Chef Jerry Dias is a happy man and if he is sitting to play the drums, his smile will tell it all. He has finally assembled the drum kit that he has always dreamt of and it didn’t come easy. After nearly three decades of working as an executive chef on Princess Cruise line, he is enjoying his leave in Goa by showing his daughters and his nephews the true joy of being a drummer. This drum kit has taken over the entire room which is fitted with a dehumidifier to maintain the drums in perfect conditions.
What’s unique about this kit is that this
kit has been custom made. Every series in any drum comes in just a single
colour where in this kit Chef Jerry had to curate every possible colour which
is actually not available in this series. The drums are of Pearl, which is one
of the top drum brands in the world next to Yamaha and Sonor. “Drums series
comes in one colour and either it’s a 5-piece or 7-piece set-up which is basic
but regardless of what series, it’s usually a one colour kit. After a total of
three and half years in total waiting period for this kit, it finally became a
reality on February 28. I’m thankful to Pearl for making these colours
especially for me.”
The 12-piece series includes a 22-inch white bass drum, a
20-inch Bombay sparkle bass drum, 18-inch purple craze floor Tom, 8-inch green
Tom, 10-inch red glass Tom, 12-inch Sapphire blue Tom, 13-inch Autumn fire
sparkle Tom, 14-inch mirror chrome floor Tom, 16-inch vintage tobacco floor
Tom, 20-inch antique gold gong drum, Piano black snare and Picollo snare. “I
have 16 cymbals with the set and have three more to be added. I am also
planning to add three rototoms by the end of October,” says Chef Jerry from
Cuncolim, who is a caring father to three daughters.
As Chef Jerry was growing up, he had a financially difficult
childhood. His only request was for a drum kit which was turned down by his
mother. He learnt to play drums at the age of eight years and played for his
school band. “In 1986, I was just a kid who wanted to be a drummer. I asked my
mother, Angela, to buy one drum kit. She said “Look son, I have only Rs 500 and
we can’t afford to use that money. We were four siblings and my father had lost
his sight at the age of 40. She singlehandedly brought us up until I started
working on the cruise ship at the age of 18 years. My love and passion to be a
drummer got a hit and that day, I made a promise that one day I will curate a
drum kit for me like no one else had,” he reminisces.
Chef Jerry started working in 1995 on the cruise line and by
1997, he was the proud owner of his first Pearl drum kit. “I felt very lucky
and blessed and didn’t eat for days and was just sleeping next to my kit. I was
still on the ship and had to work all the big hours and yet I used to practice
until 3 am,” he says.
To curate this unique drum kit, it took more than just one man.
Chef Jerry is grateful to the efforts of Francis D’Souza, who works at
Furtado’s, Panjim and was the main link between Chef Jerry and the authorities
at Pearl. “He helped me to assemble the massive kit as some parts were made in
Japan and some in USA. Joe Pereira, a drummer for A-26 band and Max Cardozo
helped me in selecting the right size of cymbals and drums,” he explains.
Chef Jerry who loves to play ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor and
‘Sweet Child of Mine’ by Guns and Roses, plays the drums on the ship for guests
and crew members every month. With the new set up, he feels that timing will be
a challenge. Since he is still working on the ship, he can’t join a band as a
full time musician. However, he plans to play gospel music in Goa and dedicate
his talent to God.
To
inspire young drummers in Goa, Chef Jerry is keeping the drum set on display
till April 1 at his home, for anyone interested in learning about the drums and
are enthusiastic to take up the musical instrument seriously.