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Jason Farrel, Willis Charles
– (front);
Hollis Clifton, D.J. Heshimu –
(back) |
Trinidad -
Enter Keston Marchan, son of ace pannist Ken
“Professor” Philmore. “The mango does not fall
far from the tree.” This is the belief of Jason
Farrell and Willis Charles in reference to the panmanship of the virtuoso who plays pan with
Tenacity led by Jason and Pan Eternal led by
Willis.
The two expressed these sentiments last Sunday
during Pan Diaspora on WACK Radio 90.1FM in
South Trinidad where the two sons of the soil
were guests of DJ Heshimu and Hollis Clifton.
Jason has been doing the cruise ship circuit
over the last few years with his five–piece
band, Tenacity, for which he co–arranges with
Sheldon George. Other members of the band
include Jeffery Farrell (Jason’s brother) on
drums; Keston Marchan on pan (son of Ken
“Professor” Philmore); John Loney, vocalist and Akil
on bass.
Jason honed his pan skills with Kalomo Kings and
Fonclaire steelbands. Incidentally, his father
was also a pannist and vocalist with the latter.
Farrell is currently giving back to the
community by arranging for Kalomo Kings for Pan
Trinbago’s Pan in the Twenty–first
Century.
His first opportunity to travel, however,
presented itself in 2001 when he played at
Caribana in Toronto, Canada.
Willis Charles, on the other hand, honed his
skills at Hatters Steel Orchestra and then at
Fonclaire where he encountered Jason. He is the
leader of Pan Eternal and Eternal Family which
include his brother Ryan, Jeffery Farrell
(drums) Akil (bass), Keston Marchan (pan),
Shelly Byneille (vocals), Julio Nelson
(vocals/programming) and Ian Skerritt (guitar).
Like Jason, Willis has been playing at Caribana
since 2001. He has also been doing the cruise ship circuit over the last four years with
[the] New
Wave band. The other members of the band include Lesha Thurton (vocalist), Vincent Edwards
(drums) and Robert Brown (guitar).
Willis is now looking forward to his annual trek
to perform at San Francisco’s Carnival, come May
31.
Both players are grateful to Darren Sheppard for
opening the way for them to be able to teach pan
at the Jesse Ketchum Public School in Canada.
Appreciative well wishers from various parts of
the Pan Diaspora, including Seattle phoned to
congratulate Jason and Willis on their
contribution to the promotion of pan and for
bringing joy and gladness to their parts of the
world.
Hollis Clifton
Founder, Pan Diaspora
1 (868) 652-7020
1 (868) 462-2738
hollisclifton@yahoo.com |