by Sharmain Baboolal
Pan Master Class For Free
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| Duvone Stewart with Newtown Playboys |
The buzz is at the Newtown Playboys panyard where arranger Duvone Stewart shocked the local steelpan fraternity with his return to the competitive single pan arena. With 11 Single Pan Panorama titles under his belt, he dropped off their radar in 2015.
For the post-pandemic Panorama, the 47-year-old champion of both the Medium and Large band categories is not here for bragging rights, at all.
Yes, it is to earn a living. But, also to bring new ideas to the music in what is really a master class for young arrangers.
So it is not strange to see players, arrangers and sometimes bandleaders, standing on the pavement at 64 Tragarete Road, not just listening to the depth and richness he has brought back to the music for the single pan bands that were previously “Pan around the neck.”
Replies
The Steelband Arrangers lead the pack…
They are the single most important contributor to the musical fortunes of a performing steel orchestra. It is a position that is not for the faint of heart or casual practitioner. Deep in tradition and tales of glory, these select men and women compete for a title that only a handful have ever been so honored to claim.
TIME ROUGH ... AH SAY TIME TOUGH!!!
Imagine a man like RAY HOLMAN (who I highly respected after his arrangement of PENNY LANE) driving down all the way TO THE SOUTH trying to hustle AH WUK with a SOUTH BAND that is dead and has ZERO PLAYERS.
It is ALWAYS ABOUT THE HUSTLE and THE MONEY ... HUMAN DIGNITY TAKES A BACK SEAT!!!
Well said Duvone!!!
Expect the detractors and haters to surface, but keep your light shining,Forward Ever, Backward Never!!!
And well deserved!!! (1) Facebook