Garvin Blake: Ken “Professor” Philmore Remembered

Ken “Professor” Philmore

All societies have art that most reflect their people. These pieces allow you to feel a culture. It’s not the tourist view; it’s the native view. And it’s the rare, gifted artist who creates these masterpieces. Ken “Professor” Philmore is one of those artists, and “Pan by Storm” is his culture defining piece.

In “Pan by Storm”, “Professor” lays his country bare. You experience Trinidad’s folk tradition, its modern conventions, its cosmopolitan sophistication and the ebbs and flows the people. Global influences are present in the music, but the Trinidadian vernacular is always front and center. “Professor” is saying, “we know your ting, but dis is we ting”, which is classic Trinidad. The share joy the music shows what Trinidad could be, and sometime is.

“Pan by Storm” is one of the most beloved arrangements in panorama history and Ken Philmore one of the most loved panmen of all time. When Ken passed, it was like a family member died. Even if you never met Professor, his music was a part of your life; part of our identity. Ken’s musical output was far greater than “Pan by Storm”, but his legacy is tied to that masterwork, a piece inextricably linked to Trinidad’s people. Garvin Blake - Panist, Performing & Recording Artist

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