New York, USA - What do you get when, for the first time in history, steel
pan arrangers par excellence agree to meet at an impromptu rap session? What
comes out are Insight into feelings, their musical beginnings, inspirations,
aspirations and grouses - to but just touch on what turned out to be a journey
into virtually uninhibited sharing (and sometimes venting).
Basement Recordings scored a historical first - a coup - when Clive Bradley, Ken
'Professor' Philmore, Pelham Goddard and Nicholas Mohan agreed to share and bare
in an informal atmosphere at Basement's studio in Brooklyn, New York. Given the
short time frame in which this event was pulled together, it was not possible to
have all the arrangers who could have been there, attend. For example - Moods
steel orchestra's arranger Robert Greenidge flew into New York later. The almost
three-hour long interactive session that followed with these extraordinary
talents is one for the books.
Bradley turned out to be the 'unofficial ' chair of the foursome. The arrangers
fielded questions from onlookers, some of whom were themselves pan veterans. No
area was off limits, from 'Professor' unabashedly giving praises to Bradley and
Pelham, the two men he looked up to, to individual grouses about the dedication
(or lack of seriousness) on the part of pan players to practice sessions.
Listening to Bradley candidly reminiscing about his days gone by - as a student,
then a school teacher in Trinidad - all the while nursing his true love - music
- turned out to be a priceless look inside how Clive Bradley the man came to be
who he is today. He was not afraid to share his unique experiences such as his
qualms about first going 'up on de hill' - Laventille in Trinidad, to not even
having an interest in sex for a few years, so completely was he consumed by pan
arranging.
Pelham listed amongst his challenges (to this day) as an arranger - the many
instances of unsolicited advice from 'arranger-wannabes' - who would invariably
be passers-by and on-lookers. These 'knowledgeables' would run the gamut - from
suggesting alternate arrangements - to demanding why Pelham had changed an
arrangement from the day or so before. There were funny but poignant stories of
how die-hard pan fans - though well intentioned but with extremely bad timing -
could banish forever from their musical minds - what could have been the
'genius' line(s) in their respective arrangements - by simply talking to the
arrangers at the wrong moments. Other instances happened when acquaintances of
players would go right past arrangers and through bands to 'ole talk' with
players - not really giving a damn that band practice was a serious matter
Nicholas Mohan, Sesame Flyer's arranger said that even in his three or four
years on the scene - he empathized a great deal with the experiences of his more
seasoned colleagues. Mohan soaked up all the information and reminiscing from
the others. Clive Bradley has found that Friday nights are the best for practice
sessions - especially in Trinidad - as the band could go into the early hours of
Saturday mornings without fear of disturbing the peace of the general populace
who would have to rise early on an ordinary workday. He lamented that he was
about the only soul to recognize the importance of this quality time. - but pan
players disappeared for the customary 'Friday night out' as the list of their
must-visit haunts did not include a pan practice.
Professor described music as a 'kind of madness' in relation to where he was
transported whenever he plays. He like the others, remarked on the paucity of
good material to arrange for pan players - melody and harmony being sacrificed
to today's commercialism, and that this downward trend was worsening with every
passing year. It came out at the session, that a calypsonian who years ago had
huge successes with very musical selections - but had now joined the seemingly
mindless musical fray on today's soca scene - personally said that he knew what
he was singing (or not!!) was quote "a pack of nonsense - but that was what the
people wanted".
Get more of Basement's exclusive arrangers' forum on the 'When Steel Talks' web
site and see video
http://www.panonthenet.com/masters/arrangers/mastersseries.htm.
by C. Phillips
World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20040329085222384