Grammy award for Hussain Jiffry’s band
Bass baron Hussain Jiffry, Sri Lankan-born bassist, Hussain Jiffry who is part of bass legend Herb Alpert and wife Lani Hall’s quintet have won a Grammy award, foreign media reported. The group won the award for the Best Pop Instrumental Album for their album Steppin’ Out at this year’s Grammy Awards, which concluded on Monday morning.
Jiffry has also been with Brazilian samba jazz legend Sergio Mendes for many years as well as, performing with “The Earth Wind and Fire Experience” when they played live in Colombo, and at the Java jazz festival. He graduated from the Institute of Musician’s in LA in 1989, and while playing random ensembles, it was his sheer talent that brought many worthwhile offers to this dedicated bassist.
Bass baron Hussain Jiffry has become the first Sri Lankan born to win the prestigious Grammy award, when his band Herb Alpert Quintet won the Best Pop Instrumental Album Award for their album ‘Steppin’ Out’ at the Grammy Awards 2014, which concluded on Sunday in Los Angeles. Veteran bassist Jiffry is known for his work with well-known names in Sri Lanka as well as in the international music scene such as Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Yanni.
Jiffry started his music career in early seventies as a freelance guitarist in Colombo. He joined with Geoffrey Jayaratne and his band in 1979 to perform in then popular resort circuit in Passikudah and Kalkudah.
Then he joined band Charade and later teamed up with Kamal, Adrian and Neoline to form then popular band Galaxy.He toured Switzerland with Flame and on return in late eighties teamed up with popular ‘Amazing Grace’. After leaving Grace he migrated to the USA and started work as a top studio musician in Los Angeles, where he met the giants of the world music such as Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Yanni.
Jiffry, a former Wesleyite, has also been with Brazilian samba jazz legend Sergio Mendes for many years as well as, performing with ‘The Earth Wind and Fire Experience’ when they played live in Colombo about five years ago, and at the Java Jazz Festival. He graduated from the Musicians’ Institute in California in 1989, and while playing random ensembles, it was his sheer talent that brought many worthwhile offers to this dedicated bassist.
Jeffry with Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
The honour was bestowed upon Jiffry, who is a part of bass legend Herb Alpert and wife Lani Hall’s Quintet, when the group won the Best Pop Instrumental Album Award for their album Steppin’ Out. Alpert won his sixth Grammy, while Bob Marley’s so Ziggy won the best reggae album win was his third in the category.
Earlier in the day, Michael Buble won his fourth best traditional pop vocal album Grammy. Herb Alpert’s Steppin’ Out was named best pop instrumental album, Ziggy Marley won reggae album and Stephen Colbert won spoken word album. Colbert won for best spoken word album over the likes of Carol Burnett, David Sedaris, Billy Crystal and Pete Seeger.
Kathy Griffin earned her first for best comedy album, for which she tirelessly campaigns every year, while Adele took her 10th since 2008 for the theme from Skyfall in best song for visual media. Daft Punk, Random Access Memories won the Album of the Year while Record of the Year went to Daft Punk, ‘Get Lucky ‘
Song of the Year: Lorde, “Royals’, Best Country Album: Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park
Best Pop Vocal Album: Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”, Best Pop Solo Performance: Lorde, “Royals”
Best Rock Song: Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear, “Cut Me Some Slack”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, “Get Lucky”
Best New Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Best Rock Album: Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day, Best Metal Performance: Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Best Alternative Music Album: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City, , Best Rock Performance: Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”, Best Country Song: Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round”, Best Music Film:
Paul McCartney, Live Kisses (Jonas Åkerlund, video director; Violaine Etienne, Aron Levine and Scott Rodger, video producers).
Best Music Video: Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z, “Suit and Tie”.