Middlebury - Pan USA, a steel drum band from Indianapolis, will kick off the Middlebury Community Public Library's kids' summer reading program at 1 p.m. Thursday. The library offers summer reading programs for teens and adults as well.

Pan USA's founder, Tom Berich, has been a producer for Nickelodeon and is dedicated to the promotion, production and progression of the steel pan (drum) art form.

click to read full story

Maryland - It is that time of the year when pan is well, alive and blooming in the DC area. Pan Masters’ annual Steelband Jamboree was the main attraction. By invitation only, performing at this affair is quickly becoming a notable opportunity for performing steel orchestras to make their name recognizable among the highly–regarded and ranked steel orchestra fraternity. Seven steel orchestras representing the Maryland area and neighboring states performed at this, the 10th annual Pan Masters Jamboree.  Participating were Mosaic (Norfolk, VA), Pan Stars (Philadelphia, PA), Pan Sonatas (Brooklyn, NY), Pan Jammers (Washington, DC), Pan Majestic (Baltimore, MD), Positive Vibrations (Mitchellville, MD) and hosts Pan Masters (North Brentwood, MD).

click to read full story and see video

New York - On Monday evening, May 26, 2008, the Harmony Music Makers Steel Orchestra out of Brooklyn met on the stage at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall for a “Memorial” performance.  As part of the program offered by Distinguished Concerts International New York, the show was titled: Global Spirit: Music of Many Cultures.

The first part of the performance showcased young people’s voices in songs inspired by music from the Dominican Republic, Japan, the Caribbean, Venezuela and Israel. One of the pieces performed, Kyrie featured a lovely pan solo that served as a wonderful juxtaposition of pan and voice.

click to read full story

Florida - By the time I arrived to the Bank Atlantic Center last Friday, the place was packed with thousands of Obama supporters, many of them drenched from the heavy rains.  I missed the Miami Pan Symphony Steel Orchestra since the lines for entry were ridiculous, but by the time I got in, the whole place was rocking to the tunes that the Spam Allstars were playing. There was a sense of unity in the building, and I couldn't help but think the group's music was making it happen. As I looked around at an arena of whites and blacks dancing together, Indians and Pakistanis, Cubans and Haitians, Muslims and Jews, all grooving together as the Spam Allstars proceeded to rock the house, it was an undeniably powerful set.

click to read full story

click to see this week's featured video

Forest City, Iowa - University of Iowa student Dan Lesieur laughed Friday when asked about the difference between playing steel drums and your regular, old, garden-variety drums.

“Totally different,” the Cedar Rapids native said. “About the only thing that's the same is you do hit ‘em both.”

Lesieur and more than a dozen of his fellow Iowa students who make up the university's Steel Band played a pair of concerts - one at the Forest City High School Auditorium and one for Forest City Elementary Students - last week.

click to read story

Trinidad - President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Professor Maxwell Richards and Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Professor Clement Sankat, will unveil several new paintings inspired by The Rainmakers on Tuesday 27th May, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.

The Rainmakers is a 45-minute musical production integrating dance, drama and Trinidadian Carnival characters. The full-length dramatic concert is written and directed by Franka Hills Headley, performed by UWI Percussion Ensemble in collaboration with Golden Hands Youth Orchestra, and featuring nine original compositions for the steel pan by Dr. Jeannine Remy. The compositions, which comprise five steel band ensemble pieces, two solos, one quartet, and one piece that combines a large percussion ensemble with the steel band, are intended to elevate the level of performance practice of young pannists, and explore the practical and theoretical potential for the continued evolution of the steel pan in the 21st century.

click to read story

Trinidad, W.I. - Some trust in their money, some in their fame and others in their gods, but for steelpan activist Salah Wilson the pan is more than just an instrument - he has made it his life. A well-organised man, indeed, Wilson visited the Trinidad Guardian with four topics written on paper, ready for discussion.

“I want to talk about four things,” he said. Listing them in order, he highlighted the following:

• An effective steelpan programme in the public school system;

• national musical literacy for the panyards of T&T

• a ministry exclusively for pan

• a steelpan programme in the Caricom islands’ school system’s CXC examinations.

After hearing his list, I thought it was quite a tall order but for Wilson he believes these things are long overdue.

click to read story

South Florida - Miami Pan Symphony will perform, along with latin funk band Spam Allstars, at a Rally for Senator Barack Obama on Friday May 23, 3:30 pm at the Bank Atlantic Center, One Panther Parkway in the City of Sunrise, Broward County, Florida.

Under the musical direction of Leon “Foster” Thomas, Miami Pan Symphony Steel Orchestra is a steel pan orchestra located in South Miami-Dade and composed of a number high school and college students of Caribbean descent

click to read story

click to see this week's featured video

Florida, USA - It's official: Leon High School's steel band is good . So good, its members recently brought home a grand prize and some serious bragging rights from the Virginia Beach Arts Festival steel-band competition.

"It's the best and the biggest event of its kind in the country," said David Knapp, the band's proud leader and teacher.

"It means we're the best band east of the Mississippi."

About 18 teens in the school's Canboulay band — the more advanced of the school's two steel bands — competed against about 20 other bands in Virginia earlier this month. The competition included various school steel bands as well as some community bands.

click for full story

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Actress and winner of America’s Next Top Model (cycle 3, Eva Marcille Pigford, received a gift from the authentic steelpan fashion accessories line created by Liz Mannette, at a fashionable event in Trinidad earlier this year.

Pigford visited Trinidad in March 2008, to participate in the make up and fashion extravaganza, ‘A Fine Affair’. She was the featured guest alongside internationally renowned makeup artist, Sam Fine, who has worked on famous faces such as Tyra Banks and Iman.

click to read story

In addition to his many musical accomplishments and accolades Andy Narell has been and continues to be an ardent promoter and supporter of the steelpan instrument history, music and culture.  Andy Narell is also a firm believer in music education and its benefits.  Next month Andy Narell will be part of an All-Star cast performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) in New York -- When Steel Talks (WST) catches up with Andy for a quick chat about pan, calypso, music education and the upcoming concert.

click to read full interview

South Africa - As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, Strelitzia High school in Uitenhage – in conjunction with the department of education – is staging a marimba and steel band festival next weekend.

A total of nine bands from Nelson Mandela Bay and Grahamstown will be participating in the musical festivities.

These include the Mastrimba Band from Strelitzia, the Sounds of Steel from Woodridge College, St Andrews’ Prep Marimba Band, the Lawson Brown Junior and Senior Steel Bands, Diocesan Girls’ Marimba Band, St. Andrews College Marimba Band, Pearson High School Marimba Band and Ibhubesi Productions in Uitenhage.

click to read story

Antigua - Realising the potential of some of the students in the steel pan programme at the Culture Department, it was only natural to “graduate” these students to an “advanced” programme.

Brainchild of pannist and pan tutor Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel, the advanced programme will teach these students to not only have a deeper appreciation for the steel pan and music, but they’ll learn how to arrange music as well.

click to read story

Port-of-Spain - I’ve had it with these force ripe, wannabe “Jamaican” deejays. I’m talking about these local fellas who revere things reggae, dub and dancehall at the expense of calypso and pan.

My spies told men at the recent Point Fortin Borough Day Celebrations, some deejays disrespected the pan and panmen playing their music loudly without any regard for the pan music being played. I’ve often seen for myself the disrespect meted out to pan music by deejays at other events. It is as if they feel the pan has so space in the place. But I have news for these disrespectful deejays: “Moon does run, until day ketch up with it.”

click to read story

In a relatively short time When Steel Talks has put together one of the finest collections of steelpan music performances from all over the world on video.  Included are classic performances from the great steel orchestras of Trinidad, Antigua, New York, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan to name a few.

click to see this week's featured video

Antigua - The Cultural Development Division is presently hosting a one-week National Pan Instructors Workshop at the Heritage Hotel Conference Room. The workshop is being facilitated by Nubia Williams, co-ordinator for Pan in the Classroom in Trinidad and Victor Prescod, project co-ordinator in the Ministry of Culture and Education in Trinidad.

Acting Director of Culture Gilbert Laudat said this was the first time since the department was established in 1981 that they are “now taking a bold, essential and much needed step to bring steel pan music into the communities. Finally, every village in Antigua and Barbuda, every person, rich and poor, men and women of every race, religion and nationality will have the necessary tools to become more familiar and versed with our cultural musical instrument – the steel pan.”

click to read full story

Trinidad - The home stretch, a grassy dusty portion of the horseracing track, heading west towards the Grand Stand and North Stand now proudly called “the track”. With temporary stands and bleachers on both sides, it was the venue and setting for Panorama. Pan beating on the move. We stop, roll up on stage, play and exit with proverbial ‘dus in yuh face.’ South Panorama hot too, different blend, but pan fuh so. Guinness coming down, they sweet and powerful. Big Sunday, national prelims, we leave de savannah 3.00 o’clock next morning with two bands still to play. North Panorama is next week Monday, and the national semi finals is Thursday. We practicing hard we leave de yard 4 o’clock dis morning. Carnival Sunday night is finals. Eventually Panorama got so large, it divorced itself from Dimanche Gras and zonal prelims were held in the North, South, East and Tobago regions. What a thing, look at how much pan beating and bands competing. Visualize the thousands converging on de savannah, where has all this action, this excitement, the passion, the steelbands, beaters, and supporters gone? Did this great initiative emanating from steelband’s musical rivalry become misdirected, or misused?

click to read full story

Trinidad - Although the steelpan has come a long way, there are still some growing pains that need to be addressed says Salah Wilson, a steel pan activist and tutor.

Wilson, teaches steelpan music theory in the private and public school system in Canada, is convinced more must be done locally, in the area of music theory literacy for the national instrument.

“What is lacking in this whole system is literacy. The pan is so diverse that we can play Latin, jazz, pop, reggae and other types of music, yet most pan men cannot read a single note,” Wilson said. “We have not effectively focused on the music theory aspect of the instrument so we are really missing out on a great part of learning.”

click to read full story

Antigua - I may have mentioned before in an article. There is definite irony in the fact that the youngest musical instrument, the steel pan, was once considered a diabolical instrument. And even after straining against the cool steel to gain years of respect, its fervor dwindled. But in the last decade, Antigua and Barbuda has definitely seen an increase in interest, passion and bands around the steel pan. So much so, that the campaign is now on to revive the interest in the classical instrument.

More ironic is the fact that there are even more church steel bands, than there are community bands.

click to read full story

Trinidad - Pan Trinbago did show resilience, keeping the fires burning, and the Steel bands Flags flying high in 2008, given the many challenges that keep threatening its very survival.

Incorporated by an Act of Parliament, (Act No. 5 of 1986), still, for reasons unknown to Pan Trinbago, there is no clear understanding or agreement with those in authority concerning the rights and entitlements of Pan Trinbago Inc. So, we keep on imploring in anticipation of our just dues.

Another highly anticipated and successful Panorama Competition was concluded at Skinner’s Park, San Fernando on Carnival Saturday. We saw Phase 11, Sound Specialists and Pan Elders as WINNERS in the large, medium and small bands categories, respectively, for Panorama 2008. Hearty congratulations are extended to all concerned.

click to read full story

Cuba -The salsa music of Puerto Rican Andy Montañez and the son music of Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco will provide the entertainment for the closing activity of Cubadisco 2008 at the José Martí Tribuna Antimperialista.

The Cubadisco fair is considered the most important event of the Cuban music industry.

This year’s event is dedicated to Africa and its descendants in the Americas. Twelve culture ministers and numerous artists from the African continent and the Caribbean have confirmed their participation at Cubadisco 2008.

Every year Cubadisco is dedicated to a country and a musical genre, it also reveres artists and personalities with an outstanding creative labour in the Cuban Music World. During this Fair take place specialized conferences, expositions, colloquiums, concerts, new CD releases plus a wide musical programming at different theaters and salons of Havana City, with the participation of many Cuban and foreing groups and interpreters.

Cubadisco is the best ocassion to appreciate the record catalogues with more than 2500 titles of the best Cuban Music, enjoy live shows of highlight performance companies, share encounters with collectionists and experts of the Musical Industry, it is also a meeting with musical editors, musical instruments creators, designers and musical magazines directors.

Also on hand will be the Folk Dance Company of Alexandria (Egypt), the Nigerian group Drame-Dance, the group of Senegalese musician Alboury Dabo, Josiah Kinlock from the Bahamas, the Grenadian steel band Commancheros and a musical group, representing the Carnival of Trinidad.

click to read full story

During the last week in August 2005 the collection of paintings by artist Trinidadian Joseph Charles on the history and development of the steelpan were on exhibition and for sale by private auction. This collection was exhibited during last year's carnival (2004) at The National Museum and Art Gallery in Trinidad and Tobago for six weeks.  It had been originally scheduled for two weeks but held over by public demand.

About The Artist  - Joseph Charles

Born on January 14th 1948 in Penal, San Francique Trinidad. His family internally migrated to Toco where he completed his primary education at Cumana Toco Seven-Day Adventist Primary School. At this primary school he was taught art and because of the talent shown he was selected by the then principal of the school to do a special workshop designed for the art teachers of all the schools in that region. A program sponsored by the then Government of the day.

click to see paintings

Ontario - What is almost certainly the world’s greatest private collection of vinyl Calypso records and videos, as well photographs, posters, flyers and other historical memorabilia may soon have a new owner and a new home.

It will not be in Trinidad, birthplace of the art form, as successive Trinidad and Tobago Governments, though approached to help in creating a Calypso Museum or Centre, have shown no interest.

So, Trinidad-born, Toronto-based George D. Maharaj is now in negotiation with the Government of Barbados, which is interested in acquiring his unique collection for their National Library.

click for full story

Guyana - The Culture Ministry has acquired 32 pieces of steel pan at a cost of US$20,000 to resuscitate the local steel band in time for Independence and Carifesta celebrations.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said “the pans will form the nucleus of a national steel band and this intervention would kick-start the local band to take its place in the national cultural arena.” The steel band was a popular form of entertainment for several years in Guyana but went into decline.  It is hoped that this initiative would bring it back to its former glory.
 

click for full story