Despers
USA
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
New York,
USA -
From two
blocks away
we can hear
tenors
whistling,
double
seconds
singing,
guitar pans
humming and
basses
grumbling. As
we move in
closer to
this
sonic epicenter,
that
unmistakable
distinct
sound of a
great steel
orchestra
overtakes
you. The
clarity of
the
situation
overwhelms
your musical
senses, as your legs
and other
body parts - without
permission
- systematically
begin to
fall into
perfect
cadence with the
music. The
players
skillfully
romance
their
instruments,
producing
notes
sounding
like sweet
chocolate
raindrops
falling from
the leaves
of a tree. No doubt we
are in the
domain of Despers
USA Steel
Orchestra.
‘De Last
Band’
sung by
Peter
D’Royce
composed and
arranged by
Miguel Reyes
is Despers’
tune of
choice for
this year’s
panorama
competition. They indeed
intend to be
the last and
only band
standing at
the
conclusion
of this
year’s
panorama.
And as
you
start to
sing “...
I
carrying
a pan
stick in
meh
pocket...
Is the
last
band I
playing
for...”
The band
comes to an
abrupt halt
in the
middle of a
sweet
passage. You
are jolted
rudely awake
from your
musical
stupor; now
cognizant
and sober,
your mind
screams out
loud - “who
the hell
stopped
band?!!”
Despers
USA ‘at
play’
with
drill
master
Bertram
“Teeths”
Glasgow
(in red)
Of course
it is
panorama
time in New
York.
The drill
master
stopped the
band. The
drillmaster
gives the
count and
the band again begins
to play.
At the end
of the
phrase the
drill stops
the band and
they repeat
it again and
again, and
again -
until the
drill master
is
satisfied. This is not
any ordinary
drill
master. It is Bertram
“Teeths” Glasgow,
former
captain of
the famed
Desperadoes
Steel
Orchestra
of Trinidad
and Tobago.
Mr.
Glasgow
knows a
thing or
to about
what it
takes to
win a
panorama.
Despers
USA
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
During
the
pause,
Mr.
Glasgow
takes
the
opportunity
to
impart
some
words of
wisdom
to the
youthful Despers
crew -
many who
are too
young to
remember
when
Despers
USA
ruled
New
York.
He
discusses
the
seriousness
of their
mission
and the
work and
attitude
needed
to
achieve
their
ultimate
goal -
the 2010
Panorama
championship
title. Glasgow
implores
them to
seize
the
moment
and make
history. The
hundred
man/women
orchestra
listens
attentively.
This
group of
young Despers
panists
is extremely
talented,
focused,
driven
and
hungry.
The vibe
in Despers
USA
panyard
is
awesome. They are
one of
the best
groups
in the
USA.
Despers
USA at
practice
for the NY
Panorama
2010
Despers USA captured a record six consecutive titles between 1993 and 1998
- a true
New York
dynasty
by any
standard.
It has
been an
eleven-year
drought
since
their
last
championship.
Despers
USA is youth-oriented, but
it has
the
additional
advantage
of being
anchored
by
respected
veteran
steelpan
men
Edgar Gamory,
Garvin
Thorne,
Clement
Franklin,
Vern Rosemin
and
their
arranger
Wilfred Kieal,
Sr. among
others.
They’ve
been
there -
seen
that -
done
that.
Despers
USA
rehearses
for
panorama
As the
band
practices,
countless
neighborhood
onlookers
stop and
take in
a few
moments
of the
music. Although
the Despers
USA
franchise
has been
a
fixture
in this
neighborhood
for
decades,
their
working
environment
remains
increasingly
difficult
and
hostile. The
neighborhood
is now
peppered
with new
people
of
European
decent
and
cultural backgrounds who
openly
and
proudly admit
that
they are
“pioneering.”
While
many of
these
new
people
view
this
massive
steel
orchestra
of
hundred
players
with
wonderment,
curiosity
and will
give a
nervous
smile or
glance -
there
are many
others
who walk
by and
look at
the pan
people
as
though
they are
aliens,
and give
the
steel
orchestra
the “OMG”
look -
as if
they had
truly
just
experienced
a “band
from
space.”
Despers
USA
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
The Despers
USA panyard
should be
granted
landmark
status
immediately.
In fact,
many of the
New York
pan yards
should be
granted
similar
standing. Despers USA’s
historical
panyard sits
uniquely on
the border
of Crown
Heights,
Bedford
Stuyvesant
and Prospect
Heights.
The
organization
is one
of New
York’s
valued
institutions
and
should
immediately
be recognized
as such
and
accorded all
the
protection
commensurate to
ensure
their
existence
and
location for the
future.
The name
Despers USA
immediately conjures up words like
tradition,
winner,
excellence,
community
and family.
The
members
of Despers
USA look
for 2010
to be a
special
year for
the
organization.
In
Pictures
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