Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra
performs musical magic at Classical Jewels
At the
National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA)

Last Sunday’s staging of Classical Jewels IX was another clear reminder of why Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars is reputed to be the finest steel orchestra in the world. The event was held at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium at the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain, and hosted by Raymond Edwards. And while there was no panel of adjudicators to give this verdict, that did not diminish the fact that the celebrated steel orchestra delivered a high-energy, scintillating performance, that re-positioned it to the pinnacle of pan.

Under the musical direction of principal conductor Deryck Nurse, the production was arguably the best of its kind in years. An eager audience, including President George Maxwell Richards, his wife Jean Ramjohn-Richards, Neal and Massy Group chief executive officer, Gervase Warner, and former CEO, Sydney Knox, soaked it all in as Trinidad All Stars streamed its well- thought-out repertoire, rich with cherished melodies. A star cast of musical friends punctuated the first class presentation, with the line-up including former Road March Monarch Christopher Herbert (Tambu); the University of the West Indies (UWI) Festival Arts Chorale; the Malick Folk Performing Company, and the sons and daughters of All Stars—Dane Gulston, Clive Telemaque, Yohan Popwell, Terry Demas, Mia Gormandy and soprano Jacqueline Smith of Marionettes Chorale fame.

Jessel Murray and June Nathaniel were the guest conductors, while Trinidad All Stars’ musical arrangements were done by Leon Edwards (Smooth). This year’s return of the well-constituted brand Classical Jewels, after an absence of 19 years, showed exactly what the pan music circuit lacked—superbly packaged, well-timed and thoroughly entertaining presentations. Beresford Hunte, general manager of Trinidad All Stars, said this was the band’s 75th year, and it had decided to revisit the Classical Jewels label, which began in 1974 under the baton of Fitzgerald Gemmott (Uncle Gem)—its musical director back then. His vision, according to Hunte, was for pannists to begin reading and playing the classics as close as possible to the core, to enhance their dexterity and musical discipline.

Judging from what was presented at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, Gemmott’s vision for the band to develop pannists was well on its way. Patrons heard music adapted for the steelpan—the national musical instrument of T&T—by Uncle Gem during the period 1968-1988, as well as his predecessors Gillian Nathaniel-Balintulo, the late Nelson Villafana, and music arrangers Rudy Wells, (Smooth) Edwards, and Neville Jules. Classical Jewels was a divine opportunity for Trinidad All Stars to show off not just its music making magic, but the home-grown talents within, and it did. Gormandy, with her golden mallets sustained the musical intrigue, rendering a crisp interpretation of El Rio (The River) from the pen of Liam Teague, while Gulston was featured during the Tambu’s performances. His (Tambu) repertoire comprised Lift Up His Name and Christmas Message, with music accompaniment by Trinidad All Stars.

The band accompanied the UWI Festival Arts Chorale, too. Directed by Murray, the choir’s repertoire comprised In A Monastery Garden and Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. Smith, the band’s other daughter—who played the bass pan at three Panorama performances—filled the hearts of the masses with a touching performance of Ave Maria. The Trinidad All Stars line-up was dominated by youths performing music beyond their years, and the band’s signature sartorial elegance did not go unnoticed. Clearly, no Trinidad All Stars performance was complete without Woman On De Bass on its playlist, and Classical Jewels proved that. Three decades after the band offered the selection made popular by Scrunter (Irwin Reyes Johnson), the steel orchestra injected new life into the arrangement, giving the impression it was a world premiere.

Edwards, the master of ceremonies, helped set the stage for this exciting moment by calling the band in the dramatic style of the Panorama announcer. Patrons were in stitches, but within minutes they were dancing at the production that made Trinidad All Stars victorious again.