Duvone
Stewart
Toronto, Ontario
-
Writing a
concert
review
entirely in
superlatives
may seem
overdone,
even
sycophantic.
Yet all
those who
attended the
2010 Autumn
Leaves on
Steel in
Toronto
would agree
that each of
the four
soloists and
the band
that backed
them, were
nothing
short of
superb.
The
event is one
of two shows
produced
each year by
a group
called the
Pan Arts
Network
(P.A.N.). The
first show
was held
twelve years
ago at
winter time.
It was aptly
called
Snowflakes on Steel.
Then, as
demand grew
for this
sort of
entertainment,
a second
show was
staged in
the Fall,
Autumn
Leaves on
Steel. Over
time, each
show
developed
its own
nature –
Snowflakes
showcasing
orchestral
music, while
Autumn
Leaves gave
itself to
soloists and
jazz
ensembles.
Even more
recently,
there is a
third event
called
Praise on
Steel.
Dane
Gulston
P.A.N. is
comprised of
five pan
aficionados
and panists
extraordinaire
in their own
right -
Elton Jones,
Andrew
Jackson,
Ivor Picou,
Earl
LaPierre Jr.
and Wendy
Jones. These
five
indefatigable
people work
year round
in the
steelpan
community in
Toronto and
bring only
the finest
pan players
to the
stage.
Saturday’s
show saw the
crème de la
crème of the
world’s
tenor
players take
the stage to
transport
the audience
to a place
where
brilliant
music and
inspired
delivery
held sway
and there
was nothing
but pan,
sweet pan.
The panists
were
accompanied
by the
Liamuiga
Project, a
five man
group of
exceptional
players on
saxophone,
keyboard,
bass guitar,
drums and
percussion
led by Bruce
Skerritt.
Even with
the four
singular
styles of
players -
Andy
Phillips
with his
unique style
of
ramazhay;
Darren
Sheppard
with his
honeyed turn
of musical
phase; Dane Gulston with
his frenetic
brilliance
and Duvone
Stewart, the
“Pavarotti”
of the
tenors - Liamuiga
Project held
their own
and stepped
up
unerringly
to the
musical
challenge.
The concert
began with
Toronto-based
Andy
Phillips. He
warmed the
chilly
October
night with
that ageless
melody
“Summertime,”
then turned
the heat up
a notch with
“For the
Love of
You.” Andy
delighted
the crowd by
adding his
voice to the
delivery and
his second
piece
included an
arrangement
that offered
some
Caribbean-flavoured
switches in
melody.
Darren
Sheppard
There was
only a
moment or
two to
exhale
before the
MC brought
on
Darren
Sheppard who
laughingly
called
himself the
“love man”
and who
proceeded to
thrill the
listeners
with several
romantic
ballads and
smooth jazz
selections.
Darren then
moved into
full-bodied
jazz form
with the Liamuiga
Project
never
missing a
beat,
causing the
audience to
burst into
applause
time and
again.
After
a short
intermission,
Dane Gulston
arrived to
set the
stage on
fire in a
style all
his own.
Shock wave
after shock
wave of
energy and
movement and
blinding
speed as he
called his
steelpan and
it answered.
As if that
were not
enough,
three more
types of
percussions
were brought
on stage for
Dane to
reveal his
formidable
skill on the
congas,
traditional
iron and
snares.
Duvone
Stewart
- in
a word -
inimitable.
What more
can one say
of this
gifted
composer and
arranger? He
played his
tenor, he
sang, he
joked with
the crowd
and even
glided a few
dance steps
as he gave a
most
memorable
performance.
During his
renditions
of the Maxi
Priest
version of
“Wild World”
and Bob
Marley’s
“Jamming,”
the audience
was
completely
involved as
they clapped
and sang
along.
The
evening
delivered on
its promise
to bring
extraordinary
pan jazz-styled music
to
listeners.
The venue in
Toronto’s
east end was
more than
suitable for
the
occasion;
the
auditorium’s
acoustics
and lighting
were above
reproach and
patrons were
well
rewarded for
attending.
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