Pan Evolution • Sunday February 15,2004

Neville Jules

Neville Jules is an experi- Neville Jules celebrated his enced and accomplished 70th birthday and was hon- tuner, arranger, oured in Trinidad by the pan player and former steelband movement for his leader of the legendary work with All Stars and the Trinidad All Stars. Neville community spanning some Jules gave us the Jouvert 50 years. He acknowledges "Bomb" Competition, which his colleagues for support- now carries his name. Ru- ing his efforts, gives tributes mour has it that Jules had to his forerunners and sug- his musicians play 'the gests that it was a group ef- bomb" tune with their fingers fort to establish the steel or- so the sound would be con- chestra. His attitude was al- tained and avoid other com- ways positive, willing to nu- petitors from hearing the ture and provide support to musical piece before the all band members. His vision competition. of the community, steelband Jules leadership and mu- and the instrument was an sical skills helped organize inspiration for many young All Stars steel orchestra women and men in the Len "Boogsie"Sharpe making it into one of the bet- steelband movement. ter steel orchestras in Among Jules' lasting con- Len "Boogsie" Sharpe is con- evident in his arrangement . Today, tributions to the world of pan sidered one of the foremost of cover tunes and original All Stars is an institution, are his development of steelpan players today. compositions for calypsoni- having won Panorama com- tuned bass pans (hitherto "Boogsie" began playing the ans and steel drum orches- petitions and classical mu- the low pans simply assist- steel drum at age five. He tras in the Caribbean, North sic festivals. The band's ed the rhythm section), the had mastered the instrument America and U.K. In 1989, repertoire includes calypso, tuning format of the cellos by the time he reached his he arranged for 8 of the 48 classical and contemporary and of course, the Trinidad teens. With his exceptional bands in the national prelim- selections with the versatil- All Stars, for whom he still talent, Sharpe has expand- inaries steel drum competi- ity to include large choirs in does musical arrangements ed the bounds of steelpan tion in Trinidad and Tobago, a concert format. In 1997, at age 80+. , music, reaching performance and 4 of the 12 finalists in the heights unequaled by any same competition. other artist in the instru- Steel bands he has ment's relatively short fifty worked with include: Antillian year history. All Stars; BWIA Invaders; Beverly Griffith Sharpe has recorded with Deltones; Despers U.S.A.; all the leading soca and ca- Halcyon, Antigua; Moods Beverly Griffith is an accom- Your Man" and gave it a form lypso singers - The Mighty Pan Groove, NY; Our Boys plished musician and arranger more extended than before Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, Steel Orchestra, Tobago and for the West Indian Tobacco from Anthony Williams. Griffith Duke, Black Stalin, Chalk- CA; Pamberi; Petrotrin (WITCO) Desperadoes Steel is noted for his arrangement dust, Baron, and explainer, Phase 11; Potential Sym- Orchestra. He has worked that blend classical into his ca- to name a few. He has also phony; Starlift; Silver Stars; jointly with fellow arranger lypso compositions. Over the worked with some of the Solo Harmonites; Tropical Robert Greenidge on a num- years he has composed 'The greatest jazz artists of all Angel Harps; Valley Harps; ber of occasions to direct the Road," "Mama Dis is Mas," time - Othello Molineaux, WITCO Desperadoes. As a WITCO Desperadoes and win "Obeah Wedding," 'The Gov- Randy Weston, Garry Bur- composer, he has been the first prize at the National ernor's Ball," "Mr Walker," "Pan ton, Grover Washington Jr., composer in residence at Panorama steelband compe- Night and Day," "The Hammer," Eric Gale, Nathon Davis and Phase II Pan Grove a steel tition as recently as 1994. In "Pan in A Minor," "Panama," Andy Narell. orchestra in Trinidad and To- 1965, he arranged "Hold On To "Fire Coming Down." Boogie's genius was first bago. Pan Evolution • Sunday February 15,2004

Jit Samaroo

Associated with Amoco Renegades Steel Orchestra as arranger since 1971 to present, Jit Samaroo, a strong advocate of Kitchen- er's music, has taken the band to nine Panorama vic- tories, including a hat-trick. A recipient of a national award - The Humming Bird Medal of Merit - for his out- standing contribution to Trinidad and Tobago's cul- ture, he is also a composer who has penned selections such as "A Day In Surrey" and "Rhapsody for Pan." He also composed the test pieces, "Pan Patterson" and Jit Samaroo Song of Lopinot" for the School Steelband Music arranger of many of the Festivals of 1985 and 1987 Mighty Sparrow's calypsoes respectively. He is leader of including "the Statue" in the six-member family steel- 1976 and "Hasely Crawford" Clive Bradley band, the Samaroo Jets and in 1997. 99 Clive Bradley is a prominent ty-first Century" "Rebecca" arranger for the West Indian and "The Jammer." His Lennox "Bobby Tobacco (WITCO) Desper- arrangements with WITCO adoes Steel Orchestra hav- Desperadoes were winners Mohammed ing a unique style that can in 1976 "Pan in Harmony," be described as deliberate. 1977 "Crawford" and 1983, Lennox "Bobby" Mohammed Most of his musical scores "Rebecca." One arrange- wrote himself and the band are received very favourably ment that is highly acknowl- Guiness Cavaliers into steel- by the steel pannists and edged is Bradley's "Sailing" band history when the band have stood the test of time. where the musicians used became the first southern Clive Bradley can be de- the pan sticks (without rub- steelband to capture the na- scribed as an arranger with ber) to create the sound of tional Panorama title. South- the ability to communicate falling rain. In 1998, he won ern bands, though good, his scores with precision the National Steelpan seemed always to be on the through a guitar, a recorder Panorama competition ar-. fringes. Bobby and Cavaliers and through his voice. His ranging David Rudder's broke the barrier. Cavaliers style is to rework the intro- "High Mas" for the Arima Nu- introduced an exciting ap- duction at the finale with a Tones steel orchestra. proach to steel orchestra- short summary then a finale. Bradley took Nutones to vic- tion, jamming the pan,-as Some of his many notable tory with "High Mas" with in- well as producing dynamic arrangements include:"Sa terpretations of two classics: symphonic arrangements. Sa Ya," Margie," "Bassman" "In a Monastery's Garden" The impact was arguably a Lennox "Bobby' " Fever" "Pan in Harmony" and Handel's "Hallelujah watershed in the competi- "Crawford" "Pan in the Twen- Chorus." tion. Mohammed Pan Evolution • Sunday February 15,2004

Ken Philmore was born 1989 was a memo- in April 1959, in a small rable year for Ken "Pro- community in the south fessor" Philmore. He of Trinidad and Tobago. Ken "Professor" was honoured by the His fascination with the ruling steelpan associa- steelpan began when he tion, Pan Trinbago, as was only four years old. Philmore the most outstanding In 1974, at the age of 15 musical arranger. In he joined the Hatters New York, he received a Steel Orchestra with the special award for his intention of developing contribution to music by his skills as an arranger Mayor Ed Koch. Follow- and player. ing his successes in Los On one of his early Angeles and numerous visits a member joking- standing ovations at ly remarked "Who is this Madison Square Garden young kid with these old in New York, "Professor" fashioned glasses?," re- was invited by Mercer ferring to his bone- Ellington to join the rimmed spectacles, "He prestigious Duke Elling- looks more like a pro- ton Orchestra for their fessor than a pan play- tours to Europe and er," he said. This is an North America. On their alias which Ken proudly 1990 album, Music is carries today and aptly My Mistress, Ken was a suits this young gifted featured soloist on the musician. In his first selection Queenie Pie year with Hatters, he Reggae. was selected to go on Outstanding liv.e per- tour to Minneapolis, formances continues USA. unabated - Washington One year later Ken be- DC Pan Jazz Festival gan experimenting with 1992, St Croix Jazz arrangements of tunes Festival 1993, Atlanta for the group. As time Jazz Festival 1993, progressed his talents among others. as player and arranger The "Professor" is so impressed, that by now a cult figure of 1982, he became musi- sorts in his homeland cal director of one of the and in the USA. Young nation's most presti- pannists try to imitate gious steel orchestras. his style, other Irv 1 0 years, he led arrangers listen to his them to six champi- music and the man with onships. In 1985, Pro- the spectacles is recog- fessor did his first album nised as one of the - Our Heritage, which Since 1987, Ken has back and forth between leading pan soloists in features a mixture of his produced nine albums- the USA and Trinidad. the world. His impact on version of jazz classics Pan Calypso (1987), "Professor" has per- the pan arena has been like Mr Magic and Star- Love in Steel (1988), formed and recorded nothing short of phe- dust, together with pan Pan Jamboree (1989), with a number of inter- nomenal and there are instrumentals of some Pan by Storm (1990), national artists such as audiences yet to be ex- popular calypsos. He Pan Ecstasy (1991), Pan Tito Puente, Ella Fitzger- posed to his unique was requested to play in the Party (1992), and ald, Phyllis Hyman, Nan- combination of dexteri- for Queen Elizabeth II (1993), All Night (1993) cy Wilson, Tina Turner, ty and smoothing runs on her visit to Trinidad and Jump (1994). His Andy Narell, Ralph Mc- on his "Steel Piano", as and Tobago that same performing schedule Donald and Jazz great he calls it. The genius year. constantly takes him Lionel Hampton. continues to blossom. Pan Evolution • Sunday February 15,2004 i

Robert Greenidge

resent Trinidad and Tobago, Ray Holman - a quiet both as a soloist and a mem- persuasive innovator is ber of Trinidad National Steel greatly admired by most Orchestra. steelpan musicians and In 1971 Robert migrated to patrons of the national New York City, where he mas- panorama competition. A tered the art of composing and professional player of the arranging at the Third Street double second and tenor Musical Conservatory. A pro- pans winning the ping- posal was set in December of pong solo in 1964. He that year to arrange and play has been innovative in with the Music Makers Steel panmen composing and Orchestra in Los Angeles, Cal- arranging their own ca- ifornia. They toured for the lypsoes for the national Panorama competition. Robert Greenidge next two years through Califor- nia and Nevada. In 1974 he Holman is instrumental in settled in Los Angeles, Califor- motivating others to pro- Arranger, Composer, Soloist vide indigenous music for & Recording Artist nia. His recording contracts be- Ray Holman gan to mount in 1975 with var- the instrument.. ious artists such as, Maurice In 1988, he was award- Robert Greenidge was born in ed the Humming Bird Sil- panorama pieces, Hol- Success Village, Laventille, White, Earth Wind and Fire, man suggests that the Harry Neilson, RCA, and John ver Medal for Merit for his Trinidad, West Indies on 28 outstanding contribution fast pace is hampering April 1950. His first playing ex- Lennon and of the the performance of the Beatles just to name a few. to pan. perience came under the di- Arranging music began music destroying the rection of his uncle, Carl By 1978, he returned to beauty of the music. In Trinidad to work with Rudolph for Mr Holman at age 16 Greenidge who was a with Invaders Steel Or- effect, the judges do not renowned arranger and tuner. Charles (Desperadoes), one of have a clear understand- the innovators of a newly de- chestra he then went on At the tender age of eight, he to write his first piece of ing of the instrument and began executing the art of the signed steel drum which re- concept therefore the re- quired hand, foot coordination music "Ray's Saga" at steel drums with the Savoys age 17 followed by sults would be regressive Steel Orchestra. Possessing an dexterity and speed. His ex- for the steelpan move- pertise bought the Despera- "Socking it with Steel" artistic ear for playing various with Starlift Steel Or- ment. types of compositions, he was does Steel Orchestra to a new Ray Holman was the height in music. Ever since the chestra in 1970. Inter- recruited at the age of 15 by pretation and structure of first steelbandsman to Trinidad's leading steel or- Trinidad Carnival of 1979, he write and arrange his has returned to Trinidad every a panorama tune is dif- chestra "Desperadoes" ten time ferent for Holman, he own calypso for the panorama winners and current year to play. In 1983 he assist- Panorama competition. In ed in the arranging, which in- perceives it like a con- champions. They were winners certo a lead instrument 1972 Holman created of several prestigious awards cluded the new Quadraphonic history with Starlift Steel and Harmony (six 6 drum) - the and an orchestra provid- including: the Prime Minister ing the background. Con- Orchestra when the band Trophy, The Triple Crown, The extension of Charles innova- became the first to com- tional new drums. In 1985 Des- tributions to panorama in- Governors General Cup, and clude: in 1969 the strum- pete in the annual con- the Music Festival Trophy. pers took first place at Panora- test with a song com- ma. ming cellos and guitars At sixteen he performed at creating a new rhythm, posed by someone other the First Negro Arts Festival in Prior to 1985, Robert had the than a calypsonian. The opportunity to record an album more solo passages and Africa, which was quite an ex- more elements of jazz list of bands which rose perience for such a young man. with Jimmy BuffettThey began to prominence with Hoi- touring shortly after to promote making the music more The following year 1967, he lyrical and the bringing man's help is long, and performed at the Montreal Ex- the album and ever since then include bands like Pan- he has been performing and the tassa drums in the position in Canada, followed by steel band. One of his demonium, Exodus and an extensive tour to London, recording with the Jimmy Buf- Humming. Birds Pan- fett and the "Coral Reefers concerns about the mu- Zambia and New York in 1968. sic is the pace of the Groove. In 1970 he was chosen to rep- Band."