“It is an indescribable feeling. A beautiful blessing to be on the big stage.”
So said That’s drummer Ehan Dass, ten years old, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC) Angel Harps Tropical Youth Steel Orchestra.
The group placed first in the 21 and under category at the 2023 Junior National Panorama Championships at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday.
They chose “Mash Up” by the late soca artist Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart.
Ehan emerged as the standout star of the group’s performance.
According to Angel Harps arranger Gerard Superville, he wanted a fusion of tassa and rhythm, and there was a strict criterion – the tassa had to be played by a child.
With his critical eye and keen ear for music, Superville chose Ehan, a student at Holy Family Preparatory School, Montrose. The rest is history.
Yesterday, Angel Harps manager Clarry Benn said: “Everyone saw him (Ehan) as the star of the show.”
“I felt proud, thank you Superville”
In a phone interview yesterday, Freeport resident Ehan was grateful for the support and encouragement he received leading up to the band’s performance.
“I thank everyone for the support. Friends and family gave me a lot of help.
I couldn’t have done it without them. I thank all the players. Everyone did well. I felt proud like I had achieved something really big. It took long nights and days to get to where we were.”
Ehan added: “Thank you Superville. He was the most inspiring. He always said, “Keep calm.” He also said: “If we don’t win, don’t worry about it. We will get better and better like fine wine.’ We are a team and a team never gives up on each other. We have to support each other through thick and thin.”
But celebration swept the camp when the ensemble won.
“We hugged each other at (Queen’s Park) Savannah. We threw the pan sticks in the air. We went down to the yard and celebrated. We were hugging and kissing each other. Some parents wiped away tears of joy. They were there for the long nights. It was a great win led by Superville. Superville has always said, “Hard work always pays off,” Ehan said.
Asked about his other interests, Ehan was quick to say, “I play cricket. I admire famous cricketer Dwayne Bravo. A home grown boy. He is one of the best in the world.”
Ehan also confessed that he “loves his abs”.
“I like food. I eat everything. I like ground foods like dasheen and cassava,” he added.
Member of NGC Tassa Academy
Also in the win was Ehan’s mother, Giselle Daniel-Dass, who revealed a secret.
She said, “Although it was his first time in Savannah, he plays tassa with the National Gas Company (NGC) Sweet Tassa academy, which is run by Lenny Kumar, who has over 40 years of tassa drumming experience. He was awarded a Hummingbird gold medal in the field of culture.
With her son decorating the large yard, Daniel-Dass described it as an “amazing experience”.
“It’s Ehan’s first time playing tassa in Savannah. Some concerts. But nothing as grand as Savannah.
Superville was looking for a new tassa player and Ehan was recommended.”
Reflecting on the countdown to Sunday, she said the days seemed too long.
“The practice started at the end of September 2022. In the first two weeks they started working on the song. As junior Panorama approached, it meant more intense hours. I took him to the garden every day. But he also had the support of my extended family and his grandmother “Mama”. He adores his “Mommy”.
“Superville has patience like Job”
Along with Ehan’s tassa prowess, Daniel-Dass said she was proud that her hometown of Enterprise had achieved success.
“I’m from Enterprise and when the opportunity came, I felt I had to let him do it. I had to give something special back to the Enterprise. He gave his talents,” she said.
She also thanked Superville for its keen interest in young people.
She said: “Hats off to you. When he told me about some of the watersheds where the children come from, I had a new respect for him. Some of the areas are mired in their own war with gangs. He was making a big difference and showing them a different way of life. Kindergarten is a place I would send my child. Of course, there has to be some level of oversight,” she said.
Daniel-Dass added, “It’s a place where people can feel accepted and develop a sense of self-worth. He has patience like Job. A nurturing, caring and super talented gentleman. He is the type of man I would want my son to emulate.”
Now that Ehan has hit the big stage, his mother said he wants to learn how to play pan and she fully supports the move.
