Angel Harps to pay tribute to Clive Bradley in Panorama 2008.

Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra will pay tribute to outstanding musician and steelband arranger, the late Clive Bradley, when they take the stage at this year’s Panorama competition.

The band will be playing a piece entitled “My Friend Clive” which is composed and arranged by ace Grenadian arranger James Clarkson.

Clarkson says that “My Friend Clive” is all about a musical journey that started in the early sixties in Port of Spain Trinidad when, as a teenager, he began working together with Clive Bradley at the Penthouse night club.

At that young and early stage in my musical career, I was a trumpet player and had the wonderful opportunity of playing with elder, greater musicians such as Clive Bradley who was a keyboard player and Mervyn Williams. Clive stood out in my mind and left a lasting impression with the beautiful way in which he voiced his harmonies. His harmonic mastery was evident in the numerous beautiful panorama arrangements he did, especially for his chosen band, Desperados.

“Clive was a very talented individual - a musical genius, a maths professor and an artist (painter) of some stature” and by playing “My Friend Clive” at Panorama 2008, Angel Harps will be paying a fitting tribute to probably the greatest steelband panorama arranger ever. Where pan is concerned Bradley will always be a legend and an icon”

Although Clive Bradley was mainly known for his arrangements with Desperadoes he also arranged for a number of other bands in Trinidad and in New York.

Clarkson says that “Harps' arrangement would quote two of his more famous winning arrangements -“Rebecca” and “High Mas”. This to my mind is the highest tribute I can give to one of the greatest musical minds of his generation.

Clive Bradley died 26th November 2005