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The Business of Steelpan Music 24 -7
Web Posted -
Thursday,
December30, 2004
When Steel Talks
- Pan Site
SPOTLIGHT -
Swiss
Steelband Association
HISTORY: Establishment history of PANCH Swiss Steelband
Association
Switzerland - The history of the
Caribbean music culture in Switzerland began 1976, when Sterling
Betancourt produced a small steelband Zurich. Afterwards the first
Steelbands of Switzerland developed. Since that time the number of the
Steelbands in Switzerland have grown continuously.
Today there are over 150 steelbands. No country except Trinidad and
Tobago has as many Steelbands per inhabitant
as Switzerland.
Panch
has over 500 members
since its establishment.
The federation aims to
promote of the Steelpan culture in Switzerland.
It offers to them training further courses, music consultation,
teachers, appearance conditions. In addition info. a service via
E-Mail, current info. a pallet in its homepage
www.panch.ch and further
support within administrative range and with guidance questions of a
Steelband. The services of the federation continue to develop
gradually.
Web Posted -
Friday
December 24, 2004
When Steel Talks
Steel Drums in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade
On January 1,
2005, millions of New Year's revelers around the world will Celebrate
Family with the 2005 Rose Parade, featuring the tradition and
pageantry of magnificent floral floats, spirited marching bands and
high-stepping equestrians. The Palm Springs Desert Cities Resorts is
sponsoring a festive float in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade and
the Val Verde Unified School District's Rancho Verde High School
steel drum orchestra along with the Desert Sands Unified School
District's Honor Steel Band are playing on the float! This year
marks the first year students have been featured playing steel drums
on a float in the parade.
Be sure to check your local listing for time and channel so you can
see the wonderful talents of these two bands on one float.
Web Posted -
Friday
December 24, 2004
When Steel Talks
Steel drum band hits
all the right notes
NEW YEAR'S DAY: Fifteen members
will appear in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.
By JESSICA ZISKO / The Press-Enterprise
Southern California - The lights dim inside Palm Desert's McCallum Theatre. Dozens of musicians,
all middle school and high school students from Riverside County, take their
spots on stage behind waist-high steel drums.
The students begin to play, but the music that emanates from their drums is
not traditional calypso melodies. Instead, they strike a fierce fanfare,
followed by an oldie and Santana's Latin rock. By the time they get to Ozzy's
"Crazy Train," the entire audience is dancing in the aisles.
Drumming this eclectic repertoire is the Pantasia Steel Drum Orchestra, an
ensemble of young music lovers from the Desert Sands Unified School District in
the Coachella Valley and Rancho Verde High in Moreno Valley.
The orchestra will make history on New Year's Day when it becomes the first
steel drum band to play on a float at the Tournament of Roses Parade. Fifteen
students will ride on a colorful craft, called the Palm Springs Desert Resorts
Cities float, representing the entire Coachella Valley in its first appearance
in the parade's 116-year history.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
December 23, 2004
When Steel Talks
Singer Flack to Create
New Music School
December 2004
New York --
A new music school is coming to Harlem, founded by
legendary songstress Roberta Flack.
The New York-based Grammy-winner
plans to transform two abandoned brownstones on 126th Street into a
center for liberal arts, where talented students can take classes for
free.
"There are so many young artists who have talent but
they need support," said Flack, who said her own life was changed by a
piano scholarship to Howard University when she was 15. "I had such
good teachers when I was young. I just wanted to give some of that
back."
Flack — famed for her 1973
chart-topper "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which later became a
massive hit for the Fugees — decided to found a music school after
buying the brownstones on 126th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenue
a year and half ago.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
December 12, 2004
When Steel Talks
SPOTLIGHT - When Steel
Talks - Special
In
The Spotlight
Merry Tones Steel Orchestra
Trinidad
- The Merry Tones Steel
Orchestra has consistently been one of the top twenty steelbands in
Trinidad and Tobago over
the last two decades. Born in the early
nineteen-forties in the lush rural valley of Diego Martin in
northwest
Trinidad, our long and colorful history bespeaks the earthy pride of
a people and their simple determination to preserve and pass on to the
succeeding generation, the cultural heritage that is the steelpan...
more
http://www.geocities.com/ericmctrini/index.html
Posted: Wednesday December 22, 2004 Source: The Evening
Telegram
Herkimer's steel band keeps on playing
By JESSICA ARSENAULT - Telegram
Staff Writer
HERKIMER, New York - For the past four years, Herkimer
Elementary School students have had
the unique opportunity of learning to play the steel drums.
Telegram photos/Jessica Arsenault STEEL DRUM PERFORMANCE - The
Herkimer Elementary School's Steel Drum Band has been teaching
fifth and sixth grade students the art of playing the
Trinidad-native instruments for four years. Above, students
perform for residents at the Herkimer Folts Homes Tuesday morning.
From left are Jenna Bawolak, 10, Nicole Carbone, 10, and
Instructor James Traglia.
Under the direction of
James Traglia, general music instructor for grades kindergarten
through 12, students have been learning the basics of playing, tuning
and caring for the steel drum.
"I believe we're
the only school in Herkimer County and one of the few in the whole
area to have a steel drum program," Traglia said. The idea came from
the Utica school system, he said.
>> {full story}
Web Posted -
Monday
December 20, 2004
When Steel Talks
Onika Bostic - Burning Flames
lead female vocalist passes
Trinidad
- The talented young singer of Burning Flames succumbed to injuries
received in an early-morning car crash last Saturday. In
the recently concluded sixth annual Moods of Pan Festival, held in
Antigua, hosted by Gemonites Steel Orchestra - the music of Burning
Flames was featured in their "Five Alive" segment of the event...
[full
Story]
Web Posted -
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Special to The
Roanoke Times
Let the steel pans ring
Blacksburg is home to an emerging interest in
steel drum music.
By
Catherine Copich Van Noy
The New River Valley Current
Virginia - Steel drum groups use
the term "orchestra," but little about the ensembles that are playing today
at the Lyric Theatre reflects the rigor usually associated with the word.
Two new
Blacksburg-based steel drum orchestras are bringing their pans, as their
instruments are called, for a debut concert at 1 p.m. today. Panjammers and
Island of Pan - and the award-winning, Roanoke-based Pan-A-Mania Steel Drum
Orchestra - hope to demonstrate their skills, spread the word about a new
Blacksburg steel drum program and raise money for local swim teams.
"We're excited, but
nervous," admitted Cameron Buss, 8, who will be playing lead pan with
Panjammers. His sister, 11-year-old Kate, will be on double second pan in
the ensemble. [full
story]
Maryland -
In 2000, the art of playing steel drums finally came to Maryland schools -
more specifically, Old Mill. Four students started the then-extracurricular
band with Michael Miller as supervisor, practicing during their lunch
period. In 2001, Steel Band became a bona-fide course, with Mr. Miller being
chosen to teach the class. Since then it has expanded into an ever-growing
part of the Old Mill music curriculum, with it going on multiple periods a
day.
Some
of the finer students in the steel drum band are allowed to come and play
together in the traveling form of the band. This band plays multiple shows a
year, traveling throughout the county and state. Some of the places the band
can list on its resume are the Anne Arundel County Board of Education,
Baltimore's Channel 13 morning news program, Fells Point Osyterfest, and
Annapolis's Midnight Madness.
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday
December 17, 2004
Tobago News
Arnold to
ensure Dem Boys goes to Music Festival
PATRICK ARNOLD
Tobago -
Pan Trinbago President Patrick Arnold is exploring the possibility
of ensuring that Tobago's Dem Boys Steelband makes the trip to
London to participate in the World Steelband Music Festival next
year.
The Tobago News was told in a
telephone interview with Pan Trinbago's Education Officer Denise
Hernandez last Sunday that the Festival was being viewed as one of
the greatest cultural festivals ever to be hosted on the
international stage.
She disclosed that the Festival will
be staged at the Alexander Palace in London from May 29 to June 4,
2005 and will feature 20 steel bands in two semi finals on June 1
and 2. [more]
Web Posted -
Sunday
December 12, 2004
When Steel Talks
SPOTLIGHT - When Steel Talks - Special
The
University of Texas at
El Paso's Pandemonium
Formed in August, 1996
as a collaboration between the UTEP Departments of Music, Metallurgy,
and Physics, "Pandemonium," under the direction of Professor Larry
White, has achieved international recognition through journal articles
and performances across the United States and world. Made up of over
30 UTEP undergraduate music majors and engineering master's and
doctoral students, the group has performed all over the El Paso
Southwest and in Cancun, Mexico, with trips planned to London, Moscow,
and Trinidad/Tobago in the near future. They play to sold-out houses
in El Paso, and for over 10,000 people at the 1998 "Music Under the
Stars" concert at the Chamizal National Memorial.
[More]
Nothing But Bass -
*
A SPECIAL
*
Global - They
represent the foundation and attitude of the band. Graceful,
animated and powerful - the steelpan bass player brings up the rear
without hoopla and fanfare. When Steel Talks will close out the
year by turning the spotlight on the "Bassman" for the month of December.
click to see
tribute
[bass]
dsl or better required,,, Loading time will vary depending on the
configuration of your computer....
There is still time if
you're a bass player send us a picture of you and your instrument and
be part of our year-end tribute to Bass Pan musicians globally...
Posted on Thursday, Dec.
09, 2004
Arizona Daily Sun
Band to drum up school cash
By SARA KINCAID Sun Staff Reporter
12/08/2004
Arizona -
Last Thursday, sixth-grade students at Marshall practiced with an
instructor from Caribbean Zone, a steel drum and Trinidad performing
arts company based in Phoenix. She was there as part of a week-long
artist-in-residence at the three FUSD schools.
They played "Minuet in G" using small
mallets called sticks to hit the steel drums.
[full
story]
Illinois - Assistant Professor Rick
Kurasz is in his third year teaching at WIU and in leading the
school's steel drum band. Participants in the band actually are taking
a class, for which the only requirement is that students are able to
read music.
Students are divided into two groups to accommodate the number of
instruments needed and the space allowed. They spend the semester
memorizing the music during three 50-minute practice sessions a week.
[full story]
Web Posted -
Wednesday,
December 8, 2004
TnT Mirror
Pan Trinbago
killing creativity Retro
Panorama
Hits a bad note for arrangers
By SAMUEL DICKSON
Trinidad
- PAN TRINBAGO recently announced that steelbands will be allowed to play tunes
recorded and aired before the current
Carnival season, for the 2005
Panorama competition.
There has been mixed reaction to this decision as no clear rules
were formally released, resulting in several unanswered questions.
Some wished to know if many of the winning Panorama tunes of
previous years, with their classic arrangements, would be eligible.
Would we then have bands
opting to play Woman on the Bass, Rebecca, Pan in A Minor, Woman is
Boss and other such standards?
More importantly, some have seen this move by
Pan Trinbago as a direct attack on the composers of new works,
especially to those that compose with pan in mind.
[full more]
Web Posted -
Tuesday,
December 7, 2004
When Steel Talks
British Association of Steelbands 2004
Annual Awards Report
Photos by response photographic,
Writing/info from Robbie Joseph, Pan Podium
United Kingdom -
On Saturday the 4th December 2004, the
Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury was the venue for the 4th British Association
of Steelbands Annual Awards Ceremony. The event
was established in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the contributions
of individuals and groups within the steelpan community. Since its
inception, the event has grown in stature and is fast becoming a focal
point in the UK community’s calendar.
[full
story]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
Pan In Africa
BOTSWANA 2004
by Hollis Clifton
Botswana, Africa
- The
Marang Community Junior Secondary School Steelpan Ensemble is a shining
example to young people in landlocked Botswana. In a country
where 38 percent of the 1.7 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS and a
similar quantum thus affected these students are determined to win the
battle. So instead of following their age mates and indulging in chibuku - a local beer - and being tempted by sex these youngsters spend a
whole lot of their spare time playing the steelpan.
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
WALLBERG Steelband
Meeting in Switzerland
Switzerland-
The 8th
Annual WALLBERG Steelband Meeting held in Volketswil-Switzerland was
again a night with good steelpan performances. Organizer Peo
Oertli-Kassim, invited four bands. Shortly before this event he
"discovered" STERLING'S ANGELS, an all band. The pannists all siblings
coming from two different families. Young ladies are between the ages
of 10 and 22, The band played Sterling Betancourt's original and old
time music.
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
Trinidad Guardian
Rearranging Pan
by Peter Blood
Trinidad-
COME Panorama 2005, there will be some re-arranging as far as
arrangers go. One of the hottest commodities for C2K5 is New
York-based Yohan Popplewell, a former Panazz pannists and frontline
member of Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars. The affable musician has
been on a roll this year and assisted Sonata’s to capture the Labour
Day Panorama title with his spicy arrangement of DeFosto’s War 2004.
Another New York-based arranger who
has been snatched up by a top local band for C2K5 is Arddin Herbert,
who will be putting down BWIA Invaders’ tune of choice. Earl Brooks,
Invaders’ arranger for the past couple years, is returning to his old
band, Hatters of south Trinidad.
PCS Starlift has also had a changing
of the guard with the legendary Leston Paul being the band’s arranger
for the upcoming Panorama.
Web Posted -
Monday,
December 6, 2004
When Steel Talks
Trinidad's Panorama 2004 In Review
Earlier this year
When Steel Talksmet with some of the
movers and shakers behind the world largest steelpan
event... Click here>>
Pan Trinbago in Pictures
Web Posted -
Thursday,
December30, 2004
Trinidad Guardian
Calypsonians not singing for pan - Arnold
Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars
arranger Leon “Smooth” Edwards, left, assistant manager Daryll Joseph,
next to Edwards, and others listen as a player practices the band’s
Panorama 2005 selection, Christopher “Tambu” Herbert’s 1989 Road
March, Free Up.
Photo: David Wears
BY
MICHAEL MONDEZIE
Trinidad - Local artistes are no longer
creating music with the pan in mind, Pan Trinbago president Patrick
Arnold has said.
“Calypsonians are more interested in brass and soca monarch than they
are in making music for the pan,” he said yesterday during a telephone
interview.
Web Posted -
Monday
December 27, 2004
When Steel Talks
Next stop Trinidad!
Town pupils will fly the flag at Caribbean carnival
United
Kingdom - Twelve happy kids from Lea Manor High School are
going to be flying the flag for Luton at Trinidad's world-famous
carnival in February.
While their schoolmates shiver, they will be soaking up all the
heat, excitement and atmosphere of what many reckon to be the best
carnival in the world.
The 15 and 16-year-olds will work with one of the island's biggest
schools on a variety of carnival preparations – and may even get to
strut their stuff in one of the two big processions that attract
thousands of visitors annually to the island. Trinidadian Carnival
is an explosive fusion of sound and colour, and to be part of it is
the opportunity of a lifetime for the youngsters.
Web Posted -
Monday
December 27, 2004
When Steel Talks
Throw The Bums Out - A Holiday Wish...
To the
Bums who failed to
contribute to the forward progress of one of the biggest music
performance
movement
in decades, the playing of the steelpan - no winter recess
for you... It's time for you step up and collect your
award. Corporate heads of music organizations, cultural
foundations, politicians, music event sponsors and so-called
steelpan leaders who don't have an original thought - you are
unimaginative, out of time and playing in the wrong key... You know
who you are. Let's not have a repeat performance in 2005 of your
failures... And to this bunch of not-ready-for-prime-time players
you unanimously win the
When Steel
Talks
"Pan Grouch"
award....
Having said
that, we take this opportunity to get the "Bad" out of the way right
now as to not tarnish our next week's focus on
the great things that are being accomplished by the steelpan music
community, in terms of an overall movement towards a commitment to
excellent musicianship and appreciation of music by people of all
ages, colors and backgrounds. Indeed, the Pan has been born
out of a struggle and is the musical instrument of the poor.
It has enriched the lives of many accross the globe. Moreover,
it continues to fascinate and capture the imagination of our young.
Indeed, the instrument continues to contribute to the increase of
the quality of life, and the uplifting of the human spirit of all
those who encounter the Pan...
[more]
Web Posted -
Monday
December 27, 2004
The Arizona Republic
Kids bang the
home-school drum
Student musicians in EV form band to showcase skills
by Lars Jacoby
Arizona - Just because
they are home-schooled doesn't mean the teens in the steel drum
group Steeling Home aren't performing with others.
The brainchild of Gilbert percussion instructor Josh Gottry, the
band was started five years ago to give home-schooled kids a
chance to showcase their skills.
"In fact, that's one of the neatest things about this, because it
does give them the ensemble environment," said Gottry, 30, an
adjunct professor at Chandler-Gilbert Community College who has
30-plus private students, six of whom are home-schooled.
Web Posted -
Sunday
December 26, 2004 Manteca
(Calif.) Bulletin
Ripon's musical man of steel
Steel drums lures teens to Ripon High
classes.
Manteca, California RIPON -- Ross
McGinnis is a modern pied piper. His forte is luring inquisitive youth
to music. His instrument is a steel drum.
The use
of the distinctive wok/collander-like steel drums has made his music
class at Ripon High wildly popular and has earned his aspiring
musicians invitations to perform at Disneyland.
"A lot of
the kids didn't know a note of music before they got into class,"
McGinnis said. "A number of them are athletes. It takes a lot to play
the steel drums. It's pretty intense."
The lure
of the distinctive steel band sound and the unique fact that there
isn't a high school for at least 70 miles in any direction that offers
such classes, has dozens of students at Ripon High juggling schedules
as well as on waiting lists to get a chance to learn from McGinnis.
[Full
story]
Web Posted -
Friday
December 24, 2004
When Steel Talks
Martin Douglas Manager, Executive, Panist,
Educator
New York
-
When Steel Talks
continues
it's exclusive series of interviews with Martin Douglas, the leader
of Brooklyn-based Crossfire Steel Orchestra who
visited WST
studios on a cool 2004 Autumn afternoon.
This was a special year for the steel orchestra as they moved from the
ranks of also-rans to contenders as they placed 5th in the
hotly contested New York annual Panorama competition.
[more]
Posted: December 21, 2004 Source: IslandEvents
$12 Million for Panmen
Trinidad - A protest
by panmen was avoided when Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold
announced that the Ministry of Culture would increase the prize money
for Panorama 2005. The prize money would increase to $12 million from
$6.5 million.
Arnold said in addition to the $12 million assured by the minister,
some $3 million would be given for outstanding items. This brings the
amount to the $15 million as was planned. The Government also plans to
purchase a chroming plant to alleviate the hefty costs incurred by
bands.
{more}
Web Posted -
Monday
December 20, 2004
When Steel Talks
Stars In The House Steelband Historical Treasures
Lennox Nelson, Garvin
Blake and Neville Jules at Basement Recordings
New York
- One of the advantages of working with
When Steel Talks is the ability every now
then to have access to and rub shoulders with the steelpan movement's
movers and shakers, legends and rising stars. Two of
Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra's notables
Lennox Nelson and Neville Jules, and New York's own
double-seconds soloist Garvin Blake
who is a star in his own right, all dropped by
When Steel Talks this
weekend for a pan pow-wow.
Mr. Jules is one of the steelpan
movement's legendary giants. He is a soft-spoken brilliant man whose
intelligence, wit, integrity, articulate, strength and bluntness impacts
immediately on you. Moreover, what makes Mr. Jules so great is his
humility. His ability to deflect attention from himself and to focus
on and give credit to the achievements of others, is phenomenal. It
is a quality only shared by the truly great ones who are confident in who
they are and their place in history. Indeed, this man is special.
As are most people who are true leaders. His vision and
inventiveness continue to be evident to this today.
Both Mr. Jules and Mr. Nelson also
share the uncanny ability to teach through story telling.
Dropping a reality TV-like history lesson from their personal library
of experiences with vivid color, characters' names and deeds. It
was indeed a learning adventure and an honor to listen to these two
men articulate their experience in the pan movement. These men
are resources and pan treasures that the global pan community cannot
afford to not take advantage of.
[full
story]
Web Posted -
Friday
December 17, 2004
When Steel Talks
The Business of Steelpan Music 24 -7
Indeed,
Cool Steel
usually heard on Fridays
on www.PanOnTheNet.com is
riding the crest of the soaring, partially self-created new interest
and popularity in steelpan music on the internet. Panonthenet.com
states, that while there has been enormous growth across the board in
visitors to Pan Radio, the most substantial growth has occurred with
".edu (educational) organizations." Almost immediately the show had
established itself among regular pan music patrons.
But this new surge among the .edu
organizations suggests that
Cool Steel
is tapping into a young new
market that is technology-savvy and constantly searching for diversity
and something fresh.
Web Posted -
Friday
December 17, 2004
When Steel Talks
SPOTLIGHT - When Steel Talks - Special
Gemonites School of
Pan
Antigua - The Gemonites
School of Pan opened its doors in 1999. The idea was initiated for
the purpose of keeping the interest in the art form alive, as well
as provide an avenue for new players to become members of the
Gemonites. More so, it is believed that this program would act as an
encouragement for the establishment of similar programs around the
island. The Gemonites also saw it as a means of personal motivation
for its and members to facilitate such a program. It should be noted
that the program was not created with the intention of recruiting
members for the band only; as persons are free to join any band once
they have learned to play the instrument.
The objectives of this program
include helping others to develop the necessary skills/techniques to
play the pan, and develop good inter-personal skills and
self-confidence. More so it is the intention of the facilitators of
this program to provide an alternative to 'idlind' and 'liming' for
young people.
One would be most accurate in
saying that this program has returned extremely good results and for
the most part has fulfilled many its objectives. Members of the
School of Pan have performed at several concerts and have made a
number of public appearances.
[more]
Web Posted -
Monday
December 13, 2004
When Steel Talks
Now Playing - Live Performances
At The Pan House - Stage 1
Web Posted -
Sunday
December 12, 2004
When Steel Talks
SPOTLIGHT - When Steel
Talks - Special
In
The Spotlight
Ambridge Area High School
Steel Drum Band
Pennsylvania - The Ambridge Area High
School Steel Drum Band, under the direction of Mr. Todd Hartman, has
received local and national recognition for its outstanding musical
ability, unique style, and infectious energy. Since its inception in
1988, the steel drum program has grown from five students to
ninety.... Their current repertoire reflects a strong commitment to
present a diverse collection of styles including traditional calypso,
swing, Latin-jazz, classical, popular, and rock. The steel band
continues to move forward and break new ground by participating with
the Ambridge Area Marching Band in the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade
in Pasadena, California. It will mark the first time in the 115 year
history of the parade that a steel band will be combined with a
marching band. This unique situation has allowed Ambridge to
commission Carnegie Mellon University’s Engineering Department to
design and fabricate custom made push-carts that will be used to
mobilize the pan players and their drums down Colorado Boulevard.
[full
story]
Web Posted -
Saturday
December 11, 2004
Virgin Island Daily News
Rollicking rhythms are contagious
at 2004 Panfest By FIONA STOKES-GIFFT
Saturday, December 11th 2004
Daily News
Photos by CRISTIAN SIMESCU The Ricardo Richards School Pan
Connection Youth Steel Symphony entertains during Panfest at
Island Center on Friday evening.
ST. CROIX - Hundreds of young steelband performers
displayed skills beyond their years as they entertained thousands
Friday night at the annual Panfest celebration at Island Center.
The more than 3,000 spectators gave the 13 bands
rousing applause from the start of the hours-long show to the close as
the performers showcased the instruments' versatility, playing a mix
of musical styles. The performers were between 5 and 18 years old and
represented schools, churches and other organizations.
[full
story]
Web Posted -
Wednesday,
December 8, 2004
When Steel Talks Exclusive
Tribute
to the Bass Players
From Gunga to Sheldon
by Khalick J. Hewitt
USA -
As
tribute is paid to the bass players I want to mention some of the
popular bass players of old that I remembered. Most steelbands had one
or two popular bass players. Some steelbands, as Trinidad All
Stars, had more than three. All Stars had Spongy, Shoreland,
Rupert Alexander (Horse) and Guns. Desperadoes had Gunga Din (We
attended Rose Hill School together). City Symphony had Spongy (He
played for both All Stars and Symphony) and City Syncopators had
Russell Carter, Chubby and Ancil (We attended
Rosary Boys’ School together) (He now plays for Desperadoes). My
favorite bass player was Rupert Alexander. Rupert’s distinctive style
was short sticks and dancing while playing. He would also touch
the note after he hit it. It was a pleasure to see him execute his
style. [full
story]
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Posted on Tuesday, Dec. 07, 2004
Trinidad Express
Arson suspected
Frontline pans of Solo Knights destroyed
Members of the Solo Pan Knights Steel Orchestra salvage the remains of
their instruments after fire destroyed their panyard on the Eastern
Main Road, Barataria, yesterday. Photo: KENROY AMBRIS
Trinidad - ARSON
is suspected in an early morning fire which destroyed all the
frontline pans of the Solo Pan Knights Steel Orchestra.
The band's manager Owen Serrette said the fire at the Barataria
panyard will be a tremendous setback for the Pan Knights who have
already begun preparing for steelband Panorama in January.
Serrette also said he believes that the fire could have been set
deliberately because burnt tires found on the scene yesterday morning
were not there when he left the panyard on Sunday.
He said the band was due to start rehearsing from yesterday for
Panorama but those plans have been temporarily shelved now that most
of the band's frontline pans have been destroyed.
[more]
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Posted on Sun, Dec. 05, 2004
Miami Herald
Loud drumming blamed in musicians' hearing loss
Steel band musicians who are part
of larger ensembles risk permanent hearing loss, according to recently
released medical findings. BY MICHAEL A.W. OTTEY mottey@herald.com
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago
- The rainy season will soon end,
bringing out hundreds of steel drum players who will join into mega
bands of up to 110 musicians and practice in open spaces for
Carnival's competition in February. [more]
Web Posted -
Monday,
December 6, 2004
When Steel Talks
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
Something Very
Different
Antigua's 5-Alive Competition
Antigua - Clearly an Antiguan specialty,
the 5-Alive competition is
pure entertainment: part J'Ouvert, part Ole
Mas and part Panorama. The event combines comedy, theater,
drama, musicianship and musical story telling into a unique blend of pan
performances. The large crowd clearly enjoyed themselves. There
is nothing like this anywhere else in the world.
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
Women in Steel
Represent New York Big Time
Antigua -
Women In Steel let it be known, as is said in New York
,they "ain't no joke and are serious as a heart attack." This dynamic
bunch of young women is for real.
Furthermore, WIS showed their
professionalism and mettle as they went literally from the plane to lodgings with only time to change and back to performance area to take the stage as
soon as they walked in. The musicians took a few minutes to check the
layout of the basses provided by host band Gemonites as WIS only
traveled with their front line instruments and two cellos. WIS then
proceeded to rock the house.
[full
story]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
MOODS OF PAN
FESTIVAL 2004
Antigua
- The Sixth Annual
Gemonites'
"Moods of Pan" held in the beautiful Caribbean island of
Antigua is easily one of the better produced steelpan music events.
This year
When Steel Talks
traveled to Antigua to check out the event now in its sixth year.
We were not disappointed with what we found, saw and experienced.
When Steel Talks
arrived on the second day of the four-day event. Performing this
year were steel orchestras:
New
York's Women In Steel, Trinidad's Renegades, Grenada's New Dimension,
United Kingdom's Mangrove, Antigua's Harmonites, Halcyon and Gemonites
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday,
December 3, 2004
When Steel Talks
Antigua's Gemonites
MOODS OF PAN
FESTIVAL 2004 - In Review
Four Stars And
Rising ****
Antigua - If you're a promoter,
sponsor, investor, performing artist, steelpan music enthusiast or a
tourist just looking for a good time, this was the festival for you.
When Steel Talks
took a critical look at Antigua's 2004 Moods of Pan Festival
produced by Gemonites Steel Orchestra and its potential for future
growth. [more]
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the last two decades. Born in the early
nineteen-forties in the lush rural valley of Diego Martin in
northwest
Trinidad, our long and colorful history bespeaks the earthy pride of
a people and their simple determination to preserve and pass on to the
succeeding generation, the cultural heritage that is the steelpan...
Trinidad
- The talented young singer of Burning Flames succumbed to injuries
received in an early-morning car crash last Saturday. In
the recently concluded sixth annual Moods of Pan Festival, held in
Antigua, hosted by Gemonites Steel Orchestra - the music of Burning
Flames was featured in their "Five Alive" segment of the event...
[
Some
of the finer students in the steel drum band are allowed to come and play
together in the traveling form of the band. This band plays multiple shows a
year, traveling throughout the county and state. Some of the places the band
can list on its resume are the Anne Arundel County Board of Education,
Baltimore's Channel 13 morning news program, Fells Point Osyterfest, and
Annapolis's Midnight Madness.
be allowed to play tunes
recorded and aired before the current
Carnival season, for the 2005
Panorama competition.
t
was established in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the contributions
of individuals and groups within the steelpan community. Since its
inception, the event has grown in stature and is fast becoming a focal
point in the UK community’s calendar.
[
carnival in February.
movement
in decades, the playing of the steelpan - no winter recess
for you... It's time for you step up and collect your
award. Corporate heads of music organizations, cultural
foundations, politicians, music event sponsors and so-called
steelpan leaders who don't have an original thought - you are
unimaginative, out of time and playing in the wrong key... You know
who you are. Let's not have a repeat performance in 2005 of your
failures... And to this bunch of not-ready-for-prime-time players
you unanimously win the
When Steel
Talks
"Pan Grouch"
award....
studios on a cool 2004 Autumn afternoon.
This was a special year for the steel orchestra as they moved from the
ranks of also-rans to contenders as they placed 5th in the
hotly contested New York annual Panorama competition.
[
steelpan music enthusiast or a
tourist just looking for a good time, this was the festival for you.
When Steel Talks
took a critical look at Antigua's 2004 Moods of Pan Festival
produced by Gemonites Steel Orchestra and its potential for future
growth. [