Yohan Popwell
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Yohan Popwell (born 1965) is a Trinidadian steel pan arranger. He lives in Trinidad, near Port of Spain, with his wife Denise and daughter Denicia Yohanna.
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[edit] Arrangements
For a couple years Popwell arranged for London Panorama. He also arranged one year for The Trinidad All-Stars in the absence of their regular arranger Leon "Smooth" Edwards. However, his first winning Panorama arrangement was for Sonatas Steel Orchestra, of War 2004 by The Original DeFosto Himself in New York Panorama 2004. His arrangement of Shadow's "Dingolay" was not only the first time for a new arrangement of a classic song to win Panorama, but also the first time a medium-category band was able to win preliminaries, semifinals, and finals. This occurred in Trinidad Panorama 2005 with the band Clico Sforzata, for which Popwell currently arranges. In 2005 His arrangement of DeFosto's "From Beyond" for Sonatas Steel Orchestra came in 3rd place in New York. In addition to these arrangements, he is the assistant arranger to Leon "Smooth" Edwards in Neal & Massy's Trinidad All-Stars Steel Orchestra.
Popwell is the in-house arranger for the Trinidad All-Stars. He has also done a host of smaller arrangements for various bands around Trinidad and Tobago.
[edit] Influences
Popwell grew up with the classical music that was played yearly by the Trinidad All-Stars. It wasn't until later in his life that he began to listen to jazz, latin and samba. These styles are very apparent in his pan arrangements.
[edit] Known Panorama Arrangements
- 2004 - War 2004 - Sonatas (New York) - 1st Place
- 2005 - Dingolay - Sforzata (Trinidad) - 1st Place
- 2005 - From Beyond - Sonatas (New York) - 3rd Place
- 2006 - This Melody Sweet - Sforzata (Trinidad) - 1st Place
- 2006 - This One's For You Bradley - Sonatas (New York) - 2nd Place
- 2007 - Calypso Music - Sforzata (Trinidad) - 3rd Place
[edit] Pannist
Popwell began playing the pan in 1976 at age 11. He has played with the Trinidad All-Stars for many years, serving for a while as tenor section leader. He has also played with Pandigenous Steel Orchestra.
In 1993 he founded the Panazz Players with Barry Bartholomew. The name comes from the group's musical selections, which are a hybrid of Pan and Jazz. This group was the premier small ensemble in Trinidad. It won the prestigious Pan Ramajay competition for small ensembles four times. The group has toured internationally and played in the United States, St. Lucia, Japan and London. Their CDs include "Steel Pan Music" and "Panazz Live." Other players in the group include Dane Gulston.
He is a member of the "Sons of All-Stars," a trio consisting of Popwell, Dane Gulston and Clive Telemaque; all veteran players of the Trinidad All-Stars.
Popwell has also given solo concerts on the tenor pan as well as double-seconds.
[edit] Stick Maker
Popwell makes his own sticks, appropriately called "Popsticks."
