The veteran, self-taught musician from West Bay was best known for his sophisticated reggae and jazz style of guitar playing, contributing to the local and international music scene for over five decades as a performer, songwriter and composer. He is also remembered for his role in raising up the next generation of Caymanian musicians.
He was among several collaborative bands across the Cayman Islands, including Local Motion, Thanks and Praises, Memory of Justice, and ‘Strong Hands Of Tomorrow’ (S.H.O.T.). He performed on stage with international artists, including Dennis Brown, Beenie Man, Gregory Isaacs, Mikey Spice, Damian Marley Jr., Third World, Ernie Smith, and Morgan Heritage.
He was known for his 1987 album ‘Got to Have Love’ and for his songs ‘Parade’, ‘Got to Have Love’, ‘Calypso Zoombie’ and ‘Search the Town’.
Among his many accolades, Ebanks received a ‘Long Service’ award in 2009 from the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association for more than 40 years of significant contributions to the local music scene. His calypso song ‘Pirate’s Time’ was celebrated during the 2018 Pirates Week song competition.
His riveting guitar strumming was heard in the ‘Grand Cayman Tribute’ song, featuring an array of Caymanian talent, celebrating ‘Caymankind’ and promoting the Cayman Islands as a tourism destination.
During his fight against brain cancer, special benefit concerts were held for Ebanks throughout the years to raise funds to assist in his medical expenses and surgery aftercare. Musicians from across Cayman joined forces to support him.
‘We were like brothers’
Close friend and bandmate of 50 years, Robert ‘Bob’ Ebanks told the Compass, “We started our first band, Hummingbirds, at just 16 years old.”
The group lasted for a while, and after Ebanks returned from school, another band was formed called Strong Hands Of Tomorrow. Bob Ebanks shared that almost two years later, he and Mitch, as he referred to him, joined the popular Memory of Justice band.
“It was fun playing with Mitch. He was a great player. I called him ‘Chief of Music’. He was so creative and made a lot of original songs, good songs,” he said.
Bob Ebanks recalled the last gig he performed with his friend was with the band Local Motion at Coral Beach earlier this year, performing hit reggae song covers.
“It was a great time. It was the love of music that made him play up until that time,” he said.
“I’ll miss his playing, his performances. We became such good friends; we were like brothers. Mitch was my best friend. I’m taking this real hard.”
‘An incredible loss’
Swanky Kitchen Band, in a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, reflected on the “incredible life of our friend”.
“We wish to offer his family, friends and many bandmates and musical collaborators our heartfelt sympathies. His passing is an incredible loss for our musical/artistic community. Thank you for the many memories, the lessons, the chords, the laughs, the uncanny insights and the willingness to always share from your profound wealth of knowledge. We will never forget you brother Mitch! One Love from your SKB family.”
Jah Mitch, second from right, performs alongside Swanky Kitchen Band. – Photo: Swanky Kitchen Band Facebook page
Musician and fellow bandmate of Club Dred, Sean Hennings told the Compass, “Jah Mitch is truly a Caymanian musical icon. A great songwriter, singer and guitarist. I played with him for quite a few years in the 90s in the band Club Dred. His creativity and wittiness were legendary. He will be missed.”
Members of Club Dred, from top left, Jeff Japal, Jah Mitch, Sean Hennings, Notch. Front left, Jonathan Ebanks and Bugs Wilson. – Photo: Sean Hennings
‘Only one Mitch’
Ebanks was “unique in every way,” said musician, singer and songwriter Stuart Wilson.
“There are some people you meet in life that you just can’t forget. I first recall meeting him at his band’s weekly shows at the Silvers Night Club and Bar, what [was] the Treasure Island Hotel back then.
“At the time I was only about 14 years old and would sneak into the reggae shows to watch Club Dred, featuring Mitch’s mentee and protégé, Mr. Notch. Together they sparkled and the atmosphere was electric. I somehow knew from that time that I wanted to be just like them. I was totally enthralled by the allure of it all,” Wilson said.
He added, “Mitch didn’t need to do much to capture one’s attention on stage. He had a thing he would do where he would stand still and play just one chord with emphasis on every down beat and that was just showbiz [personified].
“Later in life when I was heading off to Jamaica to pursue a career in music, he gave me the guitar I had grew up watching him play. I can see him right now and his voice, mannerisms and sense of humour make him easy to bring to mind and recall. There was only one Mitch, and his memory will live on in the hearts [and] melodies of Caymanian musicians for generations to come.”
‘A true craftsman’
Songwriter and musician Beneil Miller recalled to the Compass moments of Ebanks’s captivating musical style.
“The first time I heard his sound was at Jazz Fest in 2009 when he played with his group with absolute joy. There was this song that was stuck in my head from then, and it was this year I finally got to ask Jah Mitch about which song it was. He told me it was a song from Sparrow called ‘Jane’ and he did a version of it, and anyone who knew Jah Mitch knew that he made his version of every song.
“He was truly a craftsman that sat down with his instrument and worked clever arrangements for any song that he could hold onto … beautiful arrangements, truly masterful, an innovator. It’s unfortunate in a place like Cayman we haven’t been able to celebrate the genius of a lot of our musicians over the years.”
Miller said, “I remember going to the studio to work with him one time, and it was the first time someone had called me for a session, and I couldn’t keep up with what he was doing. He wrote parts so specific that if you didn’t know what you were doing, you wouldn’t be able to keep up.”
Miller added, “Jah Mitch was jazzy, melodic and wrote such beautiful songs. He was always jovial, had great stories, great advice, very deep in his words, and very thoughtful.”
‘Cayman’s most diverse musician’
For the last 35 years, Ebanks dedicated his life as musical director for the Local Motion band, sharing many stages with his friend, mentee and the band’s lead singer Notch by his side.
Notch told the Compass, “I knew him since I was 19. He was more than my musical director; he was also a father figure to me in many ways. He was a link to the past that I never knew about, a real connection to the 50s and 60s, with a good understanding of the way colonialism evolved in Cayman.
“He was also a devote Rastafarian with a real awareness of Black consciousness. He believed in equal rights, justice and fairness.”
Notch and Jah Mitch perform during one of their many concerts together. – Photo: Supplied
Notch noted they were the first Caymanians to headline on ‘Reggae Sun Splash’ in 1996, and toured throughout North America and the Caribbean.
“We were inseparable,” he said.
“He’s been with me through thick and thin. I’ve grown up with Mitch. … My children, his children all knew each other. He will be sorely missed. I love him; he’s a great human being, special human being with a real knack for being open and honest with his expression, delivery, but above all else, I really will miss being on stage with Mitch. … That was something that was really special and I don’t think I’ll be able to replace him. His presence … his energy is definitely a noticeable loss in my life.
“He was a son of the soil who had such a vast knowledge of music. … He deserves to be remembered as Cayman’s most diverse musician.”
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Publish date : 2024-10-31 18:00:00
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