After the 2005 Panorama season, When Steel Talks chatted with the arranger for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra - Clive Bradley. Now relaxed after another hectic season, Bradley indicated that he is quite pleased with the performance of the band Desperadoes.
As far as the final result is concerned, the veteran arranger is willing to abide by the judges' final decisions. Bradley noted however that his music is geared toward the people, not the judges, and that was what was most important - the people's reactions. The arranger says that most of the people he has come across after the Panorama competition - about ninety percent - felt that their (Desperadoes) music for 2005 was "kind of deep" and moreover felt the band should have actually won. Bradley sees his music at another level and of a higher standard.Bradley also indicates that in spite of rumors due to the allegedly extant social conditions in Laventille, there were large numbers of visitors to the Desperadoes' pan yard for the 2005 Panorama season. The entire period was incident-free.
Panorama is still in a state of flux, but according to Bradley, he believes that the "powers-that-be," Pan Trinbago, are on the right track. There are lots of problems that have to be solved. Unfortunately "Pan Trinbago does not ask the appropriate questions of the appropriate people" says Bradley. He suggests that they conduct surveys throughout the country with the pan players to get good feedback about what they should be doing, and what would benefit the steelpan artform on the whole. But overall Clive Bradley is satisfied with the season, and as usual is already looking toward 2006.
Click on link to hear full interview audio:
http://www.panonthenet.com/tnt/2005/post/bradley2005post2.html
