Despers USA Steel Orchestra - “DNA” - (‘Tempo’ version - Video)

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Basement Recordings captures Despers USA Steel Orchestra as they prepare for the 2024 New York steelband Panorama competition, just one day before the event. Despers USA Steel Orchestra performed an Odie Franklin-arrangement of “DNA.” This is the ‘Tempo’ VIDEO version. 

Despers USA is one of the oldest steel orchestras in New York. The faces have changed over the years but the core group remains the same. For 2024 veteran panist Kern Simon became captain of the orchestra as they returned with Odie as their arranger. Their Panorama tune of choice: “DNA” by Mical Teja.

In spite of facing the crippling challenge of having practice sessions in a very hostile environment: "a community that hates steelpan...wanted us out by any means" according to Simon - the group nonetheless performed a deep thought-provoking rendition of the popular soca tune for its recording session. Always known for their touch on the steelpan instrument, Despers USA did justice to the piece arranged by Odie, himself a master of telling an expressive story through music.

Despers USA was recorded at its Rockaway Avenue panyard in Brooklyn, on Friday August 30, one night before Panorama. The annual New York Panorama is a major highlight of and precursor to the West Indian American Carnival Day Parade.

2024 New York Panorama - get RESULTS

Despers USA Steel Orchestra at its panyard recording session on August 30, 2024

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