The following CD reviews have appeared in Trinidad and Tobago newspapers

One Caribbean Voice, Signal Hill Choir

One Caribbean Voice is packed with unique interpretations of popular calypsoes. Locals will be reminiscing and locals in foreign countries will be grieving to return home. Alto and soprano voices blend brilliantly into the African ambiance of the Merchant's "Umbayaya." Bask in the sunshine of Tobago's Crusoe's "Pacro Water" a track about Tobago's popular aphrodisiac and Shadow's "Poverty Is Hell." David Rudder will be pleased as punch to hear what the choir has done to some of his popular hits. On the "Rudder Medley."
Edited from CD Review Sunday Guardian April 19, 1998.

Classics on Pan, Various Steel Orchestras

Lovers of classical music on pan, a unique marriage, has the first in a series of classics on pan. The sound is extraordinarily clear and well-balanced and the CD is attractively packaged with a cover design by Ken Scott. The selections are chosen to represent not only music of the steel orchestra, but also ensembles which combine conventional instruments and steel. "Pan Waves" by E Caruth a test piece for the "Pan Is Beautiful" series and excerpts from "Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov are both performed by the Tropical Angel Harps Steel Orchestra. Both are outstanding accurate readings of the music with good interpretation and a nice sense of style. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic ranges and sensitivity of the "Scheherazade" with its haunting melodies. One of the highlights of the CD is "Water Music Suits with Nancy Jackman on piano with the Samaroo Jets and Florentino Mendoza. Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, "The Three Seasons" is played by Hydro Agri Skiffle Bunch. The music has a distinctly West Indian flavour, with shifting moods and textural changes, which holds one's interest throughout. This CD is a must for music lovers for the lovely sound of the steel orchestra in the more interpretative style of these selections - music which demonstrates the sweetness and versatility of our national instrument.
Excerpts from Trinidad Guardian May 3,1997

Portraits in Steel, Various Steel Orchestras

Portraits in Steel, Steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago, the latest release from Sanch Electronix, offers exciting sounds of Amoco Renegades playing Lord Kitchener's "Guitar Pan!" Despite the blistering pace there is amazing clarity in the sectional playing thanks to the excellent recording techniques of Sanch Electronix. Listen tor the bass passages just after a "zouk" section a short minor variation near the end and the fast tenor variations so characteristice of Jit Samaroo's music. You will also hear Ray Holman's arrangement of his own composition "Tenor Bass" played by Starlift,. It is easy to compare compositional styles here as immeditaely the texture is less busy deliberately so - with the tempo just a little laid back. The melody sings out in the tenors for quite some time in true Holman style, bringing to mind that old saying "sweet pan." Petrotrin Invaders rendition of "One For the Savannah," a "Boogsie" Sharpe arrangement of a calypso by Hollis Wright is just a little slower than the stage performance. There is some lovely phrasing with the kind of jam sessions to make you tap your feet. It is the perfect tempo for a good "jump up" a happy sound, which captures the mood of the Savannah revelry. The penultimate track is Phase II's "Misbehave" composed and arranged by "Boogsie" Sharpe. His style is unique as he explores the sound of this instrument he loves so well. There is some very disciplined and rhythmic playing as they move into an exciting climax. As a bonus, the final track is Renegades playing "Guitar Pan" once again, this time in slow speed, a real J'Ouvert tempo. Portraits in Steel is a wonderful addition to a pan lover's private collection - or even as a gift for the foreign-based Trini who came for Carnival. No pan aficionado should be without this CD, a record of the top Panorama selections of 1997.
Edited from, The Trinidad Guardian, August 22, 1997

Panjammers Steel Orchestra, Santa Cruz Jam

Carib Panjammers, the champion pan-round-the-neck steel orchestra from Santa Cruz launched its first CD, titled Santa Cruz Jam. The 15-song album was recorded at the Curepe Scherzando Pan Theatre. The band won the pan-round-the-neck Panorama competition in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 making it the first steelabnd to win the contest for four consecutive years. Between 1985 and 1991 the band places second and third, but returned to winners row in 1992 and 1994. The selections include latin, sentimental and soca songs; La Bamba, Mary Ann, Breezing, Wind Beneath My Wings, All Aboard,One for the Savannah. The recording was done using the Pacific Microsonics Digital Signal Processor. "Playback will reveal a very transparent soundstage," said Sandiford, executive producer. Selections were arranged by Eddie Quarless, Kenneth"Guppy" Brown, Robert Tobitt and Arnold Danclair.
Edited from Trinidad Guardian, 12June, 1998

Lara Brothers a hit in Mexico

The Lara brothers a parang Group received rave rewiews for their performances at the 4th Afro-Caribbean Festival of the Arts recently held in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Representing Trinidad and Tobago, the Lara Brothers spirited parang renditions received many encores from appreciative crowds in the cities of Jalapa, Tixtepec Tomatlan and Vera Cruz. "Los Hermanos Lara" also made several media appearances as they toured the hub areas of Vera Cruz. The festival proved that parang music can be appreciated all year round, and not only at Christmas time.
Edited from Newsday, July 28,1997

CAM's Movie Soundtracks Caribbean Style

Inoffensive pleasant background music to listen to while you sip your rum and coke in a hammock or on the hotel terrace, the pan music on 'Cam's movie Soundtracks is entirely by Samaroo Jets Steel orchestra. This is a CD of Italian and French film theme music played Caribbean style on pan. Track #3 from the movie "Anonymous Venetian" has an appealing reggae tilt to it, while the innocence of pan echoes through track #4, music from Pinocchio's Storybook Adventure, where some sanitised tassa gives it a polite chutney flavour. The CD is non threatening with the texture of sweet cane juice minus any strong sesonings. If that's your preference, you will enjoy these gentle, smooth melodies - even though you may not have seen any of the movies. Some trcks are too repetivie #14 and #9, which seems to bear no relation to the episodes of Shango drumming supposed to be integrated into the piece.
Edited from Trinidad Guardian April 16,1997