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The latest CD from Ralph MacDonald is “Mixty
Motions.” It’s the masterful Ralph MacDonald
surrounded by fantastic musicians as well as
two new performances by the great duo, Ashford
and Simpson. As with previous Ralph MacDonald
releases, steelpan instruments played by Robert
Greenidge maintain a prominent role in defining
the attitude of the CD.
Click to hear sample
When
Steel Talks has set up a
group on Facebook where
we can post more steelpan
pictures, videos and events.
We would like to add you
as a fan so you can expand
your steelpan music experience.
First, you need to join
Facebook! Once you join,
you can also create your
own profile.
Web Posted
-
Friday September
5,
2008
When Steel Talks
J’Ouvert 2008 in
New York
Steelbands, Pan Music & Rhythm Sections
Rule the Streets
New York,
USA
- It was already quite light in the sky as the 2008 New
York J’Ouvert celebrations got underway in Brooklyn.
Enthusiastic rhythm sections armed with iron men and more, colorful
characters (especially those who dared come out costumed somewhat
prettily and proper, despite the ever-present promise of oil, paint and
powder as an ‘additional dressing’), traditional ‘mud mas’, the
signature of J’Ouvert – the ole mas characters showcasing their social
and political commentary on the times - and of course, the steelbands,
all completed the fabulous audio-visual and marvelous mosaic that was
J’Ouvert this past Monday morning – the unofficial start of Labor Day.
New York’s J’Ouvert is a perfect study of storytelling, performing arts
(drama, dancing, music performance, tradition and theatre) with a live
and interactive audience. It is Broadway on the road - real theater, for
the masses, by the masses and with the masses. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Friday September
5,
2008
When Steel Talks
The Prime Minister and the Professor
Trinidad
-
It is an open secret in Pan circles that Tony
Williams and Bertie Marshall received the
highest national award to ward off widespread
resentment that the Prime Minister was
determined to give it to Professor Copeland,
come drought or flood. After all since last
year, Manning announced that Copeland would
receive the award which had not yet been named.
So much for national awards! Manning’s Medals,
maybe! Tony Williams and Bertie Marshall were
just camouflage. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Thursday September 4,
2008
When Steel Talks
Web Posted
-
Tuesday September 2,
2008
Caribbean Beat
Band of Gold
Trinidad and Tobago’s steelbands focus each year on Panorama, the national
steelband competition. But some bands are more adventurous. One such
group is San Fernando’s young Golden Hands, who premiered a theatre
piece, The Rainmakers, in January. That performance led to this youth
group’s being invited to the annual Percussive Arts Society
International Convention (PASIC) in Austin, Texas this November.
Based in San Fernando, with members aged from three to 19, Golden Hands
came into existence a decade ago in the backyard of Franka
Hills-Headley. She began the band as a vehicle to teach her own daughter
Vanessa, who has become a leading young pan soloist and is starting to
arrange and compose on her own. The band is made up of young people from
her neighbourhood in San Fernando, and what was once a normal backyard
has now grown into a serious panyard. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Tuesday September 2,
2008
Caribbean Beat
The Secret Hero
of Jamaican Music
Nearlin Taitt, a
Trinidadian, started in steelband,
then invented rocksteady in Jamaica
Nearlin
Taitt enjoys the distinction of being famous for being not famous
enough. Having created the sound of modern Jamaican music, Taitt is well
known to cognoscenti as the musician who deserves more credit than he’s
been given.
He has been the subject of a prize-winning documentary, Lynn Taitt:
Rocksteady; and Lloyd Bradley, in his book This Is Reggae Music: The
Story of Jamaica Music, points out: “Lynn Taitt is given the most credit
as the man who consolidated the various musical advances and solidified
the rocksteady style.”
Yet reggae historian and author of The Rough Guide to Reggae Steve
Barrow describes him as “one of the great unsung heroes of Jamaican
music.” And Wikipedia states: “Taitt’s contribution to Jamaican popular
music includes his often-overlooked role as arranger and session leader
for many, if not most of the recordings that he appeared on.”
Perhaps this is because Taitt is Trinidadian—born in 1934 in San
Fernando—and cut his musical teeth as a panman (he was honoured by Pan
Trinbago, the national steelband organisation, last year).
In the late 1940s Nearlin and his brother Cedric Taitt and the other
boys of the neighbourhood hung around Bataan, a nearby steelband, until
its leader Herman “Teddy” Clarke gave them a few old pans.
But Mrs Taitt threw the pans in the ravine, because in those days
steelband was considered a form of delinquency. The boys recovered the
pans and took them to the house of their friends Stephen, Angus and
Kenrick Lalsingh. Mr Lalsingh threw them in the ravine, so the gang
returned them to the Taitt home. And thus the band, now named Seabees
after the John Wayne movie The Fighting Seabees, moved back and forth
while fighting for acceptance. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
Trinidad Guardian
Pan lagging behind
in T&T
Trinidad, W.I.
- There are some things that are synonymous with T&T—the sweet melodious
sounds of steelpan music happens to be one of them.
It’s no secret that our national instrument has taken the world by
storm. Back at home, however, some pan enthusiasts complain that all is
not being done to protect and preserve what is indigenous to us. Are we
guilty of taking the pan for granted?
Pan Trinbago:
Time to get serious
Patrick Arnold, President of Pan Trinbago said international countries
are forging ahead with developing the steelpan.
“I don’t think we really accept the pan as we should. What could be done
isn’t being done. The infrastructure isn’t in place. Pan is being played
in universities as far as Japan. We have an industry that could employ
thousands, we are not capitalising on what we have invented.
“Pan Trinbago has written to the authorities since 1998 highlighting the
problem.
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
Trinidad Newsday
Panmen’s
bitter-sweet day
Trinidad, W.I.
- Independence Day was one of joy and sorrow for the nation’s panmen.
Joy after three pioneers of the pan movement were given the nation’s
highest award – the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. And
sorrow, after former Phase II Pan Groove manager Edme Gibbons, died in
an accident.
Gibbons, 50, of Coral Gardens, Diamond Vale in Diego Martin who was also
a Licensing Officer for over 25 years, apparently drowned when his car
crashed into the sea after running off the road at the Foreshore,
Invaders Bay yesterday morning.
“The pan fraternity has been left in mourning following the death of one
of our own...but at the same time, we are celebrating as our pan
pioneers get ready to receive their awards tonight,” PanTrinbago
president Patrick Arnold, stated yesterday when asked to comment on
Gibbons’ death.
Arnold also extended condolences on behalf of the entire pan fraternity
to the Gibbons family. He added that Gibbons was the third person to
have died within the past two weeks from Phase II.
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
HighLite Vibes
ADLIB-in’ History
New York - The New York Panorama event took
place this weekend (August 30, 2008) behind the Brooklyn Museum. This
weekend was historic. In an event where the best band was only a point
better than the second best, it is hard for such a contest to not be
considered controversial. Nonetheless it was historic, crowning the
youngest steelpan arranger (Andre White) in the history of the event.
Quite frankly, the final result should not have been that close - ADLIB
was way better on this night - not a point better. Not only was their
arrangement superior than both CASYM and SONATAS, the execution was very
precise especially in the melodic runs pulled out by the tenor pans. click for
more
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
Trinidad Newsday
Pan School coming
Trinidad, W.I.
- National award recipient Professor Copeland last night revealed that
plans are underway to establish a pan tuners’ guild to build and
preserve the local steelpan industry. Copeland made this disclosure
after making history with pan pioneers Anthony Williams and Betram
“Bertie” Lloyd Marshall by becoming the first recipients of the
country’s new highest award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago.
Speaking after the National Awards ceremony at President’s House in St
Ann’s, Copeland said:
“I am happy for this award. Especially for the project itself which
quite frankly needs the support of our pan pioneers. I am really
elated.” Stating that very few people in the country know about
Marshall’s and Williams’ work, Copeland said: “The work that we are
doing is an extension of the legacy that these gentlemen will leave
behind. We have been thinking of the idea of putting up a tuner’s guild. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
Trinidad Guardian
Pan Innovation Sets
Tone for future Award
Trinidad, W.I.
- The Genesis Pan, now known more casually as the G-Pan, enriches the
range of notes available to pan musicians playing the lead instrument in
a steel orchestra. A traditional tenor pan offers players 29 notes over
two and a half octaves, while the G-Pan expands the musical
possibilities to 37 notes over four octaves.
The Genesis Pan, now known more casually as the G-Pan, enriches the
range of notes available to pan musicians playing the lead instrument in
a steel orchestra. A traditional tenor pan offers players 29 notes over
two and a half octaves, while the G-Pan expands the musical
possibilities to 37 notes over four octaves.
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Monday September
1,
2008
Trinidad Guardian
Licensing officer
killed in crash
Former
Phase II Pan Groove Captain mourned
Trinidad, W.I.
- The steel band fraternity has been plunged into mourning, following
the death, early yesterday, of a former captain of the Woodbrook-based
Phase 11 Pan Groove.
Edme Gibbons, of Coral Gardens in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, died
instantly when the car which he was driving plunged into the sea just
off the foreshore in Mucurapo.
Police said Gibbons, a senior licensing officer, was driving along the
foreshore shortly after 5 am when he was struck from behind, lost
control of the vehicle, and crashed into the sea.
Gibbons, who celebrated his 50th birthday two months ago, died on the
spot.
Yesterday, family, relatives and friends gathered at late panman’s home,
trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
Fondly called “Gazo” by members of the steel band movement, Gibbons’
death came as a great surprise, said Errol Skerritt, Phase 11’s manager.
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Sunday
August
31,
2008
When Steel Talks
Web Posted
-
Sunday
August
31,
2008
When Steel Talks
André White makes History with ‘Heat’
and ADLIB Steel Orchestra
ADLIB Wins 2008 New York
Panorama
New York,
USA
- History, history, history! And probably as never before
in any steelband music panorama around the world.
History was made in New York with the release of the
2008 New
York Panorama results in the early hours of the last day
of August.
Colleen White, mother of winning steelband
music arranger André White, stood shyly by with people
surrounding her, tears of joy streaming down her face as
the euphoric celebration erupted on the stage after
1:00 a.m. when the 2008 New York Panorama ended -
triumphantly for ADLIB Steel Orchestra
which hails from Long
Island, New York. André’s grandmother Maureen
White was alternately dancing around and
pausing for photographs with ecstatic co-celebrants. click for full story
Web Posted
-
Sunday
August 31,
2008
Trinidad Newsday
3 Panmen win
the
top national award
Trinidad,
W.I. - Three persons from
the steelpan fraternity have
been named as first time ever
recipients of the Order of the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
(ORTT), this country’s highest
national award which was renamed
after the controversy
surrounding the original name of
the Trinity Cross.
The three are Bertram “Bertie”
Lloyd Marshall, Anthony Williams
and Professor Brian Copeland,
who are being recognised for
their outstanding contribution
towards development of the
instrument.
Pan tuning pioneer Bertie
Marshall said he was happy that
the art form was being given the
highest recognition possible, in
the country that should be known
as the inventor of the steelpan.
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Friday
August 29,
2008
Trinidad Newsday
Pan Trinbago
honours
Tony Williams
PAN ICON Anthony Williams
HBM (Gold) will be inducted into Pan Trinbago’s Hall of
Fame
Trinidad,
W.I. - The gala event is
carded for this evening at the
Courtyard Marriott, Invader’s
Bay, Audrey Jeffers Highway, at
7.30 pm.
Pan Trinbago’s Research and
Development Officer, Melville
Bryan noted, “The rationale
behind the inauguration of the
Hall of Fame lies in the fact
that there has been little
recognition of the achievements
of our cultural and in
particular steelband
contributors of note.
“Pan Trinbago has decided to
have the Hall of Fame so that
there be always sight and
appreciation of the achievements
of those like Anthony Williams.”
Bryan continued, “Mr Anthony
‘Muffman’ Williams stands out as
one of the foremost inventors
and innovators at a global level
eg the Fourths and Fifths. The
Low C Tenor Pan is a musical
instrument in use in every
country in the world. Mr Anthony
Williams is the innovator of
this particular instrument.”
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Thursday
August 28,
2008
Croydon Guardian
Steel band
controversy
London,
England - A junior steel
band competition is mired in
controversy over allegations of
cheating.
An emergency meeting will be
called later this week by the
British Association of Steel
Bands (BAS) after it emerged
that one of the four bands
participating, Ebony may have
had players over the age of 18.
The competition took place on
August 11 with prize money of
£500, £300 and £200 being
awarded to the first three
bands. All of the bands were
given £150 towards travel costs.
Two Croydon bands, the Croydon
Steel Orchestra and the Comets,
placed third and fourth say that
Ebony should be disqualified for
having overage players.
The rules state that players
should be aged 18 and under and
that each team should have at
least 12 players.
click for full story
Web Posted
-
Wednesday
August 27,
2008
Harrow Observer
Ambitious band to
give Mozart steel drum treatment
London,
England - A steel band
is transforming the sound of
Mozart and Tchaikovsky by giving
it a calypso twist.
St Michael and All Angels Steel
Band, made up of about 50
youngsters from around the
borough, is learning to play
classical music on steel drums.
The summer holiday workshops
take place at St Michael and All
Angels Church in Hillside,
Stonebridge, and aims to
encourage young people to learn
about discipline and respect
through music.
Band master, arranger and tuner,
Alfred Toussaint, who is also
known as Freddie, founded the
band in 1996 and is delighted so
many of the borough's youth are
attending the lessons.
click for full story
Web
Posted -
Monday
August 25,
2008
When Steel Talks
London,
England - The Champions
of Steel competition took place
in London’s famed Hyde Park this
past Saturday, August 23.
Ebony Steel Orchestra, the 2007
panorama champions, retained
their title for 2008.
click for results
When
Steel Talks has set up a group on Facebook where
we can post more steelpan pictures, videos and events.
We would like to add you as a fan so you can expand
your steelpan music experience. First, you need
to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create
your own profile.