Pan Assembly - July 21, 2020 - PANJAZZ Tuesday - Anthony’s Cari-Jazz Artiste of the Day
Pan Assembly was a group of pannists who got together in the late 80’s to present the steel pan in a different musical format (at the time). The ‘presumed’ concept of the Assembly was to bring together several of the well-known ‘crack shot’ players of the day and have them record popular semi-jazz and calypso melodies. The key players over the years were Earl Brooks, Robert Greenidge, Ken “Professor’ Philmore, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe and others of similar finesse, too numerous to mention.
To our knowledge, Pan Assembly released eleven albums – ‘As the Sun Sets I Hear You Listen,’ ‘Midnight,’ ‘Romance,’ ‘The Spirit,’ ‘Pan Calypso I and Pan Calypso II,’ ‘So Hot So Sweet,’ ‘Parampara Kay Sutra,’ ‘We Kinda Music,’ ‘Our Heritage’ and the aptly titled ‘Pan Assembly Christmas Album.’ Three of the albums provide semi-jazz, sometimes pop music melodies, still considered ‘classic’ today. All the albums are collector’s items however the two ‘Pan Calypso’ albums remain prized possessions. The first was released in 1986 and is the first original ‘Assembly’ album with calypso/soca in style & content. The arrangements were done by Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore and accompanied by a full live band with the likes of Tony Voisin (guitar), Emmanuel Ector (Bass), and Junior Wharwood (guitar). Popular singers of the time, Carl and Carol Jacobs and Patsy Holder provided backup vocals and even Pelham Goddard lends his keyboard excellence on two tracks.
The second Pan Calypso II album was a ‘Limited Edition’ production with arrangements by Wayne Bruno, Colin Lucas, Beaver Henderson, Godwin Bowen, and Eman Ector. This album released in 1991 comprised the classic top calypso/soca songs of the day played by the aforementioned pannists.
Of special mention is the Pan Assembly ‘Parampara Kay Sutra’ album featuring all East Indian selections with arrangements by Anthony Ramasar, Jit Samaroo, and Leon Smooth Edwards. Featured players are the Samaroo Jets, Earl Brooks, and a track by the Trinidad All Stars.
The Pan Assembly team, (Executive Producers, et al.) provided an important ‘bridge’ between the Panorama big band arrangements with their lengthy inventions (which the radios stations refused to play), the esoteric pan jazz sessions (a la Clive Zanda Alexander), and the ‘pan shootout’ sessions featuring three or four ‘pan-slingers’ and held sporadically at various clubs throughout Trinidad. Pan Assembly was able to promote the steel pan and the pan soloist, by providing listenable ‘smooth pan’ arrangements of popular songs, in a shortened format, for mainstream radio.
In a period of desire for promotion of the instrument, Pan Assembly, as an ensemble and an idea, was influential in showing the steelpan community and upcoming pan players that the steelpan wasn’t just for the annual National Panorama competition or periodic concerts of classical music. It presented a new challenge to players by having them explore smooth-jazz and Lionel Ritchie-type pop songs. The public loved it and radio air play throughout the year and popularity of the instrument, increased.
We are thankful to the “Assembly’ team then because this ‘bridge’ led to the emergence of the exceptional ‘Panazz Players,’ the varied experiments of Pamberi Steel Orchestra and I even dare to say more recently, the Hugh Masekela/Petrotrin Siparia Deltones project, which sadly has not been released.
© Anthony’s Cari-Jazz
Support Enhance Promote Repeat !!
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
(All songs are copyrighted and are presented for artiste publicity, promotion, and public education only. Downloading or sale of the material is prohibited. Please see Artiste’s website or Online Retail outlets for purchasing of material.)
This montage is produced by Anthony's Cari-Jazz for viewing and listening pleasure only. No sale or duplication permitted. All music and photographs are copyrighted and presented for artiste publicity, promotion and public education only. Downloading or sale of the material is strictly prohibited. Please see Artiste’s website or Online Retail outlets for purchasing of material.
("Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976)

свернуть