Web Posted -
Tuesday
January 31, 2006
When Steel Talks -
TnT Panorama 2006
Special
Earl Brooks, Sr.
Takes Over The Reigns
of Hatters Steel Orchestra
Trinidad - This time
around
When Steel Talks
pre-panorama round-up caught up with
noted steelband music arranger Earl Brooks, Sr. for an exclusive
interview. Brooks, Sr. is currently the 2006 arranger for
Hatters Steel Orchestra located in Southern Trinidad. Mr.
Brooks was also recovering from injuries received in a slight
road accident this past Thursday.
AURORA - Music can be created
from all kinds of household and industrial objects. In fact,
a law banning drums in Trinidad led to the invention of one
of the most popular - the steel drum.
“About 60 or 70-years ago this spring' people in Trinidad
began to find that the dents on the 55-gallon oil barrels
would create different musical notes” said Ted Canning,
performers with The McClure Artist Guild, Steel Drum
Paradise, during a performance at the Aurora Library
Saturday morning.
“People would bang dents into the bottoms of the barrels,
and that is when the steel drum was created.”
Canning told audience members that the island of Trinidad
had put into place a law banning drums.
Guyana - The masquerade competition will
be taken to Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), while the national
chutney competition will be held at Anna Regina, Region Two.
The National Cultural Centre (NCC) will be filled with the
sweet sound of pan music on February 19 and 20 when the Steel
Pan competition is held.
With respect to the costume
and float parade, Canterbury said there is a fair indication
that there will be at least 30 bands and the sponsorship for
the activities will largely be financed by the private sector.
Trinidad - In 1963, the inaugural Best Road March
Steelband Competition (Panorama) attracted two dozen bands,
ten advancing directly from prelims to playoffs via a
relatively painless process as distinct from this year, when
we have a whopping 56 semi-finalists, 42 of which will
perform sequentially in a single and predictably
excruciating day.
Web Posted -
Thursday
January 26, 2006
When Steel Talks -
TnT Panorama 2006
Exclusive
Corporate Giant Severs Ties with Panorama
Champions Is it a case of the
rich serving the rich?
2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season
New York - In years gone by, the turbulent
past of the steelband movement in Trinidad and Tobago made it advisable
for foreign multi-billion dollar corporations doing business in the
country to 'lend' assistance or support steelbands as a partial means of
reinvesting in the community and very human resources of the nation that
was an integral part of their wealth. In fact, Dr. Eric Williams,
known as the 'father of the nation' and its first Prime Minister, made it clear that
this course of action was 'highly recommended' to put it politely.
Web Posted -
Thursday
January 26, 2006
When Steel Talks -
TnT Panorama 2006
Exclusive
Exodus Moving
In New
Music Direction
Says Arranger Pelham Goddard
2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season
Trinidad
- A very upbeat Pelham Goddard - resident arranger for Exodus
Steel Orchestra says he chose this year's tune as a means of changing the
outlook and musical direction for the 2006 panorama competition.
He decided to go with a song that is popular and appeals to the masses.
Mr. Goddard went on further to explain that the so-called 'pan songs' rarely
get exposure or air play on the local radio stations, thereby creating an atmosphere of disconnect between the steelbands and the fans,
as they are seldom familiar with the songs the bands are playing at the
panorama competition.
Web Posted -
Thursday
January 26, 2006
When Steel Talks -
Special
BAS appoints a new board.
United Kingdom
- At their Annual General Meeting held on
the 10th January 2006, The British Association of
Steelbands (BAS) elected a new board. The following Directors of
BAS retained their posts: Pepe Francis – Chair, Eversley Mills
- Vice Chair, Debi Gardner – Secretary and Robbie Joseph – PRO
and Editor of Pan Podium Magazine. Tara Baptiste of Stardust
Steel Orchestra takes up the post of assistant secretary whilst
Clyde Bacchus was appointed to be the BAS representative on the
London Notting Hill Carnival Limited Board of Directors.
Web Posted -
Thursday February 26, 2006
Trinidad
Newsday
$1.5m for unsponsored
steelbands
By Joan Rampersad
Newsday - The Ministry of Community Development
Culture and Gender Affairs paid out $1.5 million in grants
to unsponsored steelbands from all over Trinidad and Tobago
yesterday.
The distribution ceremony
took place at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, where
representatives from 108 of the 129 steelbands registered
with Pan Trinbago for Panorama gathered to collect their
cheques.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 23, 2006
The Bates Student
The
Blazing Suns'New Dawn
Written
by Rachel Hiles (01/24/06)
Maine - For a weekend in
mid-January, it was unseasonably sunny at Bates. On Saturday afternoon
the campus, celebrating Winter Carnival, basked under the sun.
On Saturday night, as darkness descended and the temperature dropped,
the sun kept shining somewhere on the Bates Campus. Inside Olin, the
Blazing Suns, Bates' Steel Pan Orchestra, came out to perform. The
hour-long performance marked Shawn Thwaites' debut as director of the
Blazing Suns and the group's first concert of the academic year. The
Bates ensemble includes Peter Strumolo '07, Charlie Hely '07, Andrew
Breece '08, Nick Klinovsky '06, Valerie LaRiviere '07, Miki Sisco '08
and Thwaites himself.
Web Posted -
Monday
January 23, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Special
The Development of
Steelpan
Artwork Available
The
demand for authentic artwork that accurately portrays the
historical significance and struggle of the steelband
movement continues to rise, as the global popularity of
the steelpan instrument and its music increases.
Joseph Charles has created a body of original artistic work that
visually captures the spirit, times and conditions of the
birth place and the people who created this art form.
Limited color prints are now available. <<
full
story >>
Web Posted -
Monday
January 23, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
TnT Panorama 2006
Exclusive
The wait is over! Desperadoes choose Eddie Quarless
as
Arranger
2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season
Trinidad -
Dr. Finbar Fletcher, manager of
the legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra from Laventille, has one less
decision to contend with for the 2006 Panorama season - the most
important one of all: choice o arranger to step into the post
previously held by late master musician Clive Bradley. One could
say that the legendary Laventille-based steel orchestra is playing it
safe, or that a band of their stature literally has their pick of fine
musical talents.
Web Posted -
Monday
January 23, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
TnT Panorama 2006
Exclusive
Ray Holman Starlift Steel Orchestra
2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season
Trinidad
-
Starlift
has been going through some lean times and "Starlift was
my band at one time" says noted arranger Ray Holman on his return to the
legendary Starlift. He was asked to help turn around the fortunes
of the one-time powerhouse steel orchestra.
Web Posted -
Monday
January 23, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
TnT Panorama 2006
Exclusive
Ken "Professor"
Philmore Sound Specialist of
Laventille
Steel Orchestra
2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season
Trinidad
-
This year famed arranger,
composer and steelpan instrumentalist Ken "Professor" Philmore will be
applying his craft with a new group, Sound Specialists of
Laventille.
The steelband arranger was hired by the steel orchestra to arrange their
panorama tune for the upcoming 2006 Trinidad and Tobago national steelband music panorama
competition. [Full Story
]
Web Posted - Sunday
January 22, 2006
Time Europe
Sheer Pandemonium The birthplace of
calypso heats up with the mother of all steel-band fetes
By
MICHELLE PATIENT
Trinidad
- Locals in Trinidad and Tobago call it "the big lime" —
Caribbean slang for a serious shindig. But the national
semifinals of Panorama, an annual music festival that this year
takes place on Feb. 12, serve up something headier than fruit
juice. The exuberant competition pits around 30 professional
steel bands of 60 to 120 members against each other in front of
a crowd of 15,000. Fans sing, cheer their favorite bands, and
catch up with friends and neighbors while picnicking on pelau (a
rice and peas mixture), macaroni pie, souse (a spicy soup made
from either pigs' or chickens' feet), jerk chicken and plenty of
local beer and rum drinks.
Web Posted - Sunday
January 22, 2006
Trinidad Express
Panorama is here
Terry Joseph
Trinidad
- At first, it may have looked like a long Carnival season but
the National Panorama Competition is already upon us, with
preliminary rounds in all four categories beginning next week
Friday and continuing until February 8.
With three categories of
conventional orchestras (small, medium, large) plus separate
consideration of single-pan bands, musical arrangers are
enjoying a bit of a break, as they can now work with no more
than one band in each category; making for a total of four if
that many bands require their services.
Web Posted -
Saturday,
January 21, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Miss Virgin Islands uses
Steelpan To
Showcase Talent At Miss America Pagent
Las Vegas - Allison Bourne-Vanneck, 21, was crowned
the Miss Virgin Islands 2005 representative for the Miss America
pageant. The 2005 graduate of the College of William and Mary
recently graduated from the college with a degree in business
administration. She is representing the Virgin Islands in the Miss
America pageant in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 21, 2006.
Allison Bourne-Vanneck, Miss Virgin Islands, performs during the
preliminary competition for the 2006 Miss America Pageant at
Aladdin hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006.
Fifty-two contestants will compete in the annual Miss America
pageant on Saturday, Jan. 21, in Las Vegas (AP Photo/Jae C.
Hong)
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 18, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Special
New York Pan &
The Bradley Experience The PanYard Series
New York is famous for its universities, theatres and
museums among its many other star attractions. New York is also
known for its great steelbands.
A stone's throw away from the Empire
State Building, The Yankees, Madison Square Garden, Broadway and Lincoln
Center, the greatest collection of steelbands outside of the birth place
of the art form (Trinidad and Tobago) exists and thrives.
New York
is a town of many colors, moods and tempos. And New York Pan is as special
as it's home.
It has an attitude and flavor like no
other place in the world. Faced with a different pace and
environment, the New
York arrangers are challenged to embrace, and seamlessly interweave elements
of popular urban street music, while all the time retaining the authentic
Caribbean genre and motifs.
Master arranger/composer Clive Bradley
knew
and understood the urban sensibilities of this city better than anyone.
In his last New York performance he took both first and second place
positions in the hotly
contested music competition known as Panorama. His flare for
drama, theatre and stage coupled with his unique brand of humor,
mischief-making and fun, topped off by his sheer genius, made every
Clive Bradley encounter much more than just a musical moment.
When Steel Talks
has put some of these moments together for your viewing.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 18, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
TnT Panorama 2006
Special
Things Are In Place
for Panorama 2006
says Patrick Arnold
Trinidad -
By the time
When Steel Talks
caught up with the president
of Pan Trinbago - Patrick Arnold had already been at the office for two
hours since 7:00 AM - having gotten his customary early start that was
necessary to keep things running smoothly. Arnold says that for
the Panorama 2006 season, as usual things are in place, and the steel
orchestras are rehearsing.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 18, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Knox professors to give steelband lecture/performance
Friday
GALESBURG - Sarah Day-O'Connell and Jeremy Day-O'Connell, assistant
professors of music at Knox College, will give a lecture-performance,
"The Steelband of Trinidad: Sound and Significance," at noon Friday in
Jay Hall, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, on the Knox campus. The talk is
free and open to the public.
The talk will explore the history and sound of the Trinidadian steelband
and will include a live performance of steel drums.
The O'Connells will discuss how steelband performances began as illicit
competitions among rebellious urban youth on the Caribbean island of
Trinidad in the 1930s. Steelband has since developed into a massive,
corporate-sponsored and government-sanctioned national passion. The
stages of this transformation show how music can both reflect and shape
visions of national identity.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 18, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Special
New Dimension Steel Orchestra In
Concert
Grenada's New Dimension steel orchestra represents
one of the world's finest music performing organizations.
In
September 2004 Hurricane Ivan hit the island of Grenada and destroyed
over ninety percent of the business and dwelling infrastructures.
Less than two months later New Dimension was among the headliners at
the annual Moods of Pan Festival held in Antigua. This festival
featured top orchestras from all over the world including Mangrove from
the UK, Renegades from Trinidad and Antigua's own Gemonites, among
others.
New Dimension is lead by one of the elite steelband
music composer/arrangers in the region, David "Peck" Edwards. In
addition to his own superb music talent, Edwards demonstrated his leadership
and motivational skills as he lead his young performers - focused through
the harrowing adversity and hardship in the aftermath of the hurricane. Demonstrating a spirit of extreme
reliance and courage, New Dimension put on a performance that captured
the hearts of all who were present.
When Steel Talks press crew
was on the scene and brought back a little snippet of New Dimensions
performance for the global steelband community to to enjoy.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 18, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Special
Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra Featuring 3 Canal
Trinidad
- Skiffle Bunch represents one of the upper echelon
music organizations from Trinidad and Tobago.
In June of 2003 Skiffle Bunch Steel
Orchestra came to New York and performed at the South Street Seaport as
part of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Caribbean Week. Skiffle
Bunch captivated the crowd with their performance (and their own obvious
enjoyment!) throughout the evening, solely in the spotlight themselves
at first, then with noteworthy highpoints when additional artistes
joined them - beginning with violinist Anselm Walters, for a 'Titanic'
collaboration of 'My Heart Will Go On'. They kept 3 Canal company
again later as the crowd kept up with the latter's energetic renditions
which included 'Blue' and 'Ben Lion'. Black Stalin also performed
many of his classics, with full Skiffle Bunch accompaniment and back up
from 3 Canal. Again the
When Steel Talks
crew was there and captured moment.
Web Posted -
Monday
January 16, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Special
Botswana Defence Force Steelband does it for Charity
Botswana - In
its efforts to assist in the crystallization of the country's
VISION 2016 as a "compassionate, just and caring nation,"
Botswana Defence Force Steel Orchestra joined three other BDF
bands - Marimba Band, Dance Bands and Military Bands - to stage
their 15th annual cultural presentations.
The concerts have been presented over the
last two months - November/December 2005 - in the landlocked
diamond blessed country. All proceeds go to charity.
Web Posted - Sunday
January 15, 2006
Trinidad Express
Coming soon: Walk with
your pan
Terry Joseph
Trinidad - Steelband leaders are quietly mulling the
concept of having at least frontline players source their
own instruments, rather than the orchestra having to supply
these items, the combined value of which can top the
$200,000 mark in a full-sized conventional band.
"The time has come to
review and rationalise this system," said Pan Trinbago
president Patrick Arnold. "No matter how good a saxophonist
or keyboard player you might be, you just can't walk into
RoyCape & the Kaiso All Stars or Traffik or one of those
brass bands and expect to be supplied with expensive
instruments and then borrow them to practice at home.
[more]
Web Posted -
Friday
January 13, 2006
When Steel Talks
-
Spotlight
Ebony Steelband
United
Kingdom -
The Ebony Steelband was founded in 1969 by a group of
dedicated pan men and women who shared one principle love ‘The
Love of Steelpan’. Since the very beginning the main focus for
the members of Ebony Steelband has been to promote steelpan
music and raise the importance of steelpan music across the UK
and over the years with the growth of Ebony Steelband this aim
has been increasingly fulfilled with fresh new goals.
With the steady growth of new pan players coming and joining
Ebony and the recruitment of other steelpan musicians from
other bands, Ebony entered and won the National Panorama
Championship in 1983 having been runners up over previous
years. With this first win under Ebony’s belt it then led them
on to becoming National Panorama Champions for the next nine
years, and to date winners of the National Panorama
Championship a total of fourteen (14) times.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 11, 2006
Amsterdam News-
Black New Yorkers: Steel pan King holds key patent
by TANANGACHI
MFUNI Amsterdam News Staff
New York - When Trevor H. King
hears the melodious tones of the soprano steel pan, the
Trinidadian musician hears more than the rhythms of home: he
hears physics.
That’s because King, now a resident of Queens, New York, has
patented a unique arrangement for the notes of the pan (also
called the steel drum). King claims that for years,
Trinidad’s national instrument had been made without having
its notes in a standard, easy-to-recognize order.
Web Posted -
Thursday
January 05, 2006
Daily Press -
Panorama 2006
Musician plays a beat that comes from
the heart
Virginia - Using his steel
pans, and channeling a love for teaching kids,
Trinidadian Elton Williams makes beautiful music.
"What I want to do here is teach the
construction of the instrument and how it's used," he
says in a deeply accented voice, rich with Caribbean
undertones. His shop is filled with framed newspaper
clippings of awards and honors he has accrued over his
lifetime. In the middle sits a large steel drum.
Williams has lived and operated his shop in Hampton
Roads for the past six years.
Although popular in many large metropolitan areas, the
steel drum is still somewhat of a foreign instrument in
the United States. Williams hopes to change this.
Web Posted -
Wednesday
January 04, 2006
When Steel Talks -
Panorama 2006
TnT PANORAMA 2006
Steelband Competition
RULES &
REGULATIONS
Click Here
Web Posted - Tuesday
January 03, 2006
Trinidad Newsday
Not
enough $$ in Panorama —
Panmen off to grumbling start
By
MELISSA WONG
Trinidad
- With Christmas gone comes the
Carnival season, and the problems associated with getting the
Panorama competition off the ground are also making an early
start in the new year. According to officials at the Pan Player’
Association, pannists are being sold short as they are only
being paid for their skills during the Panorama season, and the
association is seeking to encourage panmen to use their skills
as a trade throughout the year. Pan Players’ Association
president Bevon “Bellies” Phillips is concerned about local
panmen who rely on the art of playing pan as means of supporting
their families. He said he believes that pan players have been
paid little or nothing during the years that they laboured to
bring a gift of the only instrument invented in the 20th century
to devoted steelband lovers.
Web Posted - Monday
January 02, 2006
When Steel Talks -
Special
When Giants Salute
and Titans Bow
Global
- In
a continuing essay on the life, times and music works of master
arranger Clive Bradley the world steelpan
community share their thoughts with When Steel
Talks.
Web Posted - Sunday
January 01, 2006
When Steel Talks -
A Prosperous and Happy New Year
To All
Steelpan music indeed transcends language,
time and borders. The global When Steel Talks pan family grew by
leaps and bounds in 2005. Look for bigger and greater things in
2006...
Pan-4-Life
Web Posted - Sunday
January 01, 2006
When Steel Talks -
Christmas with Grenada's
NCB Angel Harps Steel Orchestra
Grenada
- Fans of NCB Angel Harp enjoy a special Christmas
show featuring
the blending of Brass steel and the Baritone voice of Mr. Randal
Robinson...
Use
Headlines! News to find breaking news, current events,
the latest headlines, news photos, analysis & opinion on top
stories, world, business, politics, events, performances, ...
headlines.panonthenet.com
Web Posted -
Saturday,
Jan 3, 2006
When Steel Talks -
Special
In every arena there are performances that are the beginning of
something very special. Moreover, they tell a story about pan
people's spirit, creativity and
their greatness. And when captured, they are simply magic, and
treasures for the ages....
Vintage steelpan performances are
ageless, timeless, educational,
and entertaining. It is in this regard that
When Steel Talks
is pleased to announce the addition of the House
of Classic Steel which will join the already extremely popular
Stage 1 and
Stage 2 steelband
music performance oriented sites...
House of Steel will present key
steelband performances from all over the world that were vital and
pivotal turning points in steelband music performance history
House of Classic Steel
is formatted for the popular wide screen format and requirements include
windows media 9 and a high speed internet connection for optimal viewing. Click To
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list.
In years gone by, the turbulent
past of the steelband movement in Trinidad and Tobago made it advisable
for foreign multi-billion dollar corporations doing business in the
country to 'lend' assistance or support steelbands as a partial means of
reinvesting in the community and very human resources of the nation that
was an integral part of their wealth. In fact, Dr. Eric Williams,
known as the 'father of the nation' and its first Prime Minister, made it clear that
this course of action was 'highly recommended' to put it politely.
He decided to go with a song that is popular and appeals to the masses.
Mr. Goddard went on further to explain that the so-called 'pan songs' rarely
get exposure or air play on the local radio stations, thereby creating an atmosphere of disconnect between the steelbands and the fans,
as they are seldom familiar with the songs the bands are playing at the
panorama competition.
Starlift
has been going through some lean times and "Starlift was
my band at one time" says noted arranger Ray Holman on his return to the
legendary Starlift. He was asked to help turn around the fortunes
of the one-time powerhouse steel orchestra. 
This year famed arranger,
composer and steelpan instrumentalist Ken "Professor" Philmore will be
applying his craft with a new group, Sound Specialists of
Laventille.
The steelband arranger was hired by the steel orchestra to arrange their
panorama tune for the upcoming 2006 Trinidad and Tobago national steelband music panorama
competition. [
A stone's throw away from the Empire
State Building, The Yankees, Madison Square Garden, Broadway and Lincoln
Center, the greatest collection of steelbands outside of the birth place
of the art form (Trinidad and Tobago) exists and thrives.
In his last New York performance he took both first and second place
positions in the hotly
contested music competition known as Panorama. His flare for
drama, theatre and stage coupled with his unique brand of humor,
mischief-making and fun, topped off by his sheer genius, made every
Clive Bradley encounter much more than just a musical moment.
When Steel Talks
has put some of these moments together for your viewing.
By the time
When Steel Talks
caught up with the president
of Pan Trinbago - Patrick Arnold had already been at the office for two
hours since 7:00 AM - having gotten his customary early start that was
necessary to keep things running smoothly. Arnold says that for
the Panorama 2006 season, as usual things are in place, and the steel
orchestras are rehearsing.
In
September 2004 Hurricane Ivan hit the island of Grenada and destroyed
over ninety percent of the business and dwelling infrastructures.
Less than two months later New Dimension was among the headliners at
the annual Moods of Pan Festival held in Antigua. This festival
featured top orchestras from all over the world including Mangrove from
the UK, Renegades from Trinidad and Antigua's own Gemonites, among
others.
In June of 2003 Skiffle Bunch Steel
Orchestra came to New York and performed at the South Street Seaport as
part of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Caribbean Week. Skiffle
Bunch captivated the crowd with their performance (and their own obvious
enjoyment!) throughout the evening, solely in the spotlight themselves
at first, then with noteworthy highpoints when additional artistes
joined them - beginning with violinist Anselm Walters, for a 'Titanic'
collaboration of 'My Heart Will Go On'. They kept 3 Canal company
again later as the crowd kept up with the latter's energetic renditions
which included 'Blue' and 'Ben Lion'. Black Stalin also performed
many of his classics, with full Skiffle Bunch accompaniment and back up
from 3 Canal. Again the
When Steel Talks
crew was there and captured moment.
In
its efforts to assist in the crystallization of the country's
VISION 2016 as a "compassionate, just and caring nation,"
Botswana Defence Force Steel Orchestra joined three other BDF
bands - Marimba Band, Dance Bands and Military Bands - to stage
their 15th annual cultural presentations.
The Ebony Steelband was founded in 1969 by a group of
dedicated pan men and women who shared one principle love ‘The
Love of Steelpan’. Since the very beginning the main focus for
the members of Ebony Steelband has been to promote steelpan
music and raise the importance of steelpan music across the UK
and over the years with the growth of Ebony Steelband this aim
has been increasingly fulfilled with fresh new goals.
Grenada
- Fans of NCB Angel Harp enjoy a special Christmas
show featuring
the blending of Brass steel and the Baritone voice of Mr. Randal
Robinson...
and
their greatness. And when captured, they are simply magic, and
treasures for the ages....
