Former Trinidad All Stars pannist John "Poison"?Douglas produced an excellent show last Thursday night at De Nu Pub n Woodbrook. The veteran pannist hosted a fund-raising concert for his Flabej Steel Ensemble, an aggregation comprising young musicians, all reading sheet music as they performed. Flabej embarks on a concert tour of Panama on August 10. Seen at the concert were German Embassy official Britta Salacker, Pan Trinbago North Region executive committee member Douglas Williams, Brian Kuei Tung, the parents of Olympian Richard Thompson and and veteran Pashphonics pannist Rawle Dove.
Flabej's performance was divided into two segments, and featured a repertoire of 18 selections. At the end of the performance, so entertaining was the band's performance that patrons requested encores for two items. Flabej opened its performance with Hammerstein's Climb Every Mountain, arranged by the late Fitzgerald Jemmott, the celebrated musical director of Neal &?Massy Trinidad All Stars. This first half also included Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Helter Skelter and The Prayer, a hit by Celine Dion and Josly Groban.
Following an intermission break, the young pannists returned and performed Rocker's Medley, consisting of Do That to Me One More Time, Under the Broadwalk and Save the Last Dance; Michael Jackson's I'll Be There; Kenny G's Forever; A Nhelos, a Panamanian number; and Kerwin Dubois' Bacchanal. Aside from Douglas, Flabej's repertoire was arranged by Kenrick Frederick, Roger Charles and Curtis Rennie.