Candice Andrews-Brumant, captain of nine-time Panorama champion bp Renegades Steel Orchestra, said even though members of the band accepted that death was inevitable for its celebrated arranger Dr Jit Samaroo, they were not ready for it.
“What can I say? It is really hard,” she said, “especially as this is the beginning of the 2016 Panorama season and our focus is on practising for the event.
“I am at a loss for words and I believe so is everyone else but we have to get through, even knowing that he is gone. So, we will have to go out there this year and do this one for him, as Renegades was Jit and Jit was Renegades,” she added.
Andrews-Brumant was responding to the news yesterday that the internationally-renowned, 65-year-old pannist, steelpan arranger, versatile composer and musician, whose affiliation with the Renegades Steel Orchestra had taken the band to nine National Panorama wins, had died at his D’Abadie home shortly before noon.
In 1971, Bertrand “Butch” Kelman, tuner of Renegades’ instruments, had introduced Jit to the steel orchestra, launching one of the most fertile Pan partnerships of all time.
Together they had won the national Panorama competition a record nine times, including a historic hat-trick in 1995, 1996 and 1997 that allowed Jit’s name to be written into the history books as the most successful arranger in the 53-year history of the Panorama competition.
Apart from Renegades, Jit had worked with Deltones, Cordettes, Our Boys, Arima Angel Harps, Tornadoes and Nostalgic Steel Orchestras.
He had also composed ballads, gospel, jazz, folk, latin-jazz, chutney, Indian songs and calypsos.
Eleven of his compositions were test pieces for steelband competitions and in 1996 he composed the sound track for Kamalo Deen’s full-length motion picture, The Panman, which was filmed locally.
In 1997 and 1999, the family band, then known as the Samaroo Jets, staged two full-length concerts consisting solely of his work.
In 2007 he retired from Renegades due to failing health. On the basis of his body of work, the University of the West Indies awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2003.
He was the holder of two National Awards: Humming Bird Medal of Merit (Silver) in 1987, and Chaconia Medal of Merit (Silver) in 1995. Jit leaves to mourn his wife, four children and three grandchildren.
Andrews-Brumant said funeral arrangements will be announced later by his family.