TV Times

TV Times

Jiffry’s journey of success
By Uditha Jayasinghe
The unexpected diamond uncovered during the recently concluded Al Mackay All Stars Concert, was the presence of a Sri Lankan star in their midst.
Hussain Jiffry has unknown to many of his fellow citizens (with an appology to all Grace fans) become a noted international musician that has toured with the likes of Yanni as part of an illustrious career that began in his homeland.

Predictably for Jiffry getting the chance to jam in Colombo was the chance of a lifetime. So he flew back to Sri Lanka with his wife a week in advance and mixed business with pleasure by having a holiday while he awaited the arrival of the rest of the Al Mackay all stars troupe.

That was when we bumped into him, at the Cinnamon Grand lobby as we waited for the delayed appearance of Kool and the Gang. Despite not being on tour with them this time around he has nonetheless been a regular part of the Al Mackay All Stars since 97 and is one of their top bassists. He is also a talented music writer, arranger and producer that has worked with local band "Alien Accent" to produce their last album "Rites of Passage" four years ago.

Since then he has co-produced albums for emerging Swedish singer "Ninsun Poli", toured with Yanni for a year and a half and played with Sergio Mendes.
A list of laurels that do absolutely no harm to his already burgeoning bio-data. In the middle of this hectic schedule he has found it difficult to work on his first solo album but promises that it will be taken off the backburner and completed in the near future.

Jiffry's journey of success was launched in Sri Lanka when he played bass with Noeline and Galaxy at the Little Hut when he was only 19 years old. Having played at clubs for several years he took wing from Sri Lanka in 1981 and joined a Sri Lankan band Fame based in Switzerland for four years.
After that venture lived up to its name he was part of Amazing Grace for several years while taking time to brush up is natural talent by studying at the Los Angeles Musicians Institute in the late '80's.

The next significant development in his career was joining the Al Mackay All Stars in 1997 at a time when it was going through a bit of rough patch.
Initially formed by Jazz drummer Maurice White in the mid-60's Earth, Wind and Fire (EWF) boasted Al Mackay as part of their multi Grammy Award winning team that co-wrote any of their perennial hits. However after going on a solo production career in the early 80's he later formed the Al Mackay All Stars but lost a few founding members when EWF regrouped in the mid 90's.
Jiffry was among the stars that rejuvenated the awesome combination that wowed crowds on Valentine’s Day in Colombo.

Having consistently played major gigs in both Europe and Asia, Jiffry said that it was hard for him to pin point one all time memorable concert but the Jazz Festival in South Africa was given a tentative nod by him.

‘I enjoy all forms of music. Without a variety of music in my life I get bored very easily. So moving from pop to classical to jazz to R&B music gives me greater inspiration and keeps my passion for music alive.

Al Mackay All Stars music is based on EWF but it is infused with a different bounce to be more appealing to youth. This is timeless music that we grew up with. ‘Coming down here for this concert was great. It is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career’ he said.

Judging by the cheers he got from the spellbound audience at the concert, Jiffry would be welcomed with open arms if he ever decides to settle within our sandy shores again.

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