Twenty years ago , when I was searching throughout Trinidad for quality oil drums to have our bass pans made, I could never have imagined that I would now be producing a "BEST OF PANAZZ" compilation -- Wow !
The Pan Ramajay Competition was one of the main motivations for forming the band, coupled with the opportunity to select music that would be challenging and at times, 'out of the box'.
To have found such a talented bunch of players with great improvisational skills and clever arranging abilities was very exciting and a real blessing. But what really worked in our favor was the palpable chemistry and showmanship that developed and clearly shone through on stage. A big thank you to all the players for having made it work so well .
As a kid growing up, I remember hearing many 'Jazz standards' played from my father's vinyl collection when he had his friends over. Errol Garner, Ramsey Lewis and Carlos Jobim were a few names that had a big influence on our early repertoire . Mixing their music with other genres, including Calypso (of course), Latin and even some RnB and Soul was a lot of FUN !
After winning four consecutive Ramajay competitions, it was off to spread the word internationally. We travelled throughout the United States, to the UK, Japan and the Caribbean, including two consecutive appearances at the St Lucia Jazz Festival. We performed in some amazing venues, but what stands out in my mind were our two sold out performances at the prestigious Boston Symphony Hall. There, along with our talented guest saxophonist Arturo Tappin, we had no less than three standing ovations! We were on FIRE!!
On behalf of the Panazz family i'd like to sincerely thank all our loyal supporters, friends and fans for the many exciting memories.
This compilation has arguably some of the best selections from our four albums, which have been brilliantly remixed and remastered with enhanced sound quality .
ENJOY
Barry Bartholomew
Musical Director
Replies
The professional presentation of the music of Panazz will be long remebered by all lovers of the cultural art form of T&T it is guranteed that this CD and DVD set will be a collectors item for players and supporters of the national instrument idnetified as Pan .
Barry Bartholomew ; )
Panazz was a one of a kind, jazz influenced collaboration of some of the finest pan soloist of their era, whose music filled a particular void in the pan music genre.
Most good steelbands never die.They reorganize, and recreate themselves.
Like the legendary Phoenix, they recover and rise from the ashes.
So, while enjoying this fine compilation, I will also be looking forward (hopefully) to new incarnations of the band.
Let's hope that the name Panazz will be around for decades, like the names of so many of our great steelbands that have been around since the creation of the artform.
cheers : )
Barry
This is must for my collection of steelpan CD's.
Barry : )
A blessed and productive season. Thanks for this production