“Damm - y’all good!”
Brooklyn, USA - There was indeed a Grinch sighting - armed and ready he was to steal Christmas. And, yes, he entered the arena all huffy, puffy and yucky, but he never saw what hit him. Sitting up in the balcony by himself - from the first note of New York Pan Stars he was in trouble. As they dropped “Ah Feelin’” his feet started to dance in time without his consent. And by end of ADLIB’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” Mr. Grinch was actually clapping hands and giving an awkward wave. CASYM then dropped a musical smart bomb on him that went straight to his heart. Yep, old Mr. Grinch, although be it slightly out of key - that grumpy old voice - began singing along with their version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Poor Mr. Grinch, by the time CrossFire laid down “This Christmas,” the visibly emotionally wretched character was done and now engaged in a full wine and jump-up. By the end of the show, Mr. Grinch, now completely intoxicated with the spirit of Pan and Christmas was yelling that he was a changed man and was heading to out hook up with Santa Claus. Furthermore, he was coming back next year to play with a New York band for Panorama as he screamed “Damm - y’all good!”
Pictured below: Arranger Tristan Japsi (ADLIB)
Triston with ADLIB Steel Orchestra
The performances were excellent and again demonstrated why New York steel orchestras continue to hold the mantel as the best in North America. From traditional Parang to Christmas holiday classics these young arrangers presented to the audience the classics with their own personal twists. And as is the expectation and tradition, the standards for great Christmas steelband performances is extremely high in New York, and were set long ago.
Who can forget the 1995 Carols and Classics in Steel holiday music concert at the Manhattan Center in New York, or the 2001 Reflections in Steel at Brooklyn College’s Walt Whitman Theatre? There have been a host of other great holiday shows filled to the brim throughout New York since the 60s, 70s and 80s at the great performance halls of the city. And these current groups of New York performers at last weekend’s Christmas concert did not disappoint.
Pictured below: CrossFire Steel Orchestra on Stage
Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra
Pictured below: CASYM Steel Orchestra on Stage
CASYM Steel Orchestra
Pictured below: NY Pan Stars on stage
Leave your comments in the WST Forum
