Brooklyn, New York - Ok. No more kid gloves. It’s August in Brooklyn, New York. Basketball is over, the World Cup is over, it’s too early for football and the Yankees are floundering. The particulars: It is Despers USA’s 2014 band launch and it’s being held at Metro’s panyard in the old R&S Strauss Auto Store’s large parking lot on Empire Boulevard. Present are many of New York’s finest steel orchestras and one from New Jersey at full strength - Higher Levin, Oasis, CrossFire, D’Radoes, Sonatas, Pantonic and the host Despers USA. We’ll take the liberty to put a slight variation on the Mandrill’s classic “Polk Street Carnival” - the vibes were there - the bands were there - everyone was ‘vibing.’ You get the picture. Folks turned out.
Right off the bat, let’s be very clear - every band present gave a good musical accounting of themselves. Their fans were all pleased as each band had their shining moments. Each supporter got a chance to proudly scream “yuh hear meh band” - with bass in their voice. And in this regard two orchestras, Sonatas led by Leon “Foster” Thomas and CrossFire directed by Kendall Williams separated themselves from the pack. Truthfully, speaking Sonatas turned the night into a ‘black and gold’ affair. They were cracking! It was what When Steel Talks (WST) calls one ‘Just Listen!’ moment after another. It’s all about presentation and performance skills now.
At this stage it’s about - do the tenors sound as a single unit and are they purring, or are they giving that nauseating ‘slap echo’ that make this great instrument sound like pig buckets in the hands of musical amateurs. It’s about, is the band ‘locking’ and executing every note effortlessly, flawlessly and with sensitivity while remaining entertaining, culturally relevant - and moving the crowd to that deep emotional ‘ah hah’ with eyes wide-open - or shut. This is the time when how the band ends the song is as telling, dramatic and important as the intro and body. No points for ‘winging it.’
Despers USA opened the show with a couple of choices from their classic catalog. They were solid but a non-factor for this show as their energies and focus were divided on the duties of being host for the event. Catch them in full next week at Sonatas’ band launch. Big up to Despers USA for getting the show started 7:00 p.m. - only 30 minutes behind the advertised start time.
Despers USA Steel Orchestra performs at its 2014 band launch
Led by Tichard Chapman, Higher Levin dropped their now trademark brand of classic reggae rockers. And also, from Chuck Mangione’s Feel So Good to Machel Montano’s Happiest Man Alive they did not skip a beat. This was WST’s first time taking in Higher Levin for the season. They were very entertaining. However as their set progressed their exuberance somewhat over-shadowed their musicality, their touch on the instruments. Nonetheless, they got the show off on the good foot and very clearly connected with the audience.
Higher Levin Steel Orchestra performs at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
Oasis, the group from ‘across the river’ was present. Last year they took Brooklyn by storm. Not so this time around. While their performance was solid, the arrangements strong and the orchestration very good, there was something about the tonal quality of their tenors that was troubling when the instruments were over-driven. They were not as tight on a few of their tunes as they have been in the past. KJ Marcelle was on drums; he was excellent. Overall it was an uneven performance for Oasis. Of note - Oasis Steel Orchestra’s ‘Just Listen!’ moment came with their performance of Anniversary by Tony! Toni! Toné! It was simply outstanding. Looking forward to hearing them again; they will surely return with their ‘A’ game just as in 2013.
Oasis Steel Orchestra performs at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
CrossFire? What is there to say? They’ve got it going on. They continue to get better with each performance. They are growing into substantial performing musicians as they master the intricacies of being performing artists. They have clearly adopted the no-nonsense attitude and vision of their musical director Kendall Williams. Big-up to their captain Arielle Chase, manager Martin Douglas and the players for maintaining a professional approach. Loaded with many ‘Just Listen!’ moments, CrossFire performed a wide and varied repertoire with songs like Maroon 5’s This Love and Bunji Garlin’s Red Light District that at times had the crowd singing along. If you get a chance, check out Kendall Williams’ approach to drumming for the steel orchestra.
CrossFire at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
When last WST saw D’Radoes it was at their band launch. They had come out with a large stage-side, dropped the boom and made a serious musical statement. This time out they were ‘on the road’ and their approach was a bit more subdued. Nevertheless D’Radoes is a veteran crew with that established, authoritative sound. Terrance “BJ” Marcelle has got D’Radoes steppin’. His (BJ’s) own solo on double seconds during Cher’s Believe this session was off the hook. Remember what he and Patrick Davis did the last time on tenor? Oh - and we cannot leave out drummer Sherwin Bailey. He is one of the all-time greats. Check out the positioning, and power, of his accents as he performs.
D’Radoes at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
The famous quote ‘The report of my death was an exaggeration’ may now forever be linked with Sonatas Steel Orchestra. Wow... If Sonatas is dead or near death, the world had better watch out. Sonatas simply stole the show on this night. It became a black and gold affair. They were must-see and must-hear TV - live! They nailed every performance and music criteria. It was one of the best New York launch performances in a while. They worked the crowed (ten rows deep) with a variety of hits. Arranger Leon “Foster” Thomas infused a positive attitude in the group that became obviously infectious; all the stalwart musical points that Sonatas has been historically known for came to the forefront.
Sonatas Steel Orchestra whips the crowd into a frenzy at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
“Foster” and Sonatas are perched to re-write the script. Their rendition of Bruno Mars’ hit Locked Out Of Heaven was first-rate. And they continued to whip the crowd into a frenzy with tracks like Big People Party, Need A Riddim and more. They were like a well-oiled machine. Again - if Sonatas is dead, this is truly a case of dead-men/women walking and playing Pan on a higher level. Make sure you check them out at one of the launches before Panorama.
This was WST’s first time actually hearing Pantonic for the season. While their overall set was reserved compared to what one has come to expect from Pantonic, the group’s showcase of their first song, Andre White’s vision of The Voice winner Tessanne Chin’s Hideaway was a musical gem, and worth the wait. This track and more can be found on the upcoming CD, Liberation Music.
Pantonic Steel Orchestra performs at Despers USA’s 2014 band launch
Junior “Mr. Famous” Noel in action at the band launch
Also present in the house and taking in the show were arranging standouts, Seion Gomez, Duvone Stewart and Yohan Popwell. Junior “Mr. Famous” Noel, too, was on hand, giving the crowd a taste of his hit Play More Local which is also the New York Panorama 2014 tune of choice for event host Despers USA.
Despers USA themselves must again be applauded for hosting a successful, practically on-time and organized event. They certainly had music lovers turning out for this steelband session this past Sunday. And as always, several musicians from New York’s other steel orchestras were there in support.
For house music, DJ Bossman held things down musically in the interim. Not at all harsh and ear-splitting with his sound system, DJ Bossman was on point at this show, continuing the trend he and his crew have set at other Pan events. But no wonder at his respect for Pan, DJ Bossman is himself a steelpan musician, and a member of the savvy sextet called Steel Sensation.
Several of the major national steelband panoramas of Summer are in the rear view mirror now, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda and Toronto, with only Grenada, UK and New York left to complete this year’s cycle.
Big-up to all the steel orchestras for raising the New York musical bar. And kudos to the band administrators and captains that got their franchise’s complete performance information for the event to WST promptly.
2014 Band launches
- New York Pan Stars June 27 launch - review
- D’Radoes July 12 launch - review
- Steel X Plosion USA Showcase July 19.
- ADLIB band launch on July 26.
- Harmony band launch on August 9.
- Sonatas August 10 launch - review
Next up:
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Contact Despers USA: 1 (347) 526-9886
despersusa@live.com
Contact Higher Levin: 1 (718) 810-1473
Contact Oasis: Facebook - Oasis Steel Orchestra; Twitter -
OasisSteel
Contact CrossFire: 1 (347) 262-5746
Crossfiresteel@yahoo.com
Contact D’Radoes: 1 (917) 554-3944
Contact Sonatas: 1 (718) 496-5133
Contact Pantonic: 1 (718) 434-0231
Tenor - Damany James, Kyanne James, Jhacquel Sutton
Double Tenor - Jason Williams, Dyneal John, Joshua Pierre
Double Second - Jada Charles, Jeffrey Jean
Guitar - Juwon Allyene, Racquel Leonce, Stephaney Peters
Cello - Nicole French, Kelly Stewart
Bass - Jamiah Braithwaite, Kemoi Perez, Jonathan Denny, Matthew Diaz
Percussions - Melissa Essor, Aaliyah Hospedales, Sade Marrin
Drums - Tichard Chapman
Higher Levin Steel Orchestra after their performance
Tenor - Kadeem-Jamaal Bobcombe, Ernest Mitchell, Mural McQueen, Gary Jr. Hinds, Jelani Bobcombe, Abeo Gora, Terrell Williams
Double Second - Calik Austin
Four Cello - Howard George, Jr.
Double Guitar - Shelly George
Tenor Bass - Joel Elder, Robert McQueen
Six Bass - Ashley George, Faizah Romano
Drummer - KJ Marcelle
Percussion - Marlon Williams, Mervyn Rudder, Keith Pheirer
Oasis Steel Orchestra after their performance
Brandon Waldrop, Sheldon Rattan, Ryan Osborne, Aviel John, Amira Beache, Adrian Edwards, Shania Chance, Anthony Sharpe, Nandia Hamilton, Bryce Beache, Erica Bishop, Francis Sharpe, Wayne Bernard, Lenny King, Patrick Davis, Sade Adams
Pantonic Steel Orchestra after their performance
Tenor - Giselle Desir, Zeandre Douglas, Isaiah Daniel, Sciyahn Koonkoon
Double Tenor - Khyah Judah
Guitar - Sakinah Porter, Keifer Dover
Cello - Arielle Chase, Matthew Best
Six Bass - Nia Jacob, Alexis Schloss
Arranger/Drummer - Kendall Williams
Tenor - Kazz Martin, Darrel Spence, Akili Amoroso, Tiye Betaudier, Leon “Foster” Thomas
Double Second - Trevonne Samuel, Sade Constantine, Markus Garceran
Guitar - Andrea Parks
Cello - Natasha Isaac
Tenor Bass - Zaria Neckles, Akira Jones
Six Bass - Edward Clarke, Tristan Samuel
Percussion - Tori Borneo, Kadeem McShine, Sean Simon, Kamilah
Drums - Dashawn Wallace
Tenor - Alyssa Cain, Elizabeth Fidel, Shakim
Double Second - Tiara Cadett, Natasha Riberio
Guitar - DJ Patterson, Justyne Simon
Bass - Isaih, Daryl Gamory, Kernel Simon, Sharon Samuels, Michael, Rohan
Rhythm - Garvin Thorne, Sr., Wayne Innis, Edgar Gamory
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Despers USA’s 2014 Band Launch - in Pictures
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