Fri | Sep 12, 2025

Musicians pay tribute to late art impresario Jeffrey Cobham

Published:Friday | September 12, 2025 | 12:09 AM
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Jeffrey Cobham
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Jeffrey Cobham
Charmaine Limonius singing at a fundraising jam session held for Della Manley on June 20, at 22 Jerk in Kingston.
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Charmaine Limonius singing at a fundraising jam session held for Della Manley on June 20, at 22 Jerk in Kingston.
Carole Reid in performance at Stars on a Mission held at the Karl Hendricks Auditorium on Sunday March 31, 2019.
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Carole Reid in performance at Stars on a Mission held at the Karl Hendricks Auditorium on Sunday March 31, 2019.
Music Unites recipient for scholarship in Venezuela, Shawn Richards.
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Music Unites recipient for scholarship in Venezuela, Shawn Richards.
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Jeffrey Cobham, a Barbadian by birth and a distinguished banker in Jamaica for several decades, will be remembered not only for his contributions to finance but for his profound impact on the arts. The music and dance communities mourn the loss of one of their most passionate and visionary impresarios.

On Friday, August 29, a memorial service was held at the Chapel of the University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona Campus. The hour preceding the official service was dedicated to musical tributes, featuring a series of thoughtfully selected vocal and instrumental performances in honour of Cobham.

The programme opened with a vibrant solo piano piece by musical icon Marjorie Whylie, a longtime friend of Cobham since their student days in the UWI steel pan ensemble. Whylie later invited him to join the band she led at the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC). She was joined by Peter Ashbourne on violin for renditions of Bach/Gounod’s Ave Maria and the jazz classic Unforgettable. Ashbourne then transitioned to piano to accompany Rosina Christina Moder on recorder and David Abrikian on bass guitar for Clyde Hoyte’s O’er Our Blue Mountain, one of Cobham’s favourite Jamaican songs.

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Members of the National Dance Theatre Singers continued the tributes: Faith Livingstone performed Going Home, followed by Carl Bliss with the timeless Smile. Carole Reid offered heartfelt renditions of Give Me Jesus and I Walk With God, accompanied by Dr. Roger Williams, dean of the School of Music at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, where Cobham served as Chairman for several years. Dr Williams also performed Jamaican Dance No. 2 by Oswald Russel, a solo piano piece presented as a special tribute from the School of Music.

Charmaine Limonius then took centre stage with a moving interpretation of Tears in Heaven, accompanied by classical guitarist Shawn Richards. Rosina Christina Moder, executive director of the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation, performed the Jamaican folk song, Fi Mi Love Have Lion Heart on recorder, accompanied by Norman McCallum on guitar – an instrument Cobham himself played with great enthusiasm throughout his life.

The musical tributes concluded with two choral selections by the National Chorale of Jamaica, culminating in a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace. This finale featured all performing artists including Charles Wright, and Wesley Scott – former NDTC singers, and Janilee Abrikian, a close friend of Cobham – joining together in a heartfelt farewell.

Cobham, a steadfast supporter of music education and scholarships, actively contributed to the mission of the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation. Through his vision and financial assistance Shawn Richards, one of the many protégées, was able to study the guitar in Venezuela. In 1996, he co-organised a landmark symposium on Cuban music in collaboration with the Foundation.

Cobham passed away on August 13.