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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Days to go before Pan Alive
(Toronto’s version of the
Trinidad and Tobago’s Annual
Steelband Panorama) Hollis
Clifton made a valiant and
successful attempt to interview
Ian Jones, Musical Director of Panatics Steelband for a live
feed on WACK Radio 90.1FM on Pan
Diaspora hosted by Clifton.
The musical outfit which was
founded by Leonard Noel in 1991
was rather busy going through
their final rehearsal drills at
Barbados Boulevard, Scarborough,
Toronto, with Ian in full
command.
Ian Jones at drill session
In response to a question from
Clifton on his background in
music, Ian, a founder/programme
Director of OSA (Ontario
Steelpan Association) revealed
that he was self-taught prior to
studying piano with Olga Lamb in
Toronto. He further pursued a
correspondence course from
Berkley School of Music in 1980.
Ian, a career Social Service
Administrator, has also been a
Director of Covenant House
Toronto (CHT) where he adapted a
Sustainable Profit Improvement
model from the for-profit sector
to a Sustainable Surplus
Improvement for CHT. This model
was used to drive the company’s
revised Strategic Directions. He
further initiated the Rights of
Passage transitional housing
program for homeless youth
seeking transition from living
in crisis shelters to successful
independent living in the
community. Jones threw in
the towel at Covenant House
Toronto in December 2007 as
Director of Special Program
Services. Covenant House
is the largest International
Youth Care Agency with 21
programs: 15 - US, 4 - Central
America and 2 - Canada.
Panatics
As a Musician/Educator Jones
pioneered the introduction of
steelpan programs for credit in
Toronto’s North York high school
and also created and directed
the production of an
instructional video for the
Toronto District School Board
steelpan programs.
As part of the steelpan
community in Toronto, he was a
member of the team that created
and implemented the 1997 concept
of a Pan Alive Event that has
now become an institution in Caribana. Jones, the
culture vulture, has also penned
calypsos that won the Calypso
Monarch of Canada Competition on
six occasions and was voted one
of the top calypso arrangers in
1997. He has composed and
produced the sound track for “A
Cat and A Dog”, a conflict
resolution play for K- Grade 3
children, as well as music for
the theatre production of “Sweet
Pan” by We Are One Theatre.
Afropan, Rhapsody, Silhouettes,
St. Jamestown Youth and the
Church of Nativity Steelband
Programme have all benefited
from his musical direction.
Panatics preparing for Pan
Alive 2010
At Pan Alive 2010, Ian Jones’
arrangement of Edwin Pouchet &
Alvin Daniell’s “Battle Zone”
landed Panatics Steelband
Network in a third-place tie with Afropan. Even though he lamented
the performance of the group, he
nonetheless felt it was great
encouragement for the
youngsters, many of whom were
playing at this level for the
first time.
In recognition of his
outstanding contribution to
nation-building, Mr. Jones
received many awards inclusive
of:
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2009 |
Caribana Tribute
Award |
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2006 |
OCPA Past President
Award
Pan Artists Network,
Toronto – Pioneer
Award |
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1997 |
Canada’s Best
Calypso Arranger |
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1996 |
Raphael Passey Award
for outstanding
contribution to the
development of
Steel Pan in Canada,
awarded by Coffee
Boys, Toronto |
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1992 |
Award of Merit, City
of Toronto, for
outstanding
contribution to the
quality
of life in the City |
Pan Lovers can also contribute
by logging on to
www.pangenealogy.com or
info@pangenealogy.com and
submit your band’s information
or simply tune in to -
wackradio901fm.com scroll down
and ‘poke’ pan genealogy.
 by
Hollis Clifton
Educator
pandiaspora@gmail.com
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