Douglas "Dougie" Redon is described as "a versatile Caribbean musician from the twin island republic of T&T." Born in Dere Street, Port-of-Spain, Redon grew up on Lucknow Street, St James, but defines himself as "a bona fide Woodbrook man." Redon's musical career spans three decades, beginning as a member of the Phase II Pan Groove Steel Orchestra in 1975 under the musical direction of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe.
The Scorpio-born musician had his schooling at Newtown Boys' and St Dominic's Savoi Boys' School in Belmont. From a child, Redon had a love for music and said: "As a boy I had a cuatro but used to end up playing bass lines, accompanying my elder brother who dabbled with chords. In Phase II, I was influenced to learn the bass by bassists like Andy Phillips. I was also heavily influenced musically by Boogsie's style of arranging; by his spontaneous manner of relating to music. Everything Boogsie does is so perfect. Even if he makes a mistake, it is correct."
Redon is a not a meat-eater and his preference remains seafood, with some "blue food."
His introduction to steelpan began with the double tenors, eventually finding his forte on the double second pan. Almost simultaneously he began playing the electric bass guitar, and from 1985 to 2003 he was resident bassist with the popular group Andre Tanker and One World Contraband.
He has performed extensively both on the bass guitar and pan at festivals and concerts. These performances include C'mac, Vieux Forte and Jazz a la Plantation festivals in Martinique, Jazz Plaza in Cuba, The Green Moon Festival in San Andres, Colombia and jazz festivals in Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada.
Redon has accompanied many internationally renowned performers, including Sharpe, Robert Greenidge, Clive Zanda, Vaughnette Bigford, Patti Rogers, Caroline Mair, Etienne Charles, Gene Lawrence, Toby Tobas, Rudy Smith, Theron Shaw, Annise Hadeed, Liam Teague, Chantal Esdelle, Ruth Osman, Michael Bootman, Ella Andall, Arturo Tappin, Danish saxophonist Holger Laumann, Ernest Ranglin, TK Blue with Randy Weston, Ken Philmore and Andy Narrell.
He is unable to pick a favourite jazz musician, but named Charlie Parker, Sonnt Stitt and Keith Gerrard among his favourites. He is equally hard pressed to name his favourite jazz song, but loves to play Andre Tanker's Tell Me Where We Going.
A lover of calypso, Sparrow and Kitchener top the list of Redon's favourite calypsonians. He also admires Machel Montano and said: "Machel is a smart guy giving his music that international appeal. He understands the music." As with jazz, Redon has several 'favourite' calypsoes.
He has also performed in France, England, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, New York, and California. He's performed in at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee; at Epcott Centre–Disney World in Florida, and he's performed in Japan thrice–at Holland Village in Nagasaki, the Ocean Dome in Miyazaki and the Cocoloco Club in Shinju-Ku, Tokyo.
A much sought-after freelance musician for several local groups, Redon is involved in youth camps, teaching the range of pans to children. Arranging to the steelband since the late 90s, Redon cut his teeth in this discipline with Woodbrook Modernaires. At present, he is arranger for Harvard Harps Steel Orchestra and The Chinese Bicentennial Steelband Ensemble. He is also a co-founder of Tabanca The Blues Band, an initiative conceptualised by Danish guitarist Anders Kappel.
Also a past arranger for Curepe Scherzando, Redon enjoys a very good and positive relationship with Harvard Harps as the band's musical director. He said: "I would like Harvard Harps to reach the highest standard of playing pan. We boast that T&T is the land of the steelband, but we have a serious problem in that we have a shortage of competent players. Where are the players?"
Redon joined Chantal Esdelle's Moyenne in 2003 and recorded on her first live CD–Imbizo Moyenne. He has toured twice with Moyenne, at the festival Jazz Plaza in Cuba and at shows in Miami and Jamaica.
"What I like about Moyenne," said Redon, "is that they play a lot of originals. This is very good for a local band as so many bands play standards and covers. A very good vibe exists amongst the players."
He has also done originals, including Blues for Sails, Going South, One for Silver, Saccarine and Those Dancing Days. His musical compositions reflect the influence of jazz with pan and Caribbean melodies, although he has only exposed these on the Trinidad stage.
Redon will be a headline act with Moyenne today at the launch of the Ethnic Jazz Club's 15th season at Jaffa @ The Oval. Dinner will be served at 7 pm by Chef Joe Brown of Solimar fame.