Blog 2.0

I received Andy Narell's new DVD in the mail, and I couldn't wait to check it out.

Costing less than $20.00, this DVD is a bargain.

I expected a quality product from Mr Narell, And I wasn't disappointed.

Firstly, I must  be brutally honest.

I was never a big Andy Narell fan. He's good , I knew that, and I've supported his music, but I really didn't know where he was coming from.

I just couldn't relate to him as I could to Professor, or Boogie or Robbie.

Without knowing them personally, I knew that those three, like myself, have all been bitten by mosquitoes in a panyard somewhere in T&T.

We've all seen the sun rise from behind our pans on a J'ouvert morning in T&T.

However, the first few minutes of the narrative "Andy and the Jumbies" from DVD one of the double DVD package changed all that.

I had heard about the pan jumbie since a child.

About the society girl who ran off and caught the jumbie, and ended up waving a flag for a steelband on J'ouvert morning; the worst thing that a member of society could possibly do in those days.

Andy knows about the jumbie, I thought. Only hard core pan people know about the jumbie!

Forget about his incredible skills! His knowledge of the jumbie established his serious pan creds with me!

This DVD package is a fine production.

In his narrative , Andy tells of his life with pan, give us his take on the pan culture, and shows his love and respect for the culture, the people and the country where the pan was born.

Andy Narell doesn't just play the pan, he lives it.

DVD 1 includes commentary by such notables ad David Rudder and Peter Minshall, whose colorful prose adds luster to an  already glided package.

DVD 2 includes the actual concerts, one with Trinidad All Stars , the other featuring Andy's band in collaboration with the WDR big band of Germany, with vocals by Lord Relator.

There are many highlights of this production, including the performances of the legendary calypsonian Lord Relator, both in rehearsals and the actual concert with the WDR band, where he presented a repertoire that paid tribute to the late Lord Kitchener.

I was struck by how the German band seemed to easily adopt the phrasing and rhythm of calypso, and they did a fantastic job collaborating with the calypsonian and the steelband.

The performance featuring Trinidad All Stars at Queens Hall alone is worth the price of the package. I'm no music critic and I'll leave that to the experts, but as far as I'm concerned Andy Narell outdid himself with this production.

 It is a credit to himself ,his band mates and production team, and a major contribution to increasing the profile of the pan worldwide.

Thank you for a fine product, Andy.

Every pan lover owes it to himself to purchase a copy of this DVD. It would be a bargain at twice the price.  

Finally, I must mention that these are my personal thoughts, they were not solicited by anyone. I do not know Andy Narell, I'm just a pan lover.

(However, if this DVD becomes a big seller, and Andy wishes to run a lil something…..hey, I ain't too proud :)

Global

FAIR ROLL OF THE DICE, PLEASE

Today I take issue with hosts of Pan shows in Trinidad and their bias. I am asking them to clean up their act. Pan Buzz has led the fight tirelessly in a lot of areas where steelband (and steelpan) development is concerned, and anything to push Pan is my concern. What has been happening, is that I have been getting negative feedback about some radio hosts who are spiting singers or Pan song composers they have problem with.
 

Come on guys, leave your garbage outside the studio door, and play the music across the board. Last year I set up a Monitoring Unit, and the trend we are seeing is not too nice. On a friendship basis some singers (and composers ) are enjoying healthy rotation of their songs, while others are thrown in the dustbin for some ‘bad mind’ reason. I will not call names as yet, but if this nonsense persists, I will have to go public. This is a gentle warning.
 

If a Pan show host has a problem with a composer or singer, I don’t see why this should be extended to the man’s music. The Pan world is filled with hypocrisy; there are men who talk about a love for Pan, but yet spite singers and Pan song composers. They know who they are. Now let me make it clear: Pan Buzz don’t owe anybody anything. Pan Buzz only owe the bank... full stop.
 

However, the Monitoring Unit is already up and running.

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Do Something for Pan Song Composers

Pan song composers are subsidizing the Panorama and this can no longer continue. Every year a composer puts out his money and creativity and gets nought for it. So it is high time that Pan Trinbago organises something for these forgotten soldiers of Pan. All they get is congratulations; we cannot go on this way. A few years ago there was the Pan Song Competition, but that has gone the way of all flesh. Pan Trinbago must innovate for Carnival 2012 with ideas to boost the Panorama. You know there is no shortage of ideas with Pan Buzz. Here are just two:

1. How about the reintroduction of the People’s Choice (voting by ballot), plus Best Dressed Steelband?
    

2. A Pan song competition of 10 contestants, followed by the Pan Dance 2012 (both shows as one). You have to give people value for money and make it attractive.
   

The composer of the most popular Pan song of the competition must be given a cash incentive. Pan Trinbago cannot lose. They must set the pace in ideas and creative solutions with the exercise of some grey matter. Keith “Bald head” Diaz does not have a big head for nothing. Get cracking!

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TWO CDs TO MAKE YOU DANCE... AND PRANCE

Exciting things are happening in the steelband world.  Len “Boogsie” Sharpe is ready to rock with a CD called Tribute to Sparrow, played on the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI) pan (pronounced fie).
 

The CD is sweet like Caroni brown sugar. The pan playing is exceptional, as only “Boogsie” can, as he ‘reclothes’ (nice word eh?) songs like Rose, Jane, Memories, Education, Drunk and Disorderly, Dan Is The Man, Royal Jail, Panman (aka Carnival Time), Sa Sa Yay and Saltfish. The name of a young engineer Davis Chow headlines the collectors’ item.  Holy Moses, this CD is awesome.
 

Another CD that is raising eyebrows is the long-awaited King of the Hill by Jason “Peanuts” Isaac. This CD contains all the big songs like Jamboree, Hard wine, Ruction, Vibes of a Madman, Ten Commandments of Pan and the famous Pan Redemption.
 

The 2012 song Pan Turbulence is also there. I can’t wait to get my hands on both CDs.

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Remember - wherever you are in the steelband world, keep loving up The Pan.

Pan lovers my cousin Rudolph 'Fisheye' Ollivierre has passed away on Saturday 30th OCTOBER 2011.May his soul rest in peace.