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Desperadoes Steel
Orchestra - Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago - To be wrapping up a practice session at 2:15 AM is no strange occurrence for many steel orchestras in Trinidad and Tobago during the last nights of preparation before the finals of the National Panorama. But in the case of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, they have been continuously fuelled by a special spirit for 2006 - that of their late master arranger Clive Bradley. Raw emotion on the faces of many players was clearly visible as they went through their paces. It was an interesting experience. Though the arranger for this season is Eddie Quarless, there were many in the panyard who took an extreme interest in the sound of the band. Members of the old guard - Desperadoes musicians who no longer played, but intermingled with and observed the players - made sure they voiced their opinions, and gave advice - solicited or not, as per their experience, and respected band-standing. From the execution of certain phrases, to the tightening up of parts of sections - nothing less than perfection was expected, or accepted. The steel orchestra in New York that Bradley led to five championships in a mere seven years, Pantonic, has a few more players than usual within the ranks of Desperadoes for the 2006 final night competition, in honor and recognition of their beloved late arranger. There is no conflict here, as Pantonic itself is an off-shoot of Despers USA, whose core membership fields original Desperadoes members and family. Robert Greenidge who has led Desperadoes Steel Orchestra to winner's row in the past, has been drilling the band for just over a week prior to the band's final night appearance at 'The Big Yard' aka the Queen's Park Savannah. He runs a tight ship - and players who even forgot themselves for a moment to murmur while he was speaking, or 'tinkered/coasted' on their own instruments while Greenidge was mulling over a musical phrase - would not do so a second time. Silence was not only golden, it was highly advisable as he reinforced parts of Quarless' arrangement, and drilled the band in regiment-like fashion. They had a job to do - and as far as Greenidge was concerned - it was going to get done. He had a mandate to fulfill, and he made sure the band fulfilled theirs. It was against this backdrop, and after a scintillating Desperadoes-style execution of De Fosto's Tribute To Bradley, When Steel Talks was able to sit for just a few minutes, with both Finbar Fletcher, band manager, and Greenidge. Greenidge said that things had been getting better, and that there had been improvement from the previous night. He believed that the band could pull it off, noting the number of experienced returning Desperadoes musicians 'who played with the band for so many years', along with the younger members who brought their skill set with a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Making sure that the 'parts were very clean' and of a professional level, was Greenidge's main task for the final night competition; as he said "Desperadoes has a legendary reputation to maintain.' Sharing his thoughts next with When Steel Talks was manager Finbar Fletcher; crediting Greenidge with putting the finishing touches. Apparently there is a consideration to have the players sing 'Bradley, Bradley' at the chorus as they connected with the music, and the reason why they were performing that selection to begin with. Summing up, Greenidge put everyone on notice to expect the best from Desperadoes Steel Orchestra at the finals, because they were going to 'put their best foot forward'; and Finbar Fletcher put the scenario in perfect perspective, ending with a proclamation of "This one is for Clive!"
C. Phillips, Basement
Press Corp.
Copyright 2006 - Basement Recordings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ANY REPRODUCTION, REPRINTING OR COPYING OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS, OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL - AUDIO, VISUAL OR TEXT - FROM THE BASEMENT RECORDINGS/WHEN STEEL TALKS/PANONTHENET WEBSITES, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF WHEN STEEL TALKS.
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