Interview with Natasha Joseph | Women in Pan, Episode 9

In Episode 9 of the “Women in Pan” 10-part series, under the A Better Tomorrow banner, Attillah Springer interviews Natasha Joseph about her life and journey in pan. An arranger, composer, and producer, Natasha has been an ambassador for the steelpan, representing Trinidad & Tobago in many countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan and at jazz festivals Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, and Grenada. After placing second in the Pan Ramajay soloist skills competition in 1993, Natasha went on to join the Panazz Players and toured extensively with the group. Panazz won the Sunshine award in 1997 for Best Recording by a Steelband. A self-taught musician, Natasha has shared the stage with many local and international jazz artistes such as Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Ken “Professor” Philmore, Elan Parle, Chantal Esdelle and Moyenne, Michael Boothman, Clive Zanda the late Raf Robertson, Arturo Tappin (Barbados), Joe Baione, Kim Waters (USA), Jeremy Ledbetter (Canada), Alexis Baro (Cuba), Charlie Sepulveda, Fidel Morales and Gabriel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), and is currently a member of Elan Parle. In June 2012, she received her Diploma in Recording Engineering & Production from The Audio Institute of America. A well-known drillmaster, Natasha has helped bring Phase II Pan Groove to victory in 2013 and 2014, and second place in 2015 in the national Panorama competition. She has worked with Boogsie Sharpe for 10 years as a drill master. She is the current arranger for Platinum Steel Orchestra, a single pan band that placed ninth at Panorama in 2016. In 2017, she worked as drill master for MHTL Starlift and helped them secure seventh place in the Panorama finals. In 2015, she founded the improvisational approach master class, Music Jym. Natasha completed her bachelor’s degree in music at the University of the West Indies with First Class Honors, and is also a music instructor with the Multicultural Music Program Unit.

The “Women in Pan” series (   • Women in Pan Series (A Better Tomorrow)  ) continues next week with its final episode:
• November 11 — Interview with Michelle Huggins-Watts

THE “WOMEN IN PAN” TEAM
• Executive Producers: Mark Loquan & Maria Nunes
• Director & Editor: Maria Nunes
• Associate Producer: Caroline Taylor
• Interviewer: Attillah Springer

#ABetterTomorrow #WomenInPan #steelpan #steelband #trinidadandtobago