|
 Global
- The irrepressible
steelband arranger
Carlton ‘Zanda’
Alexander
(pictured
right, in
front
of
Siparia
Deltones,
on
stage finals
night,
2009)
is once again
at the helm
of Siparia Deltones,
taking the spirited
and daring steel
orchestra into
the large band
category of
Trinidad & Tobago’s
national Panorama
with one of
the youth anthems
for 2010: ‘Pavement.’
Popularized
by two of Trinidad
& Tobago’s hottest
musicians, Kerwin
Du Bois and
Farmer Nappy,
‘Pavement’
is in the capable
hands of arranger
Zanda who understands
the steelpan
art form is
going places,
and it is the
interest and
passion of the
younger generation
that continues
to be the vehicle.
With an unconventional
but populist
approach, Zanda
captures the
imagination
and rhythm of
particularly
the younger
people for the
panorama competition
- taking popular
themes and music
to lock in and
complete the
youths’ passion
for pan.
 One of the more
interesting
issues that
has surfaced
on the Panorama
scene over the
years, is that
musically, the
music in the
competition
arena does not
usually reflect
the younger
generation who
make up the
bulk of the
pan community, the musicians
taking the stage
and their daily
listening habits.
If, as in the
past (especially
as was the case
in the earlier
years of the
pan movement)
it is the current
generation’s
music that should
be heard, then, Zanda has certainly
keyed in on
that aspect.
The veteran
arranger continues
to respond to
the soul of
the makeup of
his orchestra,
bringing to
the panorama
arena, music
outside of the
traditional
‘steelband genre’
and not generally
considered “acceptable”
in panorama
circles.
 Back in 2006
Zanda and
Siparia Deltones
took another
song popular
with the youth
at the time
- Allison Hinds’
‘Roll It’ -
to the finals
in the small
band category. And in 2009 with a steel orchestra boasting a complement of more than one hundred sharp young pan musicians, Siparia Deltones took the stage on finals night with Zanda’s
arrangement
of ‘I’m not
Drunk.’
Their performance
was greeted
with much applause.
With Farmer
Nappy and Kerwin
Du Bois’ ‘Pavement’,
Siparia Deltones’
delivery
of this tune
of choice is
sure to bring
out the fiery
passion of the
musicians, and
have pan music
lovers dancing
for yet another
year at panorama.
|
‘Pavement’ is it for Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra
