Vanessa Wins Scholarship to Berklee

Vanessa at Berklee

VANESSA - A HIT AT BERKLEE
Pan Visionary Hollis J. Clifton Chats with Pan Gem – Vanessa Alexandra Headley
BERKLEE FIVE-WEEK SUMMER PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
In response to a question from Hollis J. Clifton about her immediate future plans Vanessa Alexandra Headley, a 2011 graduand of The University of the West Indies retorted:
If never before, now I firmly believe that if there is a will there is a way. At the dawning of the year 2011, I was ruminating on what exactly was the next step of my life. I knew for certain that it was rooted in Music and that I HAD NO INTENTIONS of being a one-trick-pony. I wanted to fulfill everything that my gift allowed me to.
I began an on-line search for my “destiny” if you will: “summer courses for music majors”. “Berklee College of Music” appeared as the first item in the search engine. Skeptically, I clicked. It was as though a whole world of opportunity had revealed itself to me. I browsed the pages for the Five-week Summer Performance Program and read the reviews. I distinctly remember my heart racing as I flew off the bed and ran to tell my mother (Franka) that I knew what I wanted to do this summer. She turned to look at me. I couldn’t read her expression, but waited with bated breath for her response. To make a long story short, she was thrilled, I was ecstatic. Within the hour she had managed to ignite the same enthusiasm in 16 year old Naparima College student, Daron Roberts and his mom, Bernadette, as I had insisted that he go too.
VANESSA PANS HER WAY TO THE TOP AT BERKLEE
Pan Visionary Hollis J. Clifton Chats with Pan Gem – Vanessa Alexandra Headley
BERKLEE FIVE-WEEK SUMMER PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
In response to a question from Hollis J. Clifton about her immediate future plans Vanessa Alexandra Headley, a 2011 graduand of The University of the West Indies retorted:
If never before, now I firmly believe that if there is a will there is a way. At the dawning of the year 2011, I was ruminating on what exactly was the next step of my life. I knew for certain that it was rooted in Music and that I HAD NO INTENTIONS of being a one-trick-pony. I wanted to fulfill everything that my gift allowed me to.
I began an on-line search for my “destiny” if you will: “summer courses for music majors”. “Berklee College of Music” appeared as the first item in the search engine. Skeptically, I clicked. It was as though a whole world of opportunity had revealed itself to me. I browsed the pages for the Five-week Summer Performance Program and read the reviews. I distinctly remember my heart racing as I flew off the bed and ran to tell my mother (Franka) that I knew what I wanted to do this summer. She turned to look at me. I couldn’t read her expression, but waited with bated breath for her response. To make a long story short, she was thrilled, I was ecstatic. Within the hour she had managed to ignite the same enthusiasm in 16 year old Naparima College student, Daron Roberts and his mom, Bernadette, as I had insisted that he go too.


April, May and June turned out to be some very trying months. We has applied later than most f the 900 applicants from across the world and it was a race to get all our documents and funding organized in time for the start of what was now affectionately called “5-week”. But, sacrifices were made and we pushed real hard. Golden Hands and some true friends selflessly supported us in our musical quest. It was nail-biting from day to day.
On July 3rd, 2011, we were on a plane to Boston, Massachusetts, albeit without all our funding in place. The energy of our dream, fuelled by serious prayer, and resolute parents, friends and well-wishers, had ensured that by the time we were attending our orientation, all school fees were paid. Though we still had accommodation costs to cover, we were certain that the provision for that would be seen in time. Indeed they were about two weeks later.
CLIFTON: What was it like at Berklee?
VANESSA: Berklee was everything and more than what we had expected. Berklee has its own culture. Nestled in a city of musicians, music is everywhere - in the malls, in the restaurants and on the street corners. It was so refreshing to be in a non-competitive environment where a passion for music was everyone’s driving force. It may sound surreal, but these were true musicians, who uplifted each other and played music together for no particular reason. We got to understand for the first time what “music is the universal language” really means. It means music is equal to love.

Vanessa jamming with the Vinx’s FunkFusion Ensemble
CLIFTON: What was the Five-week Summer Performance Program like?
VANESSA: The 5-week was a very intense music performance program that is organized in a very enjoyable, stress-free kind of way. It was created to make tons of information readily available in a low-pressure environment. It was designed to encourage accelerated learning and to equip the hungry musician with musical life skills. Daron felt right at home as a drummer and I was welcomed with open arms as a pannist. My double seconds, made by Master Pan Builder and Tuner Bertrand Kelman, was a source of great interest. Many people had never seen one before and they were simply enthralled with its tone and yes, I guess, my playing especially when I used 4 sticks (or mallets as they say).
The rich diversity of the 1000+ students from across the world, immersed us in a microcosm of experiences that is beyond my ability to adequately describe. These young musicians, aged 14-25, are some of the best in the world. Some are endorsed by top-of-the line music companies and have recording contracts. Each day we learned something new, and that is no exaggeration. The lecturers were willing and humble. Their approach to teaching was very hands-on. As professional musicians, they could play ANYTHING that they were teaching. They were always practicing in their offices or jamming with us in the concert halls and classrooms. Their advice was priceless and we loved them all right off the bat. Each week, world-renown musicians would visit the campus to perform for us and interact with us. They took the time to answer questions and offer words of wisdom from their experiences in the world of music. Some of them even taught classes each week as part of the Berklee staff.
Such musicians included the likes of:
Dawaun Parker - Grammy Award winning multi-platinum musician, record producer and rap artist who has worked with Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and
Eminem.Tia Fuller - Alto Saxophonist for Beyonce,
Donald Harrison- Saxophonist,
Livingston Taylor - Singer/Songwriter,
Abe Laboriel - Mexican Bassist. Referred to as "the most used bassist of all time"

Everyone would always stress that recreation was just as important as practice. So the Student Activities Centre (SAC) made sure that there was always a wide range of activities for us to participate in – movies, Red Sox games in Fenway Park, games, picnics and excursions. It was impossible to not have fun.
The last week of the program proved to be the most hectic, but the most fulfilling. It was performance week and every student was scheduled to perform with his/her Ensemble at one of Berklee’s performance Halls. The ensembles were categorized by genre –Jazz, Pop/Rock and Funk/Fusion. Placement auditions and placement examinations took place on the second and third day. We both had chosen Funk/Fusion as our Ensemble of preference during the application process and we were both successful, attaining a ¾ status. Three (3) represented the genre of our ensemble and four (4) represented our level of musicianship and skill. Four is the highest level.

During this week Berklee would also traditionally feature 3 ALL STAR Ensembles –Pop/Rock, Funk/Fusion and Jazz. Daron and I were in the company of 150 musicians who auditioned for the ALL STAR Funk/Fusion. We were both short-listed among the 15 that got a call-back. I was also fortunate after a second audition, to qualify as one of six members of the ALL STAR Funk/Fusion Ensemble. That definitely was a milestone for our National Instrument, and myself, I may add, as it was broadcast all over the world and received rave reviews.
It was also the week that the announcement awards of scholarships were made. Out of a total 441 applicants from around the world, I was one of the 71 who received a scholarship to attend the College and complete the fulltime Degree program. This is of great significance, as I was the only pannist at the 5-Week. I am also the first to receive such a scholarship. This has brought me even closer to two of my main goals:
• Sharing the beauty of our National Instrument with the global community and
• Demonstrating that the steelpan is a bona fide musical instrument that can hold its own in any musical context.
Daron and I returned to Trinidad on August 14th 2011, bursting with musical ideas and a whole new attitude and approach to our music practice. We have started sharing with our own musical brothers and sisters in Golden Hands and we look forward to extending this to those in the wider community.

Daron performing with his Funk/Fusion Ensemble
CLIFTON: Did not Daron win a National Award in Trinidad during your absence?
VANESSA: Oh yes! On the heels of a great experience, we tried to settle down and pack to return to Trinidad. The settling down was hopeless as we were informed that at the Trinidad & Tobago Annual National Awards Ceremony Daron had been presented with the 2011 National Youth Award for Music (12-17). Daron went to bed. I called Golden Hands, who were practising at the time. They were oblivious of this development and were waiting for news. Well, they demanded that I awaken him. I did so with trepidation, as he gets a little cranky when sleeping. The noise on the speaker phone was unbelievable as they shouted congrats. The energy was great as they were already celebrating the Captain’s (Pete Braxton) birthday. Jonathan Grant, the 2008 Golden Hands recipient of the award made a very succinct statement congratulating Daron, to which we all roared in laughter. This was really great as Daron had felt a little depressed not qualifying for the All Star Band. I do remember that when I went for my audition the panel commented that he was an awesome drummer. This was really great news. Daron smiled and went back to sleep leaving me in the phone celebration.

Vanessa leading Golden Hands at St. Margaret’s Boys A C Steelpan Extravaganza 2010

Special thanks to our Moms-Franka Hills-Headley and Bernadette Roberts, our family, GOLDEN HANDS, friends and well-wishers who supported us especially:
Ueline Joseph Yvonne Hills
Andrea and Wayne Grant and Family
Dane Hinds Alice Thomas
Bertrand Kelman Dr. Wendy Diaz
Sandra Pariag and Friends Turon Roberts
Raf Robertson Alison Sloane-Seale
Annette Hunte-Lessey Andell Roberts Anika Phillip
Toyota Trinidad & Tobago Ltd.
Cowen Duncan Silent Sah
Damian Melville Dr. Anne Osborne
First Church of the Open Bible
G Tees Print Shop Haygem Travel Service
Jessel Murray Jeffrey Ali
Joyce Grant Junior McLeod
Keshia’s Catering Margaret Drayton
Mark The Moment Mr. and Mrs. Ian Anthony
Mr. and Mrs. Knights
Neal Corke Ora Hillarie
Pan Elders PANVESCO
Members of Revival Time Assembly
San Fernando Music Festival Association
St. Peter's Private Primary School
Sandra Phill Tameka Griffith
Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd
Valini’s WACK RADIO
YARA

Vanessa is the arranger of Golden Hands and has been arranging since the age of fourteen (14) for the band. She has successfully led them to 2nd and 3rd place in the Junior Panorama on the three occasions. In 2010 and 2011 she again led the band to 2nd and 3rd place in the National Panorama (Small Band).
Among an exhaustive list of championship titles, Vanessa has won the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Adult Solo Category on three consecutive occasions. She has also been the National Junior Under 21 Solo Champion, and shared in Thirty (30) Festival trophies of Golden Hands.
Vanessa is currently involved in composing and transcribing music for book publications. One of these is a bilingual work for Kindergarten in three volumes.
The other is a series of folk stories and songs of Trinidad and Tobago.
Vanessa was the first student of St. Joseph’s Convent San Fernando to sit the Caribbean Examination Council (CSEC) Music Examinations. She placed first in the Caribbean in the 2004 on entering the UWI to pursue a Liberal Arts Degree in Musical Arts; Vanessa obtained and maintained a scholarship from the Trinidad and Tobago Music Literacy Trust for her entire period of study.

This talented young woman is always ready to share her musical knowledge and skill. She has facilitated music workshops in the USA and the Caribbean and teaches CSEC music.

Her aspirations are:
- To be a premiere international performer and so act as a global crusader for youth empowerment.
- To change the paradigm that exists in Trinidad and Tobago with respect to career and life paths.
- To compose and direct a symphony featuring the steelpan at international concert Halls and so validate its authenticity and recognition as a bona fide musical instrument.
If you are interested in stories like this and of how the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, has impacted the universe you could follow the website: www.pangenealogy.com or info@pangenealogy.com or tune into WACK Radio 90.1 FM (Trinidad) and follow the interviews live on the last Sunday of each month from 3 – 4 PM or check the website: www.wackradio901fm.com.
If you have a pan story to share with the world contact- pandiaspora@gmail.com



Hollis John Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary

HARMONITES HISTORY REKINDLED

This chap, Sterling, got this permit to perform for a Carnival in London. We have to do it right now or loose being able to participate in the Carnival for this year”. We gathered the following people together, Pedro Burgess, John Belgrave, Leroy Edwards, Wilmot Joseph, Lloyd Greaves, Archibald Cephas, Leslie Palmer, Harold Bruce along with Herman Betancourt and myself Justin L. Frederick, never realizing that we were making history.
We were the only band there with our pans and my snare drum strapped around our necks.”




Justin with Wack CEO Kenny Phillips





These were the words of Justin “Barber” Frederick in an interview last Sunday on WACK Radio 90.1FM during the Pan Diaspora segment of “Pan in Yuh Puefen” with Steve Sealy and Hollis Clifton.
Barber was alluding to a statement made by Herman Betancourt, Single Pan Musician, Photographer and Impresario who went to his home located at 171 Harvest Road, London, UK.


BLUE NOTES STEELBAND
Featuring: Silbert Walker, Pedro Burgess, Arthur Peters, Frederick Delphis, Lloyd Greaves, Alvin Alexander, Justin Frederick aka "Barber", John Belgrave, Irwin Armorer, Ancil Armorer, Wilmot Joseph, Leslie Palmer and Lystra Gibbs.

“Barber” further alluded to Television Journalist, Aman Andrews, who pursued them in a van as they walked up and down Lancaster Road, Ladbroke Grove in 1965. “Nobody, but us participated in this event. The only people we saw were the local residents who opened their doors to see what was going on and those who looked out of their windows to listen to the music”.


Justin – the limbo dancer

It has been a great tribute to the “Bluenotes Steelband” that after forty plus years many people want to remain associated with their history. Our supporters coined the phrase, “Bluenotes Captured London”. Journalist and interested participants continue to write editorials about who we were and what they know about us, the originators of the first carnival in Ladbroke Grove, Today, the original carnival that we started in Ladbroke Grove is now known as the “Notting Hill Carnival”, UK.


Herman Betancourt, some of the original members and I continued the tradition that we started in London in 1965, by playing in the streets of Calais, France in 1966 and Boulogne, France in 1967 for “Bastille Day” with our instruments strapped around our necks.
I joined “Mario and his steelband” in 1967 and performed for the hotels in Barcelona, Spain.
In 1968, I joined the Trinidad Tropicana steel band as their drummer. We performed on tour in Russia as well as East and West Germany.
While in West Germany, we made an album entitled, “The Music of Trinidad”, now a cd that can be purchased on line.

In reference to a question from Clifton as to how he got involved in the Steelband business Barber iterated that it all began in Trinidad, West Indies, in the country where we were born, a place where all of the sounds around you became music and a way of life. Music was the introduction to our future and the inner spirit that we would carry with us around the world for the rest of our lives. Our natural musical drive was the core that produced the penetrating need to capture the sounds we knew and incorporate them into Steelband.
The first Steel Band I was associated with was known as “WONDERLAND”. The name “Wonderland” was soon changed to “HARMONITES” and it became synonymous with the band’s sponsor “SOLO”. “SOLO HARMONITES” went on to become the first Steelband in Trinidad to win four (4) Panoramas within a seven year span and I am proud to note that I, Justin L. Frederick aka “Barber” was their first (1st) captain.

It is important to note that the original musicians of the “BLUE NOTES STEEL BAND” formed in London, England, came from bands that were started and performing in Trinidad, West Indies.



Pelham Goddard, Vincent Lila aka "Hueloy", Justin Frederick aka "Barber", Earl Rodney and Savvy. Arrangers, Composers, Musicians and Friends gather together in solidarity sharing a moment in time.

In 1976, Madison Square Garden, New York City, the “Harmonites” was one of four steelband
opening acts for Mick Jagger and “The Rolling Stones”. I played bongos for the”Harmonites” and I performed as a solo act with Mick Jagger and Billy Preston on stage with Billy playing keyboard and I with my bongos, strapped in the traditional style of pan players, around our necks.
I have had the opportunity to perform for some outstanding occasions such as: the British Film Stars Academy Awards Reception, Barbados Independence at the Lyceum in the Strand. The most rewarding of all occasion was volunteering our performances for the Disabled Children's Homes throughout England.
The CD, “Let's Sing Again” by Jade, was produced, published, all songs composed and arranged by me, except “wwurk”, featuring pannist Earl Brooks: on, "I Remember You/Remember Me".

Barber a former Sergeant in the US army established himself as a renowned “Limbo Dancer” entertaining the Troops on the Base at Fort Lee, Virginia where he would appear every Saturday dancing on the Army Base TV. By then the affable Sergeant – one of Sergeant Murray’s loos jointed cooks - had established the feat of dancing under a ten inch (10’’) high (or is it low?) flaming limbo rod in the final of his act.

Again, when the State of Virginia was testing its first Cable TV Network they requested the Army to send Justin to make an appearance on the Show. He also appeared on “Dial for Dollars”, a popular weekly TV Show.

A number of callers phoned in to compliment Barber. These included Alvin Alexander – a former alto player of Blue Notes. Then there was Ian R. Franklin author of the book: “400 Questions & Answers on Pan 1960 to Present.”
An unnamed caller from Pennsylvania expressed high praise for the show and was elated having learnt to play pan with Harmonites.

Tune in to Pan Diaspora on the last Sunday of each month from 3 – 4 PM on WACK Radio 90.1 FM


Hollis Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary

CARLIE JAMES – PANMAN, ARRANGER, SINGER, PARANDERO, GUITARIST
In a live interview on Wack Radio 90.1 FM, San Fernando, Trinidad on Sunday January 30, 2011 Hollis Clifton managed to unravel some of the untold anecdotes of Canada based pannist Carl James aka Charlie. That first edition of “Pan Diaspora” for the New Year occurred inside “Pan in Yuh Puefen” with Steve Sealy.



(r to l)Carl James, DJ Steve Sealy & Hollis Clifton at Wack studio in San Fernando
The versatile Arima born Carlie spent most of his formative years in San Fernando prior to migrating to Canada in 1970. Like so many other migrants he saw his hopes of becoming a member of “Local 46 Welder and Pipe Fitters” in Canada dashed in his quest for survival. The multi talented Captain cum Musical Director of Toronto Metrotones Steel Orchestra wasted no time in succumbing to his first love, music, away from the Prairies Provinces. In the formative years of the band it performed under the sobriquet of Guinness Cavaliers. Over the years the bands tuners included and the late Errol Moore, Ed Peters, Tommy Crichlow and Gerard Clarke, to date Metrotones have made two videos with Comedians Oliver Samuels of Jamaica together with Marvin “Trini” Ishmael.
When asked by Clifton how he got involved with Metrotones, a pensive Carlie retorted ... “it must have been share coincidence” that Groovers International, of which he was singer/keyboardist/arranger happen to be practicing next to Metrotones had one day requested his services in arranging a tune when they got stuck ... the rest is history.
Groovers International, a brass band, consisted of about ten players, mostly Trinis and included the likes of Leo John, Leader and Musical Director, Mikey Hyndman, David John, Dodd Shepherd, Dick Lochan (singer) with Carlie as one of the keyboardists.
Over the years Carlie takes time off from pan to play quatro with Los Parangderos in Toronto for which he has written two parang ditties ...soon to be released.
In the early pan days in Canada, Carlie recounted when finding a rehearsal venue for Metrotones proved difficult so he had to forged ties with an Elementary school in Toronto ensuring that he taught pan to students in exchange for accommodation for the band.
Since 1977 the ace pannist has been like the “Snow Bird” heading down south when the goings (temperature) gets tough ... returning to Trinidad at winter to play catch-up ... playing firstly with Olympians Steelband then with Chocolate City where he arranged “Taxi Talk”. Later on he did Baron’s “Soca Man” for WACK Radio’s Old Time Calypso Competition.
James revealed to Clifton that he must have inherited his musical veins from his father Vincent Hernandez who was a pannist and pan tuner who had the distinction of playing for the first National Steel Orchestra under the late George Goddard. Carlie in turn, passed on the pan vibes to his daughters Natasha and Carla who were players with Metrotones.
Carl James at Pan Elders Pan Theatre, San Fernando where he spends most of his time during carnival time 2011

Carlie acknowledged that his first encounter with the pan was with grapefruit tins which he tuned for himself. Laughing all over his face in satire Carlie reminisced to the unusual way in which he acquired his first ping pong ... as a naughty boy in his youthful days he was fooling around in the pan yard of Sea Bees when he somehow got into the way of the band’s captain, Steve Lalsingh (dec) who was really struggling to tune a pan. In truth and in fact Steve had just damaged the pan, in error, and in frustration took the pan and pelt it at Carlie. The impish young man saw this as an opportunity to own his first instrument... the rest is history.
Later he was to be introduced to Melody Makers by Reynold Joseph (dec.) in 1959 where he remained until 1965. He nonetheless, admitted that it was at Melody Makers where he encountered the likes of Radcliff Baker who greatly inspired him into arranging music... “nuff respect”. Thereafter he became a member of the Guinness Cavaliers until 1970 when he migrated to Canada. With Cavaliers he got the opportunity to travel to such places as Surinam, Grenada and Venezuela. His greatest moments with Cavaliers, however, were winning panorama in 1965 and 1967 with a close second in 1966 and 1969.
Pan Diaspora could be heard on the last Sunday of each month on Wack Radio 90.1 FM


Hollis J. Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary