GOOD OR BAD?

Many times we see an arranger who is replacing another arranger trying to keep the sound of the band, do you think this is good or bad?

My opinion is that an arranger should have the freedom to go where ever they chooses and not have to deal with the band original sound.

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  • Not a bad topic! I think bands (especially in the large category) has an identity already when it comes to their sound. In recent times we saw a few changes of arrangers (Liam with Silver Stars, Duvonne with Renegades and Andre with Desperadoes) and all the arrangers in the eg. were able to allow the band to keep their natural sound but changed the style of arranging. 

    I would say (and excuse me because I'm young) that the sound of the bands would have been created by the past arrangers (Bradley, Jit, Pouchet, etc) and the new arrangers would just adapt to the sound but keep their style. It's a sort of compromise. And to answer the first question, I would say that I like it. Yes I can understand someone arguing that it takes away from the freedom of the arranger, yes I can understand someone saying that it takes away from the arranger's creativity, yes I can understand that young arrangers need to develop their style. HOWEVER, it's not only about the arrangers. 

    Speaking from a freelancer's perspective, I know different arrangers has different styles, and with that being said, I can tell you first hand that some arranger's style is quite difficult to adapt to. One doesn't simply walk into a panyard (crack shot or not) and can pick up an arrangement from random arrangers even if they were arranging the same song. Some persons are accustomed to a style and it may even be the only style they know (especially stage side members) which makes me support the arranger trying to keep the sound. Maybe as time goes by, the arranger can phase out some stuff and change things that may seem to be the typical band sound and eventually the entire sound of the band may change over a period but to just jump in and change the entire thing can create a shock in some players that they may not be able to adapt to it. 

    I think it's even commendable that an arranger can actually adapt to a band and make them sound the same and for that I really think Andre, Duvonne and Liam really got my thumbs up with that. I have listened to all 3 of their past arrangements and I know they have their own style in the midst of the band having the same sound AND with age on their side and the way competitions are going these days...I can see them making their changes to the sound to do whatever it takes to win. Give it to them that they are awesome arrangers and I look forward to hearing arrangements from them 10 years ago and yuh never know...maybe it might just be a different sound lol!

    • Good post Marcus.

  • Bugs

    ,Arrangers style.

  • I think that we should have many arrangers in a band to keep the music interesting. The great success of the Tripoli steel band for getting that break in the USA and Canada was the variety of our music, We had Supt Prospect, Father John Sewell, Junior Pouchet, Tommy Crichlow, Mad man Jordan from Tunapuna and the Headleys  that made our band unique. Especially. the arrangement of Father John Sewell that arrange excerpts from the classics that fit in so well the Famous Liberace program.

  • This is more complex than it would seem at a glance.

    Because each band has a sound.

    We'd wish a band to retain its sound, but we also want the arranger to be himself.

    This is almost a contradiction.

    The longevity of an arranger with one band  creates a sound, and the arranger's style becomes one of the main ingredients of  the band's sound. Arrangers coming after an arranger who was a part of creating a band's sound has no choice but to retain aspects of the sound that is part of the band's identity, while integrating his own stuff

    Think about it, don't we expect Despers, All Stars and Renegades all to have an identifiable sound?

    Renegade's sound was Jit's sound, and as much as we may deny it, we kind of expect Renegades to have a bit of Jit in their music, regardless of the arranger.

    Similarly, All Stars Sound had become the sound of Smooth Edwards, and future arrangers will have to take note.

    You won't wan't All Stars to sound like Ray Holman, would you?

    (And that's meant no disrespect to Mr Ray, who I love and admire)

    • I agree. When Smooth was on his hiatus, Eddie Quarless certainly kept All Stars identity. "Earthquake" exemplifies this

      • But Sliver Stars with Edwin sound nothing like them with Junior.

        • And your point is?

          Respect the desire or goals of the band. Surely the band was satisfied with the Edwin sound and stuck with it.

      • The same can be said for Phase II when Ray took over from Boogsie "Panic" come to mind.

  • If "trying to keep the sound of the band" means to maintain the band's identity then it's good and ought to be encouraged unless of course the band thinks otherwise.

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