Pathmark hosts several such events in boroughs where
the supermarket giant has a presence, as a way of 'giving back to
the communities' which patronize their stores. For the Brooklyn
community located in East Flatbush, that means that the festival
usually has a West Indian theme, hence the performance of the steel
orchestras who are present along with dancers and drummers, all
brought together by Pathmark. In addition to the performances, a few sponsors
set up shop on the periphery, to disburse samples of and information
on - their products and services, to the curious who milled
around the tables set up for that purpose. It must be said
though that since 2003, the number of sponsors on hand to showcase
their products to the crowd around the performance area has dwindled
noticeably.
When it comes to the steelpan instrument, Interestingly and predictably enough, there are
always those in the audience who are new to the concept of drums making musical melodies. "What weird-looking
drums!" one onlooker was heard commenting as she attempted to move
in time to the infectious steelband sounds which were foreign to
her. Here was yet another person who up until that point, had
probably remained unaware of the steelpan as an instrument, much
less the concept of an orchestra. The outreach potential is
endless as always, regardless of where steelbands perform in the
tri-state area and beyond.
Pantonic Steel Orchestra perform,
with onlookers on steps and balconies |
Many people present had obviously decided that
this was a family-type event not to be missed; babies in strollers,
and children 'steps up' in age, along with mothers, complete with
'fast food' purchases could be seen all around. The staircase directly in front of the
stage was crowded, with just enough room left to pass. Other
people grabbed available spaces in the overhead second-level
balconies as they were vacated by previous on-lookers.
Pantonic steel
orchestra who have just released their latest CD
Tonic Gems, was the first among the three steel orchestras to
perform. Beginning around ten minutes after one, the stage-side representation of the five-time New York panorama champions
took the audience through an hour-long performance, featuring some
of the material from Tonic Gems, with almost all of the arrangements
done by their captain Keith Roberts. The end of every musical
number was
punctuated by loud applause as listeners from various age-groups
issued their stamps of approval for respective selections from the orchestra's
repertoire.
Pan Ambassadors perform with dancers
on elevated stage |
Pan Ambassadors followed Pantonic into the
spotlight, opening up with a piece accompanied by the vocals of Ms. Scanterbury,
daughter of band leader Magnus Scanterbury. This went over very well with the crowd which
showed its appreciation unreservedly. The steelband group
chose to flavor a couple more of their performances with vocals, and
also an additional visual element via the dance quartet who joined
them for one number on the elevated stage behind the band.
Women In Steel |
The final steelband
segment was delivered by
Women in Steel who began their set at 3:45
PM. By this time, the audience had gone through several
shifts, as some who were there for the previous performance(s) moved
on, while others, especially the family units, could still be seen
firmly anchored in the exact spots they occupied at the start of the afternoon's
events. Women In Steel drew
enthusiastic applause from the audience; a woman in the audience
could be heard proudly proclaiming: "They're all women!" as
the pan-playing ladies plied the crowd with one tune after another.
The dance group Something
Positive were due to perform after the steel orchestra segment.
Well-known drummers and dancers Ebonč Roots Dance & Drum Theater
had already set the tone for the afternoon by opening up the
afternoon's festivities.
It is accurate to say,
that at the end of this Sunday afternoon, in addition to their
shopping gains, people were more than sated with entertainment featuring
steelband music, drumming and dance for the Kings Plaza edition of
the Pathmark
Multicultural Arts Festival. There had been the returnees who
had expectantly and faithfully marked their calendars for this
event; and then - there were the usual converts who discovered the
festival and its thrilling performances for the very first time, and
who will now join next year's pilgrimage to the festival.
Yohan Popwell, arranger for Sonatas
steel orchestra
at the Multicultural Arts Festival |
Albert 'Bing' Reid, left,
with Sesame Flyers' Keith Marcelle, Sr., at right |
As is customarily the case at steelband-themed
events in the area, well-known faces on the New York pan scene were
present, among them Keith Marcelle, Sr. of Sesame Flyers steel
orchestra, in company with Albert 'Bing' Reid; arranger for New York
powerhouse Sonatas steel orchestra - Yohan Popwell, and leader of
Women In Steel with lovely daughter Colette at her side, Claudette
Baptiste (pictured below).