NEWS

HOLMAN ARRANGING FOR POWER STARS FOR PANORAMA

This week Ray Holman begins a stint as arranger with the T&TEC Power Stars, the St. James steel band led by Captain Garfield Weekes. Holman will be arranging his 2003 compositon “Don’t Touch We Carnival” for the 2004 Panorama competition. Popular entertainer Kenny J is performing the tune, with lyrics by Alvin Daniell.

This is Holman’s first time arranging for Power Stars, a medium sized band that has had little success in Panorama. Weekes approached Holman last year and said the band needed help. The arranger/composer couldn’t give the band a commitment until he was nearly finished producing his first solo album In Touch, which will be launched on February 8.

Holman says Weekes is a hard worker and has been trying to put in the infrastructure to prepare the band for Panorama. New instruments are the first priority, and the band may even move to a more spacious venue. But it is not likely to move out of St. James.

Now that Holman has begun visiting the panyard, Power Stars is likely to attract experienced players from all over Trinidad. Many pan players would change bands just to play the music of the veteran composer and arranger.

Holman has arranged for, among others, Invaders, Starlift, with whom he won two Panorama titles, Tokyo, Exodus and Humming Birds Pan Groove.