Augustin “Jab” Duplessis, a seasoned musician, and his young protégé, Herbie Altenor, are on a remarkable journey-one that transcends musical boundaries and hurdles. Their shared passion is their love of playing the saxophone.
The stage was set during Sunday’s Ultimate Celebration, a highlight of this year’s Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. As part of the festival’s lineup, Duplessis surprised the audience by inviting Herbie onto the stage. What followed was a seamless blend of skill and meticulous artistry that delighted both mentor and crowd alike.
Their performance enthralled the audience, leaving an indelible mark in their hearts and on the festival.
In a post-show interview, Jab spoke candidly about the strong bond between the two musicians. It all began with a promise- a commitment Duplessis made to Herbie’s late father, himself a former musician. Upon the passing of the senior Altenor, Jab vowed to take the young saxophonist under his wing and nurture his talent.
As an entertainer at Jade Mountain, Duplessis found time for Herbie before his Saturday sessions at the Hotel. An hour before work, he would guide the budding musician, imparting invaluable lessons. “We did that for about two and a half years,” Duplessis explained, “and this is the result of it.” Herbie’s dedication made him practice diligently every day at 7 p.m. never missing a day.
Herbie’s routine was admirable-he prioritized schoolwork and then picked up his sax, playing for hours. Duplessis marveled at the young musician’s progress, declaring, “I always knew it would take him a short time to play the way he is playing.”
Their harmonious journey continues, fueled by mentorship, passion, and unwavering dedication. As they venture beyond musical norms, Duplessis and Herbie exemplify ingenuity and longevity in an ever-evolving industry. Their story reminds us that true artistry knows no bounds and that the love of music can bridge generations.
Speaking on his experience on stage playing before a huge crowd that included his family and friends, Herbie was in awe of the moment. “My favourite thing that I experienced on stage, is just the adrenalin …like between the audience and me, and I was able to dance very well.”
Admitting that he is kind of ‘stiff’ at practice sessions, Herbie exclaimed, “But now that I feel that kind of adrenalin flowing from you ,audience, it feels very good and I really enjoyed it. It feels like they were giving me energy to make me give it back to them.”
Jab hinted that he looks forward to teaming up with Herbie again, at the opportune time, for another musical collaboration.
On Sunday, Duplessis told reporters that after not being on the main stage from the past 15 years, he grabbed this opportunity and decided “to make the best of it.”
Speaking on his performance before a home crowd, Jab said: “I was very proud of the guys, the rhythm section and so on and we did what we came here to do.”
Over the years, Duplessis’ professional career as a musician and astute ‘sessionist’ has evolved. His presentation, on Sunday, was laced with renditions that included a Tribute to Luther Francois, Tribute to the mothers on Mother’s Day, and a tantalizing flair added to the Creole rhythms inbred into his jazz pieces.
“I developed that genre of music through Luther,” he said. “Luther had workshops with us, and he was teaching us how to get into the indigenous rhythms and even take it to the American standards and changing it into a Caribbean sort of rhythm.’
Jab recalls that when he began writing songs with Allison Marquis, ‘local steelpan icon’ and his confidante, “we decided to use those local Caribbean rhythms to bring it out there, because we have so much of our own that we are not finished getting into it as yet. So, there’s a lot more …to be released from this type of music.”
Duplessis has incorporated youth talent into his skits, and the steel pan fits neatly into his jazzy- tropical arraignments. And he keenly wants to develop that style a little more.
“Allison Marquis and I have been friends for more than 40 years and we always play together, and we record. I have done two CDs and he plays on both of them, and at every performance that I do, whether locally or regionally,” he continued. “The pan brings out more of the Caribbean element of the music, and the pan and the sax coordinate so well with the melodies of the song when we play it. So, this is what I really enjoy doing there.”
On the overall development of young musicians, he urged local budding artists to learn more about the music and the industry if they are to reap economic benefits from that livelihood.
“A lot of those (young artists) who play music …are not interested in going further into the music, whether it be about the rudiments of music and learning to read music,” Duplessis noted.
Commenting quite outspokenly on his experience, so far, Herbie reached out to his peers. “I could tell them that they only got one chance, if they deny a certain pathway then the one that they go down, it’s going to be a very, very difficult one to get out of.
“Obviously, making the correct choice is very difficult but it is something that requires a lot of probability.”