“In The Rainforest” – An Unforgettable Steelband Experience - by Mark Loquan

[Pan Times]

Global - ....I returned to Trinidad in October 2000, specifically to play tenor with Skiffle Bunch, but I had only a week to learn the two pieces “In the Rainforest” and “Pan By Storm” before the finals. What a monumental effort. I remember learning the pieces from a member in the band, and also from pieces of the score which was being written at the same time. I stood in Pat Bishop’s house going over section by section. It was an incredible amount of music to learn in such a short period, with the band set up just outside the stadium [Jean Pierre Complex] practicing every night. I had to sleep, eat and dream the music, and “practice, practice practice” but eventually I felt comfortable by the final night.

by Mark Loquan
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[odw]

Skiffle Bunch - In The Rain Forest HD

[Ian Franklin]

To you pan trivia buffs,

                                 This was the first time that the winning Steel Orchestra played only "local composed pieces" and won the competition. Skiffle Bunch won by 25 points in 2000. Can you name the year another Steel Orchestra also won by perfoming all "local pieces" and by 25 points also?

[Roland]

Yeah Mark I remember those days and nights of rehearsal, but it all came together in the end and Skiffle won the World Festival that year. The "majestry" of Len Boogsie Sharpe for these two pieces is unbelievable....yes Bugs Skiffle Bunch actually has a CD out which features these two pieces amongst others...really worth the buy.

[Noah]

the crowd reaction at the false ending and boogsie's solo is pore-raising...

[Bugs]

Nice story.  How long did it take the band to learn the piece? Is this on cd? Is there a DVD of this performance?

 

bugs