Allison Marquis

Allison Marquis started playing pan when he joined the Babonneau Superstars Steel Orchestra in 1978 at the age of 13. He immediately became very curious about arranging and started arranging for the band about two years later. Shortly thereafter, the band’s main arranger passed on the responsibility to Allison.

Through his continual studies, Allison Marquis’ musical development has extended his arranging abilities to other instrumental configurations. He has led musical groups that have performed at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival. These groups include the fusion of pan with other ‘conventional’ instruments. As a pan soloist, Allison has performed with Luther Francois as part of the Caribbean Jazz Workshop Group.

He has also recorded as a sideman on several CDs. The respective artists include: the late Adrian Clarke from Barbados, Michael Boothman from Trinidad, Emerson Nurse from St. Lucia, Third Eye from St. Lucia and Augustin “Jab” Duplessis from St. Lucia. His musical compositions are featured on the last two named.

Allison believes that one can never attain full mastery as a musician/arranger, so he regards himself as an ‘eternal student of Music.’

Bio source:  St. Lucia National Steel Bands Association