by her husband Kenneth Honter.
Once again, Neville Davidson and Joe Thambimuttu were with us and the newcomers were Mohan Sabaratnam and Suriyakumar Weerasingham. The band really swung! Before I left for Norway with the Adrian Ferdinands Combo I had a stint with Climax, the band led by guitarist/vocalist Rodney Rabot. With us were Michael de Silva – bass, Amin Aniff-drums and Jenice Fernando – drums. It was a pleasure playing with all of them – and as the cliché goes ‘those days will never come by”.
Where do you think music is heading at present? Rhythm is changing, so too time signatures – in fact it is a new stage!
“Yes, it is changing. As to where it is going, I reserve my opinion. Pop is not tidy anymore.
In the early years there was a verse, chorus, a bridge, but today, we do not know the progress of a song. Rhythm is taken off machines like keyboards and rhythm machines. When I get back, I will play my duo scene. We have a tight schedule as Midnight Special.”
So, until Ricky Senn decides to return for another holiday in Sri Lanka, here’s wishing him all the best;
“Let the Midnight Special shine a lot on him!”