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Baker's Dozen

Panning For Gold: Fimber Bravo's Favourite Music
Zakiya Mckenzie , March 3rd, 2021 10:13

In this week's Baker's Dozen, Zakiya Mckenzie speaks to steel pan legend Fimber Bravo about his favourite music, from Aretha Franklin to Stormzy and Johnny Cash; Sun-Ra, Hot Chip and Miles Davis

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Aretha Franklin – Aretha Live At Fillmore West
Aretha Franklin was and still is one of the greatest all-round artistes of our time. What she left is amazing; she was an incredible performer and instrumentalist, an excellent piano player and singer. She lived with the church and never left it, that’s where her music came from. She was so tough, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Aretha Franklin’s music.

When I was back home in the 60s, we would rehearse as a steel pan band, after, we’d buy a weekend patty and then we would dim the lights and listen a lot of different music. One night, there was Aretha Franklin singing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’, it was the first time I heard this track. It was sudden, the whole dance floor was jammed packed with everybody just holding on to somebody else. You just wanted to hold somebody listening to Aretha then. It was such a touching moment.