Spectrum Band VI is a perennial crowd pleaser at Carnival
W
hen Spectrum Band VI comes into Post Office Square in downtown Charlotte Amalie during Carnival, you can bet this team of musicians is bringing their A game. They always do.
That’s why for the past eight consecutive years Spectrum has taken home Road Marches honors. They are aiming for nine, which would be extra special because they want to make this post dual-hurricane Carnival 2018 extra special. It remains to be seen what tune they roar into the square playing, but you can bet it will be infused with celebration and high energy. Malvern Gumbs, founding member and lead male vocalist, says it will likely be one of two tunes. “Ah Wukkin” is a contender, but “Cyan Mashup Carnival” might be the obvious choice.
“The response got so big that we decided to put a band together and call it Spectrum,” shares Gumbs. This premier local band has represented the Virgin Islands in St. Croix, St. John, Anguilla, Tortola, Jos Van Dyke, Atlanta, Miami, New York, Saba, Nevis and St. Kitts just to name a few.
No matter, this band is always a crowd pleaser, especially during Carnival. Gumbs describes Spectrum’s sound as “African mixed with folk music with a splash of VI culture.” Their repertoire is “95 percent original music,” he says, though popular cover songs include “Hello,” “Perfect,” “Rise Up” and “All of Me.” Their winning Road Marches from Carnivals past include “Kallaloo,” “Boom,” “VI Party,” “Wake Up To Wukup,” “Manners,” “Left Right Stop Wukup,” “Ah Dohn Care” and “My Life.” Other songs that gained the band international attention have been “Party Nice Again,” “Friday Night Wukup,” “Dip,” “Relationship Gone Bad” and “Guilty.” Spectrum Band is group of seasoned musicians with more than 30 years of musical experience among them. While some hold music degrees in voice and instrument, others are skilled engineers, recording producers and instructors of the arts. Collectively speaking, they are regarded as among the best of the Virgin Islands’ talent. Gumbs says Spectrum’s success lies in the fact that “together as a team, we pull on the strengths of each other.” Spectrum Band members include Gumbs, who is a lead vocalist and arranger; Daniella “Lioness” Richardson, vocalist; Akeel Breedy on keyboards; George Thomas on guitar; Moziah Miller on bass; Leonard “Lenny” Monsanto on drums; Wendel Thomas, engineer; and Fitzroy “Figgy” O’Garro, manager. Gumbs and O’Garro often collaborate on writing and composing their originals. Founding members include Gumbs, Breedy, Thomas and O’Garro. Longtime fans will also remember
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Lorna “The Fox” Freeman, who was the band’s female vocalist for its first decade and a “vital part of the band’s success,” notes Gumbs. The group’s genesis goes back more than a dozen years when several of these musicians collaborated on an album called Soca Spectrum Vol. 1 in 2004. Then they produced Soca Spectrum Vol. 2.
He credits their longevity and popularity to their commitment. “Our consistency comes from constant dedication to our craft, constant dedication to proper lyrics and to proper orchestration” and for Carnival also making sure arrangements are “pan friendly” for steel drums. And while they play regularly at Virgin Haven on St. Thomas and around the Caribbean, nothing compares to Carnival for this band. It’s a special experience for locals and visitors alike, says Gumbs. “Generally, Carnival means fun, culture and family. For locals, it’s that time when we get to express ourselves. We really let our hair down and open our culture to the world in a big way once a year. We take it to the next level,” he says. “For visitors, it’s a chance for them to experience and embrace our culture and our music. Carnival is about music, a time to showcase our sound to others.” Spectrum Band VI will be sharing its music throughout Carnival at The Village, at Virgin Haven and on boat rides. And, of course, they will roll into the Square during the parade bringing their special brand of musical revelry to this year’s parade. Gumbs expects this year’s Carnival to be extra special even though crowds might be smaller due to limited accommodations in the wake of the two hurricanes. But the storms are the reason our islands need this colorful annual celebration more than ever. “Even though the influx of guests is uncertain, I think it’s going to one of these special times because we need it so,” said Gumbs. “The hurricanes mashup our homes. They mashup our islands, but the hurricanes cannot mashup Carnival!”
“Embrace our culture, music and cuisine for Carnival 2018”