Music is life! That’s how it is to all dedicated musicians. And Eden Pompeus is no different. In his quiet, yet, commanding manner he’d blow his trumpet and make you stop in your tracks and give a listen. He is a multi instrumentalist. Drums is his other passion. To the fast food generation of today, Eden Pompeus may not be a name or a musician who can take them on a high plane of music. But, to his contemporaries his musical ability has given them many moments of memorable happiness. And, it is this band of contemporaries in Sri Lanka who miss him and his music.
To borrow a line from Eric Segal’s writing, where did it all begin for you?
At St.Peter’s College, we were to get a new Rector, Arthur Fernando. Returning from overseas he was bringing back music instruments to form a band. My friend Neville Joseph and I were collecting our bicycles to ride back home, and we had to pass the Practice room. The students were being taught the bugle by an Army bugler. We decided to have some fun by making faces to distract them. Our class teacher was watching us. He asked us to blow the bugle so we could be belittled by the students. The bugle came naturally to me and I was then invited to join the band!
When you joined the Nitebirds, a band that played only jazz, what was your reaction?
Very confidentially I can say that was a high point in my music career in Sri Lanka. All the musicians came together from their regular routine bands to think and play as Nitebirds.
It was wonderful. There were the Manickawasagar brothers – Valentine on piano, Nesan on double bass, Wadham Dole on drums with, Rodney van Heer on sax and I played trumpet. We played a lot of Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck manuscripts and other recognized jazz standards, we broadcast on the National Radio, played concerts and enjoyed ourselves. In hindsight they were creative years for me and for the other members which will never come back.
Now in Sydney do you miss active playing, unlike in Sri Lanka?
Without a doubt, yes; I freelance on trumpet and drums, with bands when they need my playing.
At Raddy Ferreira’s farewell Dallas Achilles organized a jam session the way Raddy would have liked it and I played trumpet with Dallas Achilles and Horace Walker. Trumpet is a rare instrument in Sydney, not many musicians take to it. But now the youngsters are beginning to play it, away from the hip hop world where the guitar is the first instrument.
These youngsters come to me for guidance and correction and I’m glad I’m able to help them.
Eden hails from the Pompeus family synonymous with music in Sri Lanka, there’s Desmond, pianist in his own right.
We’ve heard him whenever he returns on holiday, to Sri Lanka. He had a band of his own in Sri Lanka and is now domiciled in London, yet, continues him music.
Myfanway, a leading jazz singer who passed away in 2014 guided her brothers to maintain the jazz vibes. Frankie was a lyrical clarinettist much appreciated by Sri Lankan lovers of music, but sadly we lost him too. Now, it’s left to Eden, trumpeter and drummer who was recognised for his Miles Davis sound of trumpet, to carry on the work of spreading good music.
Talking of Miles Davis, what are the tunes of his that are high on your list of appreciation?
“Straight No Chaser, Milestones, Bye Bye Blacbird, Stella By Starlight, Satin Doll. Heading the list always will be Straight No Chaser. The other influence in my early years were Jonah Jones, Louis Armstrong and Al Hirt. Miles Davis playing, the way he got around the tune and the nuances made a lasting impression and opened the creative flood gates for me.
Professionally, Eden launched himself with the Dizzy Des Combo with his brother, pianist Desmond’s band Frankie Pompeus – on clarinet, David Bartholomuesz-double bass and Roger Phillips-drums. From there he moved to the Gazzali Amit Combo with Geoff Labrooy on drums, Christine de Silva – vocals, Jimmy Mannel – piano and Nesan Manickavasagar – double bass. He had a stint with The Manhattan Trio with Clem Croner and before he left for Sydney he played with the Adrian Ferdinands Combo at the Mascarilla which saw Edgar Hebber -sax, Heather Crake – vocals, Tony Ferdinands – guitar and Nesan Manickawasagar double bass.
If you asked me what kind of musician Eden is, I’d say that he spoke through his music very eloquently and elegantly and was powerfully deep.