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“Not Yet, New York”
Maryland Still Pan-Rocking

Baltimore’s Harbor View Pan On The Move
 - the Woodstock of Steelpan Music?

click for review in pictures

When Steel Talks

Baltimore, Maryland - In a few weeks New York will become the toast of the steelband music world as it gears up for the 2007 Panorama competition.  However, there is no doubt the place to be this weekend was Baltimore, Maryland.  Not to be outdone or overshadowed, Baltimore held it’s annual “Pan on the Move” steelband music festival.  Local area steelbands from Maryland, in addition to a contingent of groups from New York and a group from Philadelphia all participated in this year’s show.  The event is the brainchild of the Baltimore Education and Culture Institute (BECI).

Present out of Maryland were Pan Masters, DC Pan Jammers, St. Veronica’s Steel Orchestra and Harbor Knights Youth Steel Orchestra; out of New York came Women In Steel, Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation, Higher Levin and Hearts of Steel; and Philadelphia Pan Stars down from Pennsylvania.  Indeed, all the bands came prepared to perform at a high level.  Each band was offered an opportunity to showcase their musical works by performing two pieces of choice.

Initially, all of the bands were given a warm-up round as a means of introducing themselves to the present steel band music buffs.  This went down without much fanfare as most of the bands were saving their knock-out pieces for the later rounds - that is until New York’s Higher Levin came on and proceeded to serve notice that they were prepared to give a knock-out blow even during warm-up!  The crowd ‘Oohed’ and ‘Aahed’ as Higher Levin wowed the crowd with their “DJ” like mix of popular dance hall and soca favorites.  This woke up all the other bands as they were not willing to be participants in any of the ‘licks’ that was being shared.  Or perhaps we should we say the “serving of  potential licks” that was being placed on the musical menu by Higher Levin - because this was only the warm-up session.  As one visitor remarked as she walked away after they finished - “What can they do to top that?”

From that point on all the bands performed very spirited and very well arranged musical pieces as their innate competitive nature took over.  There were no losers here - this was a win, win, win situation.  The audience was privy to some excellent music and performances that covered many different genres of music which highlighted just how great steelband music can be. 

There were many great musical highlights to the event.  Here are just a few that come to mind.  Pan Masters dropped an awesome original score called Don Quixote and topped it off with a stellar interpretation of Band From Space.  Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation whipped up a sophisticated and uniquely colored version of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy as only they can do, that made you say “Wicked!”  Higher Levin put together a version of the world famous Hot Hot Hot ‘that made you say “how did they come up with that?”  St. Veronica’s Woman on the Bass was simply fabulous.  Women In Steel showed that although the contingent that went to Baltimore was very young in age, they were quite capable of commanding attention center stage.  Philadelphia Pan Stars, who in 2007 would go on to win the Carlos Lezama Challenge trophy at stake every year, got a rousing ovation with their versions of Rock the Boat’ and Sharing Licks.  Harbor Knights, who have made some significant strides forward in the last couple of years, showed growth and development with their version of Rhianna’s Unfaithful.  Hearts of Steel took the audience into ‘old school heaven’ with great calypso pieces from the past that had the crowd singing and chipping along.

The event takes place in a wide open spacious field.  This is an unplugged event - no artificial amplification.  What you see and hear, is what it is.  This is steelpan music at its purist and best.  The pan instruments tonal qualities, band balance and instrument make-up, are clearly heard.  The audience is comprised of a mix of fairly knowledgeable, and extremely discerning steelband music fans.

When Steel Talks’ only gripe was there was not an easy way for media/news outlets to move around and capture live media without clashing with the crowd (maybe a five-foot frozen zone, only for media would take care of this issue) - and of course (but this is very self-serving) - a separate tent to interview and talk to the players, arrangers and management would be nice - people are always interested in going beyond just the performances.  This set up would allow event organizers and steelpan folks to become acclimated to the scenario of business acumen: that of giving interviews, and marketing and promoting themselves and their organizations, thereby maximizing the fruits of their efforts and output, and the fostering an atmosphere for potential business affiliations.

Simply put: this event was about the music - great steelband music.  It was a perfect environment for steelpan people to have a day out with friends and family, and for the wider community to join in the fun.  Bands in the country who wants to showcase their musical abilities among some heavy hitters, should seek an invitation from the Baltimore Culture and Education Institute as soon as possible.  In fact we have been informed that some exceptional steel orchestras have already inquired about being placed under consideration for an invitation to next year’s festival.  Pan on the Move will only grow in status and popularity.  With that growth one can expect that there will be much less focus on the competitive marketing of the event, and more emphasis on the ability to entertain, and the opportunity to educate about culture, generate unique pan music and expose phenomenal talent.  Pan on the Move is on its way to becoming the “Woodstock Festival” of the steelpan music world, should the event organizers be savvy enough to recognize and exploit its potential. 

Check it out for yourself next year.


Pan on the Move 2007 Festival in Pictures


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