The Journey of Jamma
&
Trinidad Carnival 2009 featuring
Desperadoes - ‘The Finest Steel Orchestra in the world’

United Kingdom - The first time I saw Despers (the legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra hailing from Laventille in Trinidad), I was with my brother Norman in 1981.  They were performing at the Birmingham Odeon, as part of their UK tour.  The whole audience was transfixed; we were amazed with the standard and sound of the music.  The famed pan musician Robert Greenidge (pictured) gave a great performance with Taj Mahal.  This was the first time I had seen a steelpan soloist in action.  This performance changed my life.  I knew there and then, that I would become a professional steelpan solo performer.

My brother and I bought the two albums by Desperadoes and Taj Mahal at the end of the show.  Once home we began to learn the full musical arrangements including the solos.  I recall spending hours upon hours at my parents’ house playing these records over and over, trying to work out Robert Greenidge’s pan solos.  We also adapted some of the Clive Bradley arrangements for our own Birmingham-based Maestro Steel band led by my brother Norman Stewart.

Our passion for the steel pan continued to grow and we started following the Trinidad steelbands very closely.  Even though it was difficult to get audio recordings of the bands we managed to acquire a few.  One of the albums that is still very memorable for me is the great classic “Pan In Honey.”  Famous tracks many people know and love from Desperadoes include: Lord Kitchener’s “Pan In Harmony” arranged by the late master arranger Clive Bradley; their panorama piece “Ah Goin’ an Party Tonight” - not only arranged, but also composed by Bradley (1982), and sung by Calypsonian Lord Nelson, and; the monster winning arrangement of Clive Bradley’s “Rebecca” sung by “Super Blue,” that gave Despers another Panorama victory in 1983 - most definitely a true masterpiece.

1986 was the first year that Norman and I visited Trinidad & Tobago - the land of Pan.  This was a great year with the hit song by David Rudder “The Hammer” (this song was dedicated to the late great Rudolph Charles, the General of Desperadoes, who sadly had passed away 1985).  Both Desperadoes and Trinidad All Stars played “The Hammer” that year, but it was Leon “Smooth” Edward’s arrangement for Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars that swept the whole Savannah and the judges off their feet - gaining another panorama victory for the band.

In 1986 Trinidad All Stars visited England as part of the Caribbean Focus Tour. For their Birmingham show, Maestros Steel band was privileged to be the guest artiste.  That was how I made contact with world-renowned soloist and arranger Yohan Popwell.  On my return visits to Trinidad I would stay with Yohan; and this was like paradise for me, because Yohan’s house was central to both bands, All Stars and Despers.  We recall late one night when Norman, Yohan and I were sitting outside talking, and could hear three of the top bands in the world - Desperadoes, Trinidad All Stars, and Renegades – practicing, depending on which way the wind was blowing.  This was really amazing: to hear the sound of live pan being blown by the wind.  That is why Trinidad is definitely the home of the Steelband, because to have three great bands with over 120 members per band rehearsing in the open so close to each other and no complaints from any of the residents - this really is amazing.

The great thing is that steelband accommodates all the generations of the community; from great grandparents to grandchildren.  How many opportunities are there in life for intergenerational activities? Where else can young and old learn, create, and enjoy the same activity, and have mutual enjoyment, side by side?  This provides a positive environment for youngsters and, at the same time, gives a common goal to work towards.

This year - almost 20 years after Norman and I first saw Desperadoes in Birmingham - I was in Trinidad again, this time travelling with Norman, and friends from the UK.  Norman played double seconds with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra - a long-awaited dream come true.  Most of my time, I spent with Desperadoes.  It seemed that anywhere I went; I ended up back with Desperadoes.  Robert Greenidge’s arrangement of “Pan Redemption” was great, and the band was welcoming and full of love.  It was a real pleasure to be with the band for the whole season.

The amount of dedication that is put into perfecting the music can only be described as pure love and commitment.  Rehearsals would start around 7:00 p.m., finishing about 3:00 the following morning.  This was the regime every night for the two weeks we were there.  What is even more amazing is that the players are so accustomed to the Carnival practice routine - they still got up to go to work and school and made it in on time!

The Pan Yard vibes were great with food and drink served all night - and of course with sweet, sweet pan music.  Every player and section of the band was tested on how well they knew the music and only the best were chosen for the final night’s performance.  This was quite a hard job for the management and section leaders.  In total there were about 180 members all working hard to make the final performance, but the band could only have a maximum of 100 players on final night.

Eventual winners Silver Stars Steel Orchestra is one of the oldest bands in Trinidad, and gladly claimed their panorama victory for 2009 performing “First in Line.”  Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s band Phase II Pan Groove placed second with “Magic Drum,” and Trinidad All Stars were third playing Leon “Smooth” Edward’s arrangement of “Pan Rivalry.”  Robert Greenidge’s arrangement of “Pan Redemption” put Desperadoes in fourth position.  These were the top four steel orchestras in the ‘large conventional band’ category for 2009.

It was also a great pleasure to witness my friend Yohan Popwell gain yet another panorama victory in the ‘medium’ steel orchestra category with his band, CLICO Sforzata , performing his arrangement of “Bandoleros.”

I and my brother Norman would like to thank the management team and entire family of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra for making Carnival 2009 such a great experiences for both of us; and of course not forgetting our wonderful hosts, Yohan Popwell and his family.

To see more pictures and hear live audio samples please visit:
www.jammasteelpan.net/trinidad09.htm

 www.TnT.PanOnTheNet.com