Web Posted - Saturday October 31, 2026
When Steel Talks

Pan in Motion - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 (‘Cool Down’ version - Video)

Dr. Kendall K. Williams - Arranger

Pan in Motion during its recording session - September 5, 2026
Pan in Motion during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Pan in Motion with arranger Dr. Kendall K. Williams is one of five steel orchestras to perform “Cyah Behave” for New York’s 2026 Panorama.

....2026 was a particularly difficult season for Pan in Motion as the orchestra’s rehearsals attracted its own determined version of ‘Karen.’ This individual waged a personal vendetta to have Pan in Motion shut down...The arrangement of Kendall and the musicians’ performance of the piece were a triumph for the entire 2026 season, and a tribute to the nights of rehearsals put in despite the odds.

On instruments tuned by Jason Holder, this is Pan in Motion’s ‘Cool Down’ version captured in the very early morning hours of Saturday September 5 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama later that night.
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Web Posted - Monday October 12, 2026
When Steel Talks

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 - (‘Cool Down’ version - Video)

Roger Greenidge - Arranger

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during their recording session -September 5, 2026
Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during their recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - On a very breezy and slightly cloudy Saturday Brooklyn evening after 5:00 p.m., Basement Recordings/When Steel Talks (WST) captured Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra—also known as Philly Pan Stars—as they practiced the finishing touches to their New York Panorama presentation on Union Street in Brooklyn on September 5, as the band got ready to take the stage hours later for the New York Panorama competition. This is the Cool Down version of “Cyah Behave.”

....Roger Greenidge is the arranger for Philadelphia Pan Stars for the third consecutive year, and his deliberate, structured and commanding arrangement was void of unnecessary gymnastic musical movements. Music for immersive audio was being executed. He—Roger—was creating new listening experiences. He and the producers (Basement/WST), both had to think in three-dimensional terms - the former, during his arranging/writing process, and the latter, for capturing and mixing.
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Web Posted - Wednesday October 7, 2026
When Steel Talks

Pan in Motion - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 (‘Tempo’ version - Video)

Dr. Kendall K. Williams - Arranger

Pan in Motion during their recording session, September 5, 2026
Pan in Motion during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Pan in Motion is one of five steel orchestras to perform “Cyah Behave” for New York’s 2026 Panorama. Their arranger is Dr. Kendall K. Williams - a member of the arranging squad - “the Three Amigos.”

....On instruments tuned by Jason Holder, this is Pan in Motion’s ‘Tempo’ version captured in the very early morning hours of Saturday September 5 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama later that night.
see video


Web Posted - Thursday October 1, 2026
When Steel Talks

Steel Sensation - “Wedding Band (Ms. Walker)” - (‘Tempo’ version - Video)

Tristan Japsi - Arranger

Steel Sensation during their recording session, September 4, 2026
Steel Sensation during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Steel Sensation courted music lovers attending the show and the judges with “Wedding Band” by “Coutain” & “Tano.”

....The band released a musical volley of technical brilliance. Under the direction of Tristan Japsi, who uses a large thematic overall approach to his arrangement, the group delivers a well-thought-out music story as their future ‘wedding plans’ are delivered personally to ‘Ms. Walker’ for her daughter’s hand in marriage. It is storytelling at its highest.

.... Basement Recordings captured the band on September 4 as they prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama.
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Web Posted - Monday September 28, 2026
When Steel Talks

Metro Steel Orchestra - “Sweet Soca Man” - (‘Cool Down’ version - VIDEO)

Vanessa Headley-Brewster - Arranger

Metro Steel Orchestra during their recording session, September 3, 2026
Metro Steel Orchestra during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - With five of the nine competing steel orchestras in the 2026 New York Panorama choosing to perform Voice’s runaway 2026 hit “Cyah Behave” for this year’s Panorama - it was surprising that Metro Steel Orchestra, led by Anthony “Big Tony” Joseph, chose to deliver the classic Sweet Soca Man (“Baron”).

The re-imagining and delivery of the song was led by champion arranger Vanessa Headley-Brewster.

....Basement Recordings captured Metro Steel Orchestra on Thursday September 3 as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard....
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Web Posted - Saturday September 26, 2026
When Steel Talks

Despers USA Steel Orchestra - “Cyah Behave” - (‘Cool Down’ version - VIDEO)

Odie Franklin - Arranger

Despers USA Steel Orchestra during its  recording session
Despers USA Steel Orchestra during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - One of New York’s veteran steelband franchises Despers USA Steel Orchestra, made its musical presence felt once more during this 2026 New York Panorama season. Arranger Odie Franklin delivered yet again with his marvelous and brilliant storytelling through the band’s tune of choice “Cyah Behave.”

With steelpan instruments tuned by Roland Harrigin and under the leadership of administrator, Despers USA member of thirty years, and veteran performer himself, Kamau Hutchinson - the orchestra fielded eighty-two musicians this season, including its rhythm section.

....The rhythm section shines through with extraordinary and vibrant colors particularly in this, the ‘Cool Down’ rendition, captured on Wednesday September 2 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard.
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Web Posted - Sunday September 6, 2026
When Steel Talks

New York 2026 Panorama Results - Thrice is Nice! The Three-Peat is ‘Respectfully Theirs’ for Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra with Arranger André White

Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra on stage with arranger André White (center) and artists “Full Blown” for New York Panorama 2026
Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra on stage with arranger André White (center) and artists “Full Blown” for New York Panorama 2026

New York, USA - It was a historic night for Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra in the 2026 New York Panorama held at the car park at the back of the Brooklyn Museum. A beautiful Saturday evening into early Sunday morning favored yet another win for the eleven-year-old music organization. Now the New York Panorama title and trophy in 2024, 2025 and 2026 are officially - make that ‘respectfully’ theirs! Three championships in a row, this group is on fire!
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When Steel Talks

Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again

Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it wrong”

Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI (artificial intelligence).
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument via Google Doodle

Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas Huggins

Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site
Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site

Global - On Tuesday July 26, 2022 the steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured and celebrated on the site of technology giant “Google” via the famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’ is essentially an illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen by users all around the world who access Google’s homepage on that day, and is available thereafter in the doodle archives.

....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the creator of the illustrative artwork featured in the doodle, while Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music performed by the legendary steelpan icon Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
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