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Pan in Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee events
Published:
Friday, May 25, 2012
Steelpan News
Members of the British Association of Steelbands, Matthew Phillips, left and Pepe Francis.
Pan will have pride of place in the upcoming Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee events. So says Pepe Francis (MBE) the long-standing chairman of the British Association of Steelbands (BAS). Francis told Pan Buzz that the pan will be featured in events leading up to the Olympics, and not at the official opening ceremony. The man who has been at the helm of British steelbands for some 30 years, and shows no signs of slowing down, was in T&T for the inaugural pan conference called Steelfestt. The conference, which seeks to position T&T as the global hub of the steelpan, was put on by Pan Trinbago with the help of the National Gas Company. Francis gave a presentation which highlighted the work of his BAS from its inception as the London Brotherhood of Steelbands to present day, with some 50 steelbands under his administration.
He urged Pan Trinbago to do more to assert itself internationally, networking with steelband associations throughout the world. Francis, who is credited with introducing the J’ouvert component in London’s Nottinghill Carnival, said there is a demand for accreditation of pan tutors operating in British schools and colleges. He said they can no longer walk into institutions “without a piece of paper.” Francis requested that a programme be set up at University of the West Indies (UWI) or at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), where pan tutors and tuners could get some sort of accreditation. Pan Buzz learned that American schools and colleges are also calling for accreditation, which is posing a serious problem.
Sapophonics goes to Arizona
The band Sapophonics, called the “best little band in the West,” and possibly T&T, will be leaving this weekend for a two-week tour of America courtesy Moods Steel Orchestra of Brooklyn, USA. Some eight members, including manager/player Rawle Dove will make the trip. Since its inception, the Sapophonics has been making waves on the local pan scene, and has been very much in demand with their unique style of playing. They are really a breath of fresh air on the pan scene, with a wide and varied repertoire. While in America, the band has a busy round of engagements in Brooklyn and Arizona which hosts its first West Indian-style Carnival.
Playing one for Geraldine Connor
The rafters of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain, is expected to shake tonight at 6 o’clock when some of the prominent singers and artistes get together to play one for the late great Geraldine Connor. The event, put on by friends of the musical icon, Geraldine Connor Memorial Committee, is called Geri’s Journey and will feature pannist Luke Walker of Caribbean Airlines Invaders, Raymond Edwards, Ataklan, Mavis John, Marvin Smith, members of the Carnival Messiah, Laventille Drummers, tassa drummers, Emmett Hennessy, celebrated pianist Charlie Brunner and many more. Opera singer, soprano Ann Fridal, one of the key players in this tribute, will also perform. Maurice Brash will be the master of ceremonies. Fridal told Pan Buzz the occasion will be grand, and she expects a full house. In attendance will be President George Maxwell Richards and his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards. Connor blazed a trail in the performing arts internationally with Carnival Messiah, her most outstanding work. The versatile musicologist also did a Panorama arrangement for Invaders many moons ago. Tonight’s concert is free. An offering will be collected. On Sunday the Memorial Committee will be hosting a benefit party, Jazz It For Geri, at Le Cafe Opera, 13 Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain, starting at 5 pm.
For more information, call 766-9300; 763-8681.
Jimo is PRO
One of the popular figures in pan, Cecil “Jimo” James is now the public relations officer of the Trinidad All Stars Association. Jimo, who has been in pan since Christopher Columbus was a little boy, has the unique distinction of captaining three steelbands—City Syncopators, Tokyo and Defence Force—of which he and Carl Alfonso are the founders. An excited Jimo told Pan Buzz that the organisation, now headed by a woman, Yvonne Boochoon, has hit the ground running, and had some fund-raising plans. Already the “Old Boys” have held a Mother’s Day event and will hold a service at 6 pm tomorrow at the Woodbrook Fellowship building, George and Duke streets, Port-of-Spain. All members are invited. A membership meeting will be held June 3 at 11 am at the same venue. The new executive is: president Yvonne Boochoon; vice-president Noel Lorde; secretary Dolores Adams; assistant secretary Makita Miller; public relations officer Cecil “Jimo”James; treasurer Courteny Goodridge; trustees Anthony Ford and Frank De leon.
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