Trinidad Guardian
Published:
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Earl Rodney doesn’t feel he’s been given enough recognition for his accomplishments in the world of steelband.
Winning arranger of four out of eight attempts at Panorama (a 50 per cent winning achievement with second and third places thrown into the mix) is not too bad of a record for a “country-boy come to town” to jam against the likes of Bradley, Holman, Jules and other “big noise” arrangers of the day.
Earl Bostic Rodney intervened in 1968 in the Panorama competition with Kitchener’s The Wrecker.
“It was an opening with drama and excitement that had not been previously experienced in a Panorama,” says Rodney, beating out the opening bars of his arrangement that won Solo Harmonites the Panorama competition. I wish I could reproduce on paper his verbal simulation of the arrangement. Check it on You Tube.
Replies
Earl Rodney - Friends & Countrymen // Full Album
Earl Rodney - Friends & Countrymen [Jazz Funk]
LP, 1974, Barbados
David Collymore
3 weeks ago
Earl Rodney is one of the foundations of Kaiso Jazz, a signature art-form of Trinidad and Tobago. Another part of the foundation is Clive Alexander. These Root Movements of the 70s are the foundations on which the pillars of contemporary Kaiso Jazz is built. I hear the music of Etienne Charles saying, ' Thanks'
Earl Rodney 2019
BLESSED DAY PAN PEOPLE, Earl Rodney who is now 81 and (still going strong) has invited Larry Lee luck, Lord Relator, Valentino and a few of his friends to join him at the Kaiso Blues Cafe, on Friday December 6th 2019. Tickets Cost $200.00
Not to take anything from the man but I do believe he arranged more than just eight times for Solo...
I remember the days when Solo Harmonites would play in dances in the early 60's, great pan music to dance to.
Claude this one is for you, because panorama bands are too loud, listen to the brilliance of Rodney with Harmonites.
Remember this one from the late Andre Tanker? another cultural legend !
Way ahead of its time. It's a pity that nobody followed this route. If I went into the studio TODAY to do a PAN CD it would be along these lines with MODERN TECHNOLOGY and a HIGH LEVEL MUSIC PRODUCER!!!
Incredible, REALLY!!!
Solo Harmonites - A Toast to Steel 1
Solo Harmonites - A Toast to Steel 2
It is sad that this article needed to be written.
Earl Rodney belongs on any list of the best , most creative arrangers and music creators to come out of T&T.
As a big band arranger , he arranged some of the biggest calypso hits of the sixties and seventies.
And as a steelband arranger , he wasn't just an arranger of panorama music , but he also arranged a string of record albums for Solo Harmonites that featured some of the best calypso arrangements played by any steelband.
I don't think he needs do any promoting , Brenda H.
His catalog of work should speak for itself.
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