Sesame
Flyers
players
at
practice
New York,
USA -
When Steel
Talks (WST)
took in the
vibes at the
pan yard of
Sesame
Flyers last
evening
after
the
early-morning vandalism
that
disrupted
their music
flow.
About two
blocks away,
WST could
hear the
beautiful
sounds of
the
orchestra as
they ran
through
their parts
on steelpan
instruments
built by Learie
Harrigin,
and now
tuned by
Desmond “Mappo” Richardson. The
group is
going with
Len “Boogsie”
Sharpe’s “Pan
Army”
for the 2010
New York
panorama.
In the yard,
some lights were back
up, a
testament to
the work
that must
have been
put in by
members of
the music
organization
in their
determination
not to be
relegated to
complete
darkness and
probably a
cancelled
practice
session.
The
president of
Sesame
Flyers Keith
Marcelle
could be
seen going
about the
yard still
repairing
some of the
damage
wrought
earlier by
criminals.
The mood in
the pan yard
was somewhat
somber, but
the music
played on.
Arranger
Kareem
Thompson
at work
with
Sesame
Flyers
Steel
Orchestra
Ace steelpan
musician and
frontline
panist for
the group
Kit
Caribbean
Connection,
Kareem
Thompson - arranger for
the band
this year
- was in front
the
orchestra and
his double
seconds,
listening
intently to
the lines
being run.
Quiet and
unassuming,
his slight
figure
belies the
obvious
authority
that
Thompson
wields, and the
quietness
and respect
of the pan
musicians
evident
as
he patiently
went through
the parts of
various
sections.
Thompson did
not have to
continuously
ask players
to be quiet,
or to stop
“coasting”
(playing
while other
sections are
supposed to
be the only
ones heard).
The “OB”
crew
from Our
Boys
Steel
Orchestra
at
Sesame
Flyers
pan yard;
Mr.
Rennison
Quashie
is at
right
Also in step
with Sesame
Flyers was
the “OB”
team -
several of
the crew who
came up from
Tobago’s Our
Boys Steel
Orchestra
(led by
former Pan
Trinbago
head Patrick
Arnold), and
all
chaperoned
by Rennison
Quashie.
While some
of the
youths have
been to New
York before, Quashie said
there were
the
first-timers,
who were so
very excited
for the
opportunity
to travel
from Tobago
to New York.
Members
of
CrossFire
Steel
Orchestra
rehearse
at their
Utica
Avenue,
Brooklyn,
New York pan yard
Next stop
was
CrossFire’s
pan yard on
Utica
Avenue where, too,
rehearsal
was
underway.
CrossFire
president
Martin
Douglas was
on hand,
along with
other
supporters
who had
refreshments
on sale.
The players
were hard at
work behind
their pan
instruments,
and putting
into
practice
Leon
“Foster”
Thomas’
arrangement
of DeFosto’s
“Pan
On Fire,”
the band’s
tune of
choice for
the 2010 New
York
Panorama.
Arranger
for
CrossFire
Leon
“Foster”
Thomas
on drums
with the
band
Thomas is
also a known
percussionist
who has been
the drummer
that takes
the powerful
Phase II Pan
Groove to
the panorama
competition
stage in the
Mecca of
steelpan,
Trinidad and
Tobago.
He is also a
steelpan
artist, and
is arranging
this year
for
CrossFire.
Capable of
wearing both
‘hats’
Thomas was
both on
drums and on
point as
arranger,
when WST
visited the
pan yard.
The band
members had
their
instructions,
and Thomas
was also
anchoring
them on
drums,
pausing in
between to
call out
guidelines
and
requirements.
Bassist
from
CrossFire
Steel
Orchestra
at
rehearsal
WST will be
visiting pan
yards and
sharing “The Pan View”
with the
global
steelpan
community.
Look out for
updates and
pictures.
In
Pictures
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