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The Business of Steelpan Music 24 -7

Pan Men Come Out Dressed To Kill
High Fashion At the Savannah

Cosmos , Glamour, GQ watch out!!

Fashion week in New York is over, but the runway at the Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad  is what we want to talk about now.

For the medium bands, creativity held reign.  While the uniforms were more low key than their larger counterparts, most of the bands had artistic logos on their shirts. 

Redemption Sound Setters Make High Fashion & Music Statement At Recent Panorama

[click for full article]

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WRV-Lyons pan band to take part in
festival in Indy
By Halea Franklin, staff writer

 

Lyons, Indiana -- Members of the White River Valley Lyons Elementary/Junior High School steel drum band are working hard in preparation for the chance of a lifetime -- to perform at the Indy 500 Festival.

The steel drum band, or pan band, began nearly three years ago, according to Virgil Franklin, WRV-Lyons band director.

Franklin, who has been at Lyons for 18 years, is excited about the chance to perform at Kids Fest of the Indy 500 Festival in May.

By Halea Franklin PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Students at White River Valley-Lyons Elementary/Junior High School's pan band has been invited to participate in Kid's Fest, which is part of the Indianapolis 500 Festival. Pictured above are Kortney Abbott (left) and Brooke Braswell (right). The girls are perfecting their playing before Kid's Fest in May.

Although he's looking forward to the opportunity, he's unsure how the 500 Festival planning committee heard about the pan band.

"I know that word has gotten around," Franklin noted. "There was a story done last year that was on the AP (Associated Press) about us. The AP story, I think, really was the emphasis that made people aware of what we're doing here."

Franklin said the pan band has previously performed at the Indiana Sate Museum and will be performing at the WonderLab in Bloomington.

Franklin's not the only one excited about going to Indianapolis; his students are also looking forward to the chance.

"I think it's a neat experience because we're basically the only school in the state of Indiana that gets to play pans," sixth-grader Brooke Braswell said. "I think it's more neat that we get to go to Indianapolis and play at the Indy 500 Fest."

Garvin Blake

Garvin Blake is easily one of the most respected young steelpan performing artist/arranger on the music scene today.  His brand of Caribbean Jazz with an urban twist has captured the imagination of the Caribbean Jazz audiences throughout the world.  Indeed it was only last summer when this young artist lit up the world famous Lincoln Center in New York with a performance that was the talk of the town.  When Steel Talks revisits Garvin Blake in a  previous interview.  [more]

Arddin Herbert
Arranger
Invaders
2005 T&T Panorama
- Large Division -

Arddin Herbert did himself and Invaders Steel Orchestra proud at the Panorama finals for the 2005 season in Trinidad and Tobago, taking the Woodbrook-based band to fifth place out of a field of eight steel orchestras.  It has been sometime since Invaders had made it to this stage of the competition.  Chatting with When Steel Talks Herbert describes his experience with Invaders as thrilling but challenging, and he "thoroughly enjoyed every second of it."  For the arranger, it is a bittersweet experience now that the pressures of the season are over, as he reflected on the friendships made and the relationships formed during the experience.  He extended congratulations to Phase 2 Pan Groove for capturing the 2005 Panorama championship title, and went on to praise everyone connected with the art form for their perseverance regarding the culture of Pan. 

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When Steel Talks continues its focus on outstanding live steelband performances with another of Trinidad and Tobago's power house orchestras, the legendary Desperadoes enters the Pan House as the first entry for the 2005 season.  http://www.panonthenet.com/PanHouse/stage1.htm

Len 'Boogsie" Sharpe
Arranger
Phase II Pan Groove
2005 T&T Panorama Champion
- Large Division -

After a hectic panorama season, a weary but pleased, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, leader and arranger for the 2005 Panorama Champions, Phase II Pan Groove, chatted with When Steel Talks  in its post-panorama review segment.  Boogsie conveyed that all his players were extremely happy especially the youths, and they, their families and the steel orchestra's sponsors, Petrotrin, shared a victory celebration at the steel orchestra's pan yard after the band's performance at last weekend's Pan Champs In Concert held at the Queen's Park Savannah.

Boogsie expressed concern that Pan Trinbago indicated that they may be unable to organize the Tobago leg of the Champs In Concert. He voiced his disappointment especially for his young players who had been very much looking forward to the Tobago show.

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Pelham Goddard
Arranger
Exodus
2005 T&T Panorama
- Large Division -

When Steel Talks caught up with Pelham Goddard, ace arranger for Exodus Steel Orchestra, who is back at work in his Agra Street, St. James' studio, after another intense panorama season.   He is currently working on music for the Calypso King of the World, Slinger Francisco aka the Mighty Sparrow.

Goddard said preliminaries were good, but that from the semi-finals,  you could see who [judges] were "for you and who not for you."  His observations were based on the score sheets that were made available for the first two first phases of the competition.  Noting that the comments were "good," Goddard said that "it was not that they [judges] could find any fault with the music."  He questioned the judges'' knowledge of musical terms and the context in which they were used as judging criteria.  At the end, Goddard believed that "there was not much that one could do about it."

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Yohan Popwell
Arranger
Sforzata Steel Orchestra
2005 T&T Panorama Champion
- Medium Division -

Sforzata Steel Orchestra led by arranger Yohan Powell won  the 2005 Trinidad and Tobago panorama champions for the medium band category.  
 

 When Steel Talks managed to catch up with Yohan Popwell, arranger for Sforzata Steel for an exclusive post panorama interview.  Popwell represents one of Trinidad and Tobago's rising young stars having also recently won the 2004 New York Panorama with Sonatas Steel Orchestra.

{Listen To Full Story]

A Tribute To Ossie Davis and Black History Month

Our condolences to Ruby Dee, family and friends on the passing of writer, actor and activist Ossie Davis.  He was a constant supporter of the arts and all that embellishes the human spirit.   A giant and friend who will be intensely missed...  Our special tribute Black History Month contains footage of an oratory delivered by Ossie Davis, and we have included special performances by Hugh Masekela, the world famous Harlem Boys and Girls Choir and the Marie Brooks Pan Caribbean Children's Dance Company.  Hugh is a bigger support of the steelpan instrument and its musicians.   http://www.panonthenet.com/PanHouse/BBO.htm

 Valentine Jump Up wins hearts of shoppers
By EUNICE BEDMINSTER
 

Salagon and her boyfriend, David Zahler, are on their first visit to the island and Jump Up from Huntington Beach, Calif. They said they will be back.

"It's wonderful. The town. The people. The costumes for the mocko jumbies are beautiful and the children playing the steel drums were all wonderful. They could get to sell CDs," Zahler said, referring to the 42-person steel orchestra from Ebenezer Methodist Church that played for a thrilled audience just in front of Christian "Shan" Hendricks Market. "We're making plans to come back next year because we enjoyed ourselves so much."

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Andy Narell Leads Steel Drum Extravaganza By KEN BULLOCK

Special to the Planet (02-11-05)

Lovers of Caribbean sounds, and world music listeners in general, are in for a pre-Valentine’s Day treat when Andy Narell brings the 14-piece steel drum band Calypsociation from Paris to the Chabot College Little Theater in Hayward for two shows Sun. Feb. 13 (at 2 p.m. and 7 p. m.) with local steel drummers The Chabot Panhandlers, under Jim Munzenrider’s direction, opening.

Narell, a Berkeley resident for 20-some years, has been in Paris the past three, working with Calypsociation (said with a French pronunciation). “They play what Andy’d play if he could play all 14 drums by himself,” says Munzenrider. Narell and his brother Jeff (leader of the popular Berkeley band Rhythm ‘n Steel) learned to play the “pans” while still boys when their father, Brooklyn social worker Murray Narell, encouraged steel drum pioneer Ellie Mannette to come to the United States to help found bands for socially at-risk youth.

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Winston Gordon gets the best out of Redemption Sound Setters players Tobago - NLCB Buccooneers and RBTT Redemption Sound Setters did Tobago proud in the National Panorama Finals last Saturday night at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

[more]

- Breaking News -
*** Steelpan Panorama 2005  ***

Review in pictures

Don't miss Gemonites Steel Orchestra's 7th Annual production "Moods of Pan; Festival 2005" from 24th-27th November 2005 in the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua.

Witness the best pan music in the world from top Caribbean and International soloists and groups who will be performing in the most serene setting, and combining music, sun, drama, and total entertainment for four memorable and enjoyable days of fun.

Definitely a Pan Festival with a difference! Enjoy the warmest Antiguan hospitality and weather possible. And most of all you MUST NOT miss the incomparable "Five-Alive" Contest; the most unique small-band competition anywhere in the world. 

For more information as it comes to hand check out our website www.gemonites.com  .

"Moods of Pan" and Antigua; two of the very best experiences awaiting you!

November 24th - 27th 2005!!  http://www.panonthenet.com/promo/moods2005/Movie1.html 

Now Playing

TnT Steelband Panorama 2005 - Full Coverage & Info
Daily Interviews - Articles - Live Performances - Schedules - Rules

Summary

Results

Full Recap

Web Posted - Sunday February 27, 2005
When Steel Talks

Pantonic Steel Orchestra To Perform At UN Tsunami Benefit Concert

Renegades Steel Orchestra To Perform At Tall Ships Races
 

Mashramani (Guyana Carnival) Cancelled

Mashramani (Guyana Carnival) was supposed to be held on February 23 (Guyana’s Independence Day), and will now be held on 26 May. On the new Mash date( May 26), the celebration will include a costume parade, calypso and steel pan competitions, as the country celebrates its freedom and independence. This year's theme will be Mash Alive in 2005. 
[more]

Web Posted - Friday February 25, 2005
Hernando Today

Chocachatti Cutting Edge Steel Drum Band
Black and white churches to celebrate bond tomorrow
 

SPRING HILL, Florida  - Even though the pastor is grieving the death of his youngest daughter, his mostly-white church will still meet with a mostly-black Pasco County church to celebrate their fifth annual combined worship service.

This year's celebration will be held at Spring Hill United Church of Christ, pastored by the Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter, who lost his 6-year-old daughter in a car accident last week.

Despite the death in Wolter's family, the annual combined worship service scheduled by the sister churches tomorrow will still be held to observe Black History Month

During the service, some members of the Chocachatti Cutting Edge Steel Drum Band will perform a selection that includes three musicians who will accompany the playing of "He Knows My Name" in honor of Maya Wolter. The piece will be directed by Wayne Raymond, conductor of the Hernando Symphony Orchestra, who is also the music director for Spring Hill United Church of Christ.
[click for full article]

Ukiah, CA - The vibrant sound of steel pans resonated through the Pomolita Middle School music room Thursday as seventh- and eighth-grade students practiced for upcoming performances.

Under the direction of Kathryn Allan, the class practiced challenging songs, perfecting notes and rhythms.

As the students warmed up for practice, the distinct sound of steel pans overpowered the room. The steady melody of "Favorite

Amy Wellnitz/The Daily Journal Seventh-grader Madeline Miller plays a double tenor steel pan drum during class on Thursday at Pomolita.

[full story]

Clive Bradley
Arranger
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
2005 T&T Panorama
- Large Division -

After the 2005 Panorama season, When Steel Talks chatted with the arranger for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra - Clive Bradley.   Now relaxed after another hectic season, Bradley indicated that he is quite pleased with the performance of the band Desperadoes. 

As far as the final result is concerned, the veteran arranger is willing to abide by the judges' final decisions.  Bradley noted however that his music is geared toward the people, not the judges, and that was what was most important - the people's reactions.

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Leon "Smooth" Edwards
Arranger
Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra
2005 T&T Panorama
- Large Division -

When Steel Talks caught up with Leon "Smooth" Edwards arranger for Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra to re-visit the 2005 Panorama season, especially the surprising but disappointing placing of the band.   The 2002 Trinidad and Tobago Panorama champions could only manage seventh place out of a field of eight large conventional steel orchestras for the 2005 season. 

Asked about his thoughts on Trinidad All Stars' placing, the arranger said to be honest, he had not really given it much thought, [and] just had to say it was history, and that one had to move on, "sometimes you win some, you lose some," Smooth said.  He still believed that the yesteryear selection of Chris "Tambu" Herbert - Free Up - was a good tune of choice, but mused that the dissenting voices of his "colleagues" may have been partially responsible for "tainting the minds of people who otherwise would have been objectively listening."

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Liam Teague
Arranger
Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra
2005 T&T Panorama
- Large Division -

Liam Teague is now back home at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in the United States in his capacity as educator, and shares his overall thoughts about the recently-concluded 2005 Trinidad and Tobago panorama competition.  This was the second year in a row that Teague arranged for Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra based in south Trinidad.

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Trinidad - MEMBERS OF Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove have expressed disgust over the Tobago Champs In Concert, saying that bad budgeting and a personal vendetta against the band was the reason for the show’s imminent cancellation. Pan Trinbago declared on Monday that a lack of funds had put the Tobago Champs In Concert in jeopardy  and it was depending on government to source funds for the show. Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams was unavailable for  comment on the matter. Phase II arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe said the first prize of $400,000 in the National Panorama Finals was reduced to $360,000, as Pan Trinbago deducted ten percent from all prize monies given. 

Phillips could not believe that ticket sales were bad for the semi-finals since the North Stand was filled to capacity. “Tickets were selling from $150 and up. Pan Trinbago also produced CDs from semi-finals night. Where has that money gone?” said Phillips. According to a report from the Tourism and Industrial Development Company (TIDCO), Phillips said the steelpan generated US$72 million during Panorama season last year. “The increase in prize money would not have affected the concert if they budgeted properly,” said Phillips. No one was available for  comment at Pan Trinbago.
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