Welcome to Carnival 2017 as we levitate by creating elegant solutions to resolve our myriad challenges. In context, Laventille is the epicentre of the Steelpan, national musical instrument of Trinidad & Tobago. From foot to summit, its sound emanates and resonates nationwide. So why vespers for Despers?
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra (Despers) came into being in the early 1940s, and over the years through its various states and sponsors, brought tremendous pride to the Hill and music to the world. There was a time when it was commonplace for folks to trek that Hill on two occasions annually: first to indulge in Despers’ Carnival music by night, the other being afternoon Lenten celebrations at the R.C. Church.
Today, there is a determined resolve to initiate a resurgence of Laventille, to restore its pride and performance. The work starts immediately, spearheaded by the return of Despers to the top of the Hill and sharing its vast repertoire with the world community.
Some infrastructural work is required to accommodate the band’s return and provide adequate space for the youth development programme. Despers is seeking to raise Four Million, Eight Hundred Thousand dollars (TT$4,800,000) over the course of the next two years to finance those works. Mendicancy will not be the organization’s focus.
Management will fulfill its mission by leveraging the impregnable Desperadoes brand and its formidable repertoire spearheaded by the work of Clive Bradley (4th November 1936 - 26th November 2005), an idiosyncratic, enigmatic, erratic but pragmatic musician and arranger who meandered mercurially through the corridors of life, leaving in his wake a contour not unlike that of the great Mississippi River.
Bradley never played Pan, his instrument was the piano; yet he meticulously developed a synergistic relationship with the hypnotic, charismatic Desperadoes at the summit of Laventille that spawned a bitter-sweet saga spanning four decades. Together they earned acclaim and respect from the steelband fraternity of Trinidad & Tobago, the Diaspora and beyond, winning the coveted title of Panorama Champions on six ecstatic occasions.
A double CD entitled ‘Straight Outta Laventille -The Legacy of Clive Bradley’ produced by Despers and Sanch Electronix will be available at the end of January. For further information please contact Despers’ manager Curtis Edwards at 868.686.8200/panologytt@yahoo.com or Sanch Electronix. Thank you for supporting the first of a series of artifacts that the band will produce in quest of its goal.
Simeon L. Sandiford
Managing Director
Replies
May their souls Rest In Peace...What is Panorama?
The reason why many trek the hill to listen to Despers at that time was the police service still had in place the old colonial system. As the country got Independence and local personell began taking top responsible positions, everything began to deteriorate, no one cared to develop the old system but rather 'ride the back of it' so crime nowadays cannot be controlled. Therefore, the fun and excitement we experienced is no more. Despers had to flee the hill, their home, this is important history. We just can't (older pan folks) continue to reminisce and ignore the youth struggles today. How can a young man enjoy arranging in the panyard today, and at the same time worrying about his safety. This never happened long ago, all in the band was like family.