by Dalton Narine
Fast-forward to the 2015 Panorama and all you see or hear on the Drag and in the stands, on Facebook, in nooks and crannies everywhere, is the notion that Trinidad All Stars are in the business of chromaticisms. Their music is encumbered by too many; more runs than an ol’ whore’ s stockings (Let’s clear the air here; those fancy lines by the tenor panists are controlled extemporizations.) All such talk, though, is no botheration for Cool Hand Smooth, a k a Leon Edwards, the band’s arranger with a new role as ambush strategist.
Smooth would choose senior band member and composer Clive Telemaque’s composition, Unquestionable, and manager Beresford Hunte would see it like a layman - a song with such a high degree of difficulty as to scare curious supporters, though nary a player. Indeed, Telemaque’s first offering was rejected out of hand, and he must have recalled 1986 when pan talk focused on the Phase’s rising pan, as well as All Stars, who Town had long dubbed “the final night band.” With much reason.
Now, here’s Telemaque in the panyard delivering Unquestionable to the maestro. The song reaches the arranger as motifs, idioms and counterpoint language. How cool!
Replies
Great story Dalton.
bugs
Appreciation. You probably got what I was trying to do. Other festival observations can be found in Panorama Notes as RAW TALK
Dalton,
Yuh killin it like ah Boss...this "more runs than an ol whore's stockings" had me lol, great piece.
Hope you continue the good work in all that you do.
Thanks
I wasn't even conscious about writing that line, rushing as I was to make deadline. Appreciate the sentiment.