Up Close and Personal with Luciano

 
Article & Interview by Shelah Moody
Photography by Diane “Livonn” Adam © 2008

As the acclaimed singer/songwriter so eloquently put it, he is Luciano, Black and Natty. As Luciano Pavarotti was one of Italy’s finest voices, Jepther “Luciano” McClymont, is one of Jamaica’s greatest tenors.  His name, meaning “bearer of light” was given to him by one of his spiritual teachers when he first started his music career and the former dancehall artist soon started to embrace more conscious music.

Often collaborating with producer Dean Fraser and vocalist Mikey General, Luciano has produced some of Jamaica’s most ebullient and Rasta-centric albums, including Where There is Life (1995), Sweep Over My Soul (1999) and A New Day (2001), which received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. 

In 2007, Luciano was presented with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contribution to the country’s arts and culture.  Luciano continues the tradition with his latest CD release, Jah is My Navigator (VP Records).

Interview with Luciano

Shelah Moody: What was it like growing up in your hometown, Manchester, Jamaica?

Luciano: Very humble and very nice, you know, in touch with nature. I use to tie up the goats and all that and feed the rabbits and the fowl. I grew up as a nature boy. That’s why I covered the song “Nature Boy,” by Nat “King” Cole (sings a few riffs).

S.M: What is the concept of your latest CD, Jah is My Navigator?

Luciano: Right now, we need Jah to help us in the whole navigation above evil. We realize ‘them coming with different vehicles, with GPS systems, different defense systems, but some of these don’t work. You have to use your own intuition. I wanted to point out to the people that the true spiritual navigator is the Almighty. If you give Him a chance, he will navigate us out of this world of sorry and pain that we’re facing from day to day. We’ll all find happiness to live love and righteousness.

S.M:  Do you prefer to just sing with your acoustic guitar? Because you do it so well!

Luciano: I find that when you sing with a guitar, you are more in touch with the Spirit. ‘Cause the more things you add in, the more they distract from the spiritual essence. One instrument like a guitar, it guides your melodies and all that, but it gives you space and time to listen. You listen to birds, listen to the ocean, you listen to creatures of the night, you get melodies.

SM: Will there be a Luciano unplugged album?

Luciano: Yeah, I’m working on that, it’s in the pipeline. But we want to make this current album soak properly into the minds of the people first.

S.M.: Do you write a song a day?

Luciano: A song can come in any way. I might be in the bathroom. I find that I can write a lot of songs in the bathroom. I find that when you are in the bathroom, you tend to feel a little free. You are in a position to be free. I find that when your mind is burdened with a lot of stuff, you don’t sing much. I might feel a rhythm while I’m out driving. Sometimes, I can write half dozen songs before I reach Negril.

S.M. Speaking of writing, you have a longstanding musical relationship with saxophonist Dean Fraser.

Luciano: Definitely—ever since the early part of 1993 when I met with Philip Fattis Burrell. Dean Fraser has been my musical director all these years. He’s the one arranging the harmonies and overdubbing and providing the saxophone. He definitely knows what I’m capable of doing. He might call me into the studio and I might be singing a certain note, and he’ll say ‘no man, pitch it better than that, I need you to sing, Singer! He’s like that.

S.M:  I love the ballad “Paradise Last” with you and the acoustic guitar.

Luciano: Yeah, it’s a great song, featuring Empress Rochelle Bradshaw, one of my back up vocalists. Dean Fraser has allowed a couple writers to share the whole message and inspiration, and we’ve put together 15 tracks of great hits. There are songs for the lovers, “Wish You Were Mine” is another one. And then, we have other songs addressing matters in Jamaica, like social, economic and financial problems and tribal problems. They youth are fighting each other, killing off each other with guns and drugs, fighting for territory and supremacy. It’s taken a toll on Jamaica. “Sweet Jamaica” is another one that I am close to. Jamaica was once paradise, but now paradise is under attack. We’re trying to restore what we’ve got, you know? 

S.M:  Will you continue to live in Jamaica?

Luciano: Yeah mon, I live there, but I have to spread my wings and set up bases in different places, because if a place is under attack, they might attack me too (laughs). 

S.M: On “Jah is My Navigator” you pay tribute to the icons of Reggae, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh…

Luciano: Definitely. One of the collaborations I did was “I’m the Tuffest” with brother Andrew Tosh. When we were on tour last year, we did that song on stage and we saw the reaction of the audience and we decided that we would put it on record. Now, “Jah Live” is another hit written by the great Gong, brother Robert Nesta Marley. I think it’s one of his greatest songs. I give thanks for all he has done, he has helped me spiritually and musically as a mentor.

S.M.: Who influenced you in terms of American singers?

Luciano: I listen to a cross section of songs. I even listen to Frank Sinatra! You see, music is like this—once you break down all barriers and boundaries, there is so much you can learn. Stevie Wonder is a great writer and I love his work. I try to do one of his songs from time to time. The same with Dennis Brown. These brother, they came with a message and they’ve incorporated what they know of life through their music. Once we keep in touch, we can gain so much.

S.M.: In light of the 25^th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the best selling album of all time, can you tell me how Michael Jackson has influenced your music?

Luciano: Michael Jackson is a great writer. The only thing about his form of expression is that—I don’t like it when someone changes his identity. I don’t support that, I don’t support the bleaching, like you see people out there like young girls, nice African queens, bleaching out their bodies, and men, too. Jah burn out that, mon! Otherwise, musically, I can definitely say that brother Michael is a great musician, very creative. I was reading one of his interviews and they asked him what was the secret behind some of his hits. He said, make it easy, so people can sing along, make it simple. I learned that from him. He’s a genius! Honestly. I grew up on most of his songs. I used to dance to “Beat It.” There was jacket that came out with the zippers and all of that, a Michael Jackson jacket—I had one of those!

S.M: But you never had a jheri curl?

Luciano: No no no, I never went so far. (laughs). I had all the dance moves. I remember I was still in church when those (“Thriller”) songs came out and me and me friends them, used to hang after church and take off our ties and find this little place that use to play the music and we would dance! We used to do the Moonwalk and all those things. Because I am agile, I added my gymnastics to it. I a BAD dancer! You wanna know who’s bad? (laughs). That’s what I like about brother Michael Jackson, he’s a great dancer, he created a lot of movements to make people free themselves—express themselves.

SM: Do you still do flips on stage?

Luciano: Yeah, mon! I do everything. I go the extra mile for the fans, to make them feel happy.

For more information on Luciano go to his official website at http://www.lucianoreggae.com/