Despers on a mission

However, winning Panorama is not the only project on the band’s radar. Despers is also rejuvenating its youth side to carry on the band’s legacy as well as to combat “juvenile delinquency and crime”.

The band’s temporary panyard at Frederick Street, Portof- Spain, is serving as a hub for seasonal musicians, including some from Japan.

Some of them are also students who earn credits towards their courses for participating in the Panorama competition.

Some are also friends of the late Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya.

Nagakiya, a student of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, travelled to TT yearly to play in a number of bands for Carnival.

Unfortunately, she met her death in tragic circumstances last year on Carnival Tuesday but that hasn’t deterred her friends from wanting to play with Despers.

Amanda Maria Barnett, the band’s PRO said Despers is happy to welcome back two of its seasonal players from Japan, but it is expected that as the season progresses, more of Asami’s friends would also return.

At the band’s pan yard, Curtis Edwards, manager added: “Desperadoes Steel Orchestra is a long-standing international brand that is synonymous with quality, professionalism and innovation. You cannot talk about the roots and evolution of the instrument without referring to the name, Desperadoes.

As such, it is no surprise that our band is a hub for seasonal international musicians such as our Japanese friends.

Like other bands such as Phase II, Silver Stars and Exodus, we are fortunate to welcome a number of them annually, some of whom are students who actually earn credits towards their courses, for their participation in our National Panorama.” He also said that beyond university, it seems as though the visitors experience a lure.

“They feel compelled to return year after year just to be a part of the Panorama, if nothing else.

“Their natural gravitation towards the steelpan is growing and we see it annually, they return with more friends to learn about it. They show it in the way that they care for the instruments. In fact, some of them return home to Japan and include the use of the steelpan in their ensembles and performance groups.” Apart from the international players, Edwards said every year new faces are welcomed into the Desperadoes family.

“These persons come not only from Laventille and environs but as far as Fyzabad, Arouca and Diego Martin,” he said: This year too, the 11-time National Panorama champions is also embarking on rejuvenating its youth side after some ten years.

Edwards reasoned it’s partly for succession planning for the band, and also partly as its response to juvenile delinquency and crime that has been plaguing its community.

“The youth band is about succession planning for Desperadoes.

Ensuring that we nurture and maintain a cadre of skilled and passionate musicians and craftsmen to preserve our history and add to the band’s legacy.

What we found was happening was that a number of our youth in the area were eager to become a panman or woman because of the sense of prestige that comes with the name of Desperadoes.

The band still remains the pride of Laventille. But more so, Desperadoes is a family band.” He said Despers is generational and it is significantly evident in its membership.

“This sense of belonging is also what attracted the interest from the youth and fuelled our attempts at commissioning their own band. It is a first for us. Previously, the band only facilitated vacation camps and partnered with schools in the area from as far back as the 1980s,” Edwards said that the youth band is also the band’s response to juvenile delinquency, crime and illiteracy in all communities.

Edwards also said: “The youth band’s arrangers are our very own third generation Desperadoes UTT graduates who teach not only technique but music theory.

Apart from the involvement of the senior band members at the executive level, the youth band also has many parents and community activists who are continuously involved.” And where will the band be relocating after Carnival? Edwards said the band is awaiting the completion of its refurbished pan theatre “on the hill”. He then emphatically stated: “Any rumours of the band not returning on the hill are erroneous.

At the end of the day, Laventille is Desperadoes and Desperadoes is Laventille.” He added: “Desperadoes has never left Laventille. We been in the city and environs for approximately seven years only for the Carnival season. After that we return home Ash Wednesday. This has become necessary because of building repairs, parking, fear of players and pan lovers to get to us.

He said the area constructed too small for the band.

“Unless they demolish and rebuild, that’s the only way to accommodate the Carnival band in Laventille. Talk to the contractors maybe the press would get answers,” he said.

Edwards said: “This is the fist time that the band has spent 24 months away from home. This was due to promises made by East Port-of- Spain Development Company, that we would get our building in March last year. But after many disappointments of the same promises, we are moving in right after Carnival finish or not.” With just a few days of practice before the semi-finals, Despers “Trinidad Good Morning” written by Jovan James and sung by Peter Ram and arranged by Carlton Alexander has had aficionados joyfully singing and dancing to a fantastic performance before the judges in the preliminary round of competition.

With a full complement of 120 players, Despers is expected to up its game come Sunday. “We are also fortunate to have a committed group of both local and foreign based seasonal players,” Edwards said. “We are the only large conventional band in the history of steelpan globally, to capture the national title 11 times.” And that indeed they did beginning in 1966 when they captured their first title with “Obeah Wedding” by Sparrow, arranged by Beverly Griffith. After winning with “Picture on my Wall” in 2000, it took the band some 16 years to return to winner’s row, after a vintage display of “Desperadoism” last year with “A Different Me”, by 5Star Akil and arranged for the first time for the band, by Carlton Alexander.

Meanwhile, the band has released a double CD featuring the Best of Bradley plus all the other arrangers who worked with the band.

PHOTOS COURTESY MARIA NUNES