On the eve of The Jazz Music Festival, meet Frank Dubier and Napier Peter Naveen Kumar, two men from two eras who share a love for the genre
Updated: June 5, 2014 18:40 ISTPhoto: M. Vedhan
“Jazz is dead!” says Frank Dubier quietly and decisively and does not labour the point.
What is obvious to this 84-year-old jazz musician, isn’t to me. So, I ask him to explain his verdict, which strikes me as harsh and discordant particularly because it comes at a time when the city is preparing for a star-studded jazz music festival.
“Show me the hotels that sign up jazz musicians!” says Dubier in a feeble voice that does not match the intensity of the message. That is when I notice he has lost weight since the last time I met him, which was over four years ago. Then, I interviewed him at his daughter’s house. Now, I have to sit at the verandah of a home for the aged to quiz him.’
Dubier has four children, a son living in the United States, another son and a daughter in Australia and another daughter in Bangalore. All his children would love to have him but are unable to do so at this point of time. The children send him money but he longs for their company.
“I feel so lonesome and depressed that I keep smoking cigarette after cigarette. You are with me now, am I smoking? It’s loneliness that drives me to heavy smoking. I’m helpless,” says the saxophonist, teary-eyed, and he looks so broken that I cannot help reaching out and placing a comforting arm around him.
“This is a temporary arrangement. In August, my daughter and son-in-law will come from Australia and take me home. In Sydney, Australia, my son and daughter will take care of me. Harry (MacLure) got me to do the medicals so that I would get the all-clear to go to Australia. I have cleared medical tests before — I have gone to Australia eight times.”
Harry MacLure, editor of Anglos In The Wind, is Dubier’s nephew and a source of strength to him. Barabara, Dubier’ former wife, is also looking out for the ageing saxophonist, having organised his stay at this home. “Here, everyone is old and retires to bed around 7.30 p.m, after having an early dinner. They are sound asleep by 8 p.m., which is when I used to start for work.”
Dubier is referring to the days when he spent the evenings as a musician at hotels in Madras, often choosing to display his versatility, which includes his ability to play the trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, flute, drums and violin. “I would play at Gaylord’s, which was opposite Spencer Plaza. I have played at Savera and Park Sheraton too. Now, hotels don’t want jazz musicians anymore. They are happy with their DJs.”
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