Ten years ago, Dominic Galea launched his own label and released the double album Tribute. He tells Michael Bugeja why he felt the need to reissue the album.
An homage to the swinging pioneers of Malta, the Tribute double album released through Heritage Records 10 years ago was, and remains, an important document, particularly because it offers a commendable representation of the music scene in post-war Malta.
It was thanks to Dominic Galea, who set up the record label in 2003, and whose dedication was the driving force behind this CD album, that such an extensive collection – 41 tracks in all – was made widely available for public consumption.
Since then, the label has put out 10 more albums, each of them presenting not just an entertaining collection of well-crafted songs but also an interesting approach on Galea’s part, in several instances highlighting classic Maltese literary works that the talented composer has set to music.
Clearly, the Tribute album was an important gateway to a significant stream of inspired works, so it is fitting that this album is being reissued to mark the label’s 10th anniversary.
Tribute to the Swinging Pion-eers of Malta is available from D’Amato Record Shop.
www.dominicgalea.com
What was it that inspired you to set up Heritage Records?
I’d say the main inspiration was the fact that around 1998 I decided to focus back on jazz music and distance myself from the song festival circuit I had dabbled in for some years. I also worked on fewer musicals over the next couple of years, by which time I felt I needed an outlet for the music I was working on then, which wasn’t so mainstream. I got the idea of archiving my works and that sparked off the idea of setting up the label. Eleven albums on, I’m glad I did.
How important to you was it to produce something as so challenging as the Tribute album?
This album is very dear to me, primarily because it features around 70 musicians from the local jazz scene representing different generations.
Sadly, some of them, such as Charles Sciberras il-Ħuta, Val Valente and Frank Camilleri il-Bibi, are no longer with us and are deeply missed. I believe these musicians, whom I sincerely regard as the pioneers of jazz music in Malta, have not been adequately recognised for their contribution to music on the islands. Through this album I wanted to create an awareness of their work, to be enjoyed not only by those who knew them but also by the generations to follow.
To complement the music, the CD booklet features a detailed essay by Joe Julian Farrugia based on the information passed on to us by Bibi over a coffee at Cordina.
The original issue was linked to a philantropic cause.
Yes. In 2004 the album was intended to raise money for the HSBC Cares For Children Fund. The money raised from sales of the 10th anniversary reissue, which is also happening with the support of HSBC, will go to the Malta Community Chest Fund.
As you said, the list of participating artistes reads like a Who’s Who of Malta’s jazz scene. I’m sure you have some stories to tell about the making of the CD, with so many colourful characters around …
Believe me, there are plenty, perhaps too many to go into here, but I remember going first to Joe Curmi il-Puse’ with my idea for the album. We were at the Monti market next to the stall of our fellow musician Mario Cocker Aquilina.
Joe was very keen on the idea but admitted he hadn’t played the saxophone for a while and needed to brush up. When practising, he was experiencing chest pains and thought it best to back out.
However, he did say I could use some of his old recordings instead. As I really wanted him on board I took up his offer, and it is thanks to him that the second CD of vintage recordings – also featuring the likes of Oscar Lucas, Jimmy Dowling, Spiru Zammit and Lee Spiteri among others – came to be part of the album.
The best part is that after the second disc was ready, Joe still got to play on the album with his sons George and Martin, because it turned out his chest pains were only muscle pains and nothing serious.
What about the first disc, which features only original works by local composers?
I had asked each musician to play one of their own compositions. In fact, all but one of the 17 tracks are originals, among them works by deceased composers such as Paul Arnaud, Duminku Fiteni and Lee Spiteri. It took us six months to finish this album.
What attracted you to the idea of reissuing the Tribute album?
To be honest, further to the original release, the album had already been reissued once before, with both runs selling out completely. I felt that, apart from marking the label’s10th anniversary, reissuing the album for a third (and probably last) time would help highlight the musical works of the featured artistes. It also brings to the attention of a new generation the music that our 20th-century ancestors were creating. All in all, it is also an important part of our history and another important link in our cultural heritage and collective memory.
What else do you have planned?
In the coming days I’ll be performing at the Malta Jazz Festival as a trio with Mario Aquilina on bass and Noel Grech on drums. We’ll be playing a mixture of originals and covers. Later on in the year we plan to perform in Paris too.
As for studio work, further to 2013’s Karba, I’ve finished another jazz album which involves 13 musicians, three vocalists and works by 13 contemporary poets. That should come out in November, so I’ll leave it at that for now.