DESPERADOES has definitely signalled its intention and is focussed on retaining the National Panorama title, and with a full complement of 120 players, the band is expected to up its game come Sunday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
However, winning Panorama is not the only project on the band’s radar. Despers is also rejuvenating its youth side to carry on the band’s legacy as well as to combat “juvenile delinquency and crime”.
The band’s temporary panyard at Frederick Street, Portof- Spain, is serving as a hub for seasonal musicians, including some from Japan.
Some of them are also students who earn credits towards their courses for participating in the Panorama competition.
Some are also friends of the late Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya.
Nagakiya, a student of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, travelled to TT yearly to play in a number of bands for Carnival.
Unfortunately, she met her death in tragic circumstances last year on Carnival Tuesday but that hasn’t deterred her friends from wanting to play with Despers.
Amanda Maria Barnett, the band’s PRO said Despers is happy to welcome back two of its seasonal players from Japan, but it is expected that as the season progresses, more of Asami’s friends would also return.
At the band’s pan yard, Curtis Edwards, manager added: “Desperadoes Steel Orchestra is a long-standing international brand that is synonymous with quality, professionalism and innovation. You cannot talk about the roots and evolution of the instrument without referring to the name, Desperadoes.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,239477.html
Replies
''Despers as All My Friends Know is as they would say is My Band. Even Though We were Placed at the Top in The Preliminaries I am Disappointed with Our Performance. Zanda Has a Real Lot of Work to do if Despers has to Retain our Crown. If I was a Panorama Judge in the Prelims I would of Tied EXODUS AND ALL STARS. I Think Because of All Stars Tune of Choice they have the Best Chance of Winning it All. All Yuh Dont Kill Me For Speaking Meh Mind. Dont Forget that DESPERS is My Band. I Think that BJ Marcelle EXODUS Arranger is the Most Improved Arranger Presently.
Zanda has been around for years and arranging good music with Siparia Deltones and winning a Medium title with a Tobago band Steel Explosion( playing Radica), but all of a sudden he is with Despers and finally getting recognition.Listen to some of Siparia Deltones in the achieves. He incorporates a lot of Jazz in his arrangements and the last time Siparia Deltones made the finals in the large band category he went as far to bring in a rhythm section all the way from Cuba based on the judges remarks and the band was still placed in the lower standings.He himself said that the south bands are judged unfairly.I wonder why ! The pan mafia is still alive !
Arthur, we been talkin bout Zanda a long time now...here's ah ting from 2004 Panorama semis I believe.
odw, Zanda is saving the best for last, we will get the finish product final night. the big guns doh panic, they know they moving to the next level. Another thing I've observed about Zanda is, he found a groove between the jam and the nice music, he's giving a nice mixture because he know what happens when the crowd make noise, this is where I am fearful for Boogsie, he is all nice music, I dread hearing someone say Boogsie gettin too much like Andy and Ray.
merrytones the panorama could end up as it is.
Cecil, some are saying its going to be an Epic one, you have those who say..."We Jammin Still, we jammin....and those who embrace this musical competition a Panorama festival in the Spirit of Carnival.
odw, the jammin is dangerous,but with Zanda in this position it is difficult to beat him. After you Jam Down and Jump High no where else to go.
The way it looks he's competing with himself...its an unfinished product.
The interesting thing to note Cecil is that clearly Despers tunes is not yet complete...just under 7 mins...
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