ADJUDICATOR - DAVID 'ZIGE' WALCOTT
David 'ZigE' Walcott affectionately called ZigE has been described by one critic as a remarkable musician who plays with great sensitivity, virtuoso technique and full command of the challenging instrument – the steel pan. At the tender age of 13, ‘ZigE’ began playing with the Pan Revolution Steel Orchestra, and later became the arranger and Musical Director for the group.
However, ZigE’s first taste of the big stage came in 1995, when he performed on the Panorama stage with the Neal and Massey Trinidad All Stars. Four years later, he exploded onto the Barbadian music scene, when he accompanied local calypsonian “Adonijah” on the popular composition “Tenor Pan”, throughout the Crop Over festival.
This rising Barbadian star achieved further success that same year when his arrangement of the Kitchener Classic “Pan in A Minor”, performed by Pan Revolution Steel Orchestra, was awarded Gold at the Barbados National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).
ZigE is one of a few local and regional artistes, who uses the steel pan as his mainstream instrument with unrivalled versatility. He plays mostly up tempo music genres including calypso, traditional jazz and classic R&B.
In 2008 ZigE released his debut album – Jambustin’. This album features all original compositions and has been described by critics as one of the best Jazz albums to emerge out of the Caribbean in recent times.
A tenor pannist, he has performed with many popular Barbadian and international musicians and calypsonians, including Andy Narrell, Raf Robertson, AJA and Boo Hinkson.
He has also appeared on several pan shows namely, “Calypso in Steel” in 1999 with Amoco Renegades and the Barbados Pan Festival in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with Pan Revolution Steel Orchestra, Neal and Massey Trinidad All Stars and Exodus respectively.
ZigE was featured in the Holders Season in 2003 and 2004 accompanying two of Britain's top jazz musicians - pianist Zoe Rohan and guitarist Martin Taylor, as well as in the associated promotional performance in the UK entitled “Holders Goes to London” in 2003. He has also performed and headlined at the Barbados Jazz Festival.
He holds an Associate Degree in Music from the Barbados Community College and a BA in Music from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad, with pan as his specialist instrument.
ZigE is the former Director of the National Youth Steel Orchestra, is the owner and Musical Director of Mosaic Steel Orchestra (Barbados’ best and largest steel orchestra) where he is moulding and grooming young, up and coming players in the rudiments of the steel pan, as they
pursue their careers in music. He is also the leader of the band ZigE where he created jazzy wonders of pop and party music.
In 2007 ZigE was the Assistant Musical Director for the ICC cricket world cup steel orchestra which comprise of three hundred players from various islands throughout the Caribbean. In 2010 he is the Musical director for ICC Cricket world cup 20/20.
He is one of the founding co-coordinator and Musical Director for the now renowned show “Pan In De Oval”.
In 2009, ZigE was awarded “Jazz Artist of the year” at the Barbados Music Awards.