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“The
Bradley Years”
The
Bradley Years represent the definitive collection
of steelband music arrangements and performances
for a large steel orchestra. This collection
showcases seven classic arrangements from the
master arranger Clive Bradley. Bradley
is considered to be the best steelband music
arranger ever by many, including his peers.
In addition, the arrangements are performed
by one of the finest steelbands in the world,
New York’s Pantonic Steel Orchestra. Clive Bradley
had a very special relationship with Pantonic.
This orchestra clinched the title of panorama
champions five times in seven years - performing
Bradley’s musical works. The performances
were captured by Basement Recordings days before,
and in one instance, mere moments before they
took the stage for the prestigious annual steelband
music panorama competition.
The recordings
capture, reproduce and present an unrivalled
clarity with sonic realism, of a large steel
orchestra fielding between one hundred and one
hundred twenty musicians - unlike any other
steelband music recordings in its class.
This body of musical work is a sterling addition
for all fans, educators, players, historians
and fine music collectors.
click to listen
Global
- Experience
the beauty of the steelpan instrument through the
two latest CD releases from Basement Recordings.
Three-minute samples from the Pan In New York 2009
CDs - of both regular and slow tempo performances
- are being featured. Content is being added,
so keep checking regularly. Both “Pan
In New York 2009,” and “Pan In New York 2009 - The
Cooldown Versions” are a
continuation
of the Pan-4-Life series from Basement Recordings.
read more
Simply
one of the greatest steelband recordings to date!
A collector’s item...
[ PANTONIC + BASEMENT + BRADLEY
]x 4 =
MASTERPIECE - Clive Bradley the Master at
Work -
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 -Monday
February 28, 2011 When Steel Talks
Panorama - Finals Week -
“I like the way Trinis talk....cook....walk” Eric Mannweiler reports on his 2011 steelband panorama
experiences
Trinidad
& Tobago- I have to apologize again
for not updating my posts in a week
or so. I had my girlfriend, my
teacher, and a colleague of mine
come down last week, and so not only
did I have two semis to play and
prepare for, but I had entertaining
to do... They have all had to return
to the states, and so I now have a
little more time to write. There
have been tons of things I've wanted
to write about since last time, so
please forgive this very long post!
Here goes:
My girlfriend and I took a trip out
to the bird sanctuary in the Caroni
Swamp, because she loves birds we
both really appreciate nature. Even
though it was pouring rain, the trip
was an awesome experience for a
number of reasons! While waiting for
the downpour to stop, a couple guys
noticed my pan sticks and started a
long conversation about this year's
Panorama (having just completed
Semis). read
more
Web Posted -Monday
February 28, 2011 When Steel Talks
Single-Pan Band
Finalists:
Trinidad & Tobago Panorama
- 2011
Trinidad
& Tobago
-
San Juan East Side Symphony
continued its winning streak
with 277 points at the end
of the National Single Pan
Semi Finals last Saturday
evening.
The San Juan band under the
baton of Duvone Stewart
playing Burning Flames’
composition “The Magician”
maintained its lead by five
points over its nearest
rival Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel
Orchestra.
The “Army” band went with
Robert Tobitt’s arrangement
of “Battle Zone” to gain the
judges’ nod and a place in
the finals.
Third place was captured by
the Trinidad & Tobago Fire
Service Band with 270
points. Their tune of choice
was Winston Soso’s “I Don’t
Mind”. click for
more
Web Posted -Sunday
February 27, 2011 When Steel Talks
An Insider’s Review of What Inspired the Creation of Panorama Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?
by Desmond Chase
Brooklyn, New York- When I was asked to participate in the Symposium on Panorama on 2/17/11 having been a member of the team established by the then Prime Minister of T&T in 1961 to address the ongoing "gang-warfare" then existing amongst the Steelbands, I considered a duty to take part. The question asked "was it time to revisit the -format of Panorama. My answer was that the only element which could have been considered at the then time was to display the "Spirit of Carnival" which received significant count for the winning band. read
more
Web Posted -Saturday
February 26, 2011 When Steel Talks
Junior Panorama finals:
Junior Steel Orchestras in the Spotlight -
Results & Order of Appearance
Trinidad
& Tobago
-
Thirty-one steelbands and
one guest band have advanced
to the National Junior
Panorama competition on
Sunday 27 February 2011 at
the Queen’s Park
Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
The competition in
collaboration with Pan
Trinbago and Pan In Schools
Committee, is divided into
three categories, i.e.
Primary (13), Secondary (11)
and Non-School (8).
Forty-seven bands were
judged over a period of four
days at schools and panyards
in Trinidad and
Tobago....Playing at
position one is Fifth
Company Rising Stars. Their
tune of choice is Aldwyn
Roberts’ “Pan In ‘A’ Minor”
arranged by Al Buntins.
read more
Web Posted -Saturday
February 26, 2011 Sachem Patch
Steel Impressions Perform
at Sachem Library
New York,
USA- In the middle of a long,
cold winter the warm and soothing
sounds of Steel Impressions was a
welcomed change. Their percussive
resonance was evocative of lying on
the beach with the waves crashing in
the distance, or gathering with your
friends at your favorite tiki bar;
in other words, it was a promise of
what is just around the corner.
The family steel band from
Amityville brought a smile to
everyone's face during a Friday
evening performance at the Sachem
Public Library. It was part of a
celebration of Black History Month.
The show featured authentic
Caribbean music including: calypso,
reggae and soca tunes, and even a
snippet of classical on this
singular instrument.
Steel Impressions has been
performing on Long Island for the
past 17 years. O.V. Agard, the
bandleader, originally hails from
Guyana, South America. read
more
Web Posted -Thursday
February 24, 2011 When Steel Talks
Thoughts on the Panorama Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?
by Andy Narell
Brooklyn, New York- Let me make something clear right from the start - I love Panorama. It is one of the truly unique and exciting musical and cultural events in the world. Let’s not forget that. Like the pan itself, we should appreciate what we have. For a country of 1.3 million (not counting Brooklyn and the rest of the Trini diaspora) to mount a festival of this magnitude - several thousand players, 70 or 80 huge bands, pan round de neck - everybody somehow making it to the savannah for the big musical fete, the atmosphere on the track, the north stand, the motivation of the players, the tension and the debates about ‘who go win’ - it’s one of the great spectacles of world music. read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 23, 2011 When Steel Talks
The Business of Panorama Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?
by Dalton Narine
Brooklyn, New York- ....No cheap shot this, but Pan used to ride high and mighty; now, alas, no direction home. It has strayed in the desert for too long ramajaying with Panorama, his gyul of 48 years. You know how many calypsos have bemoaned such relationship? Mos’ def, Pan needs a deputy. Bad. It needs an infusion of essentials to jack up its manhood. Fo’-day morning, one could hear chords and crescendos drifting in the breeze a long way from the pan yard, yet nobody would dare brisk their way into the Panorama to arrest the Carnival madness. Nobody wished to see the forest for the trees. Nor the music for the money. Any money. read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 23, 2011 When Steel Talks
Panorama’s Ill-Advised Drift Away From Carnival Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?
by Les Slater
Brooklyn, New York- It was the Carnival celebration that gave rise to the steel band, so it was only fitting that George Goddard, George Yeats and others (including Desmond Chase) would have pressed authorities for the steel band to have a forum of its own in the organized Carnival festivities, beyond its then dominant role of providing music for street revelry. Panorama was thus intrinsically a Carnival animal from its inception. Whether by moves that were deliberate, or through the ineluctable demands of what some might call “progress”, or on account of whatever combination of factors, we have seen notable signs of fissuring in the once seamless pairing of Carnival and Panorama.
read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 23, 2011 When Steel Talks
The Steelpan Revolution will be Televised - And Then Again Maybe Not... Symposium tackles the Panorama question: Is there a need to revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?
Brooklyn, New York- The recent events in Tunisia, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East have again taught us that revolution and change will not necessarily happen when and where you think. In addition, those recent occurrences have also illustrated, that the incident or voice which will become the pebble that precipitates the crystallization, or start of an avalanche - is not necessarily what or who you think it might be.
Last week, the Trinidad and Tobago Folk Arts Institute held a special symposium titled “Is there a Need to Revisit the Steel Band Panorama Format?” While the symposium went on without a major shift on the seismic scale of steelpan music activities, the aftermaths of what was put out there on the table for public consumption, may have massive volcanic repercussions in the future, all over the steel orchestras and steelpan music panorama world.
read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 23, 2011 When Steel Talks
Semi Finals - Panorama
2011 Eric Mannweiler reports on his 2011 steelband panorama
experiences
Trinidad
& Tobago- I can't describe in words how exciting, inspiring, and overwhelming it was to see nearly 50 steelbands in one place (all of which are way bigger than the biggest bands back home!) Also to see such support for steelband... it's unbelievable how many people showed up to hear the bands! The morning had a fairly orderly crowd with plenty of sitting space on the drag's bleachers, and enough room that bands could move on and off the drag without too much trouble. By the time Renegades formed up in the street, there was standing room only, and that wasn't even on
‘the Drag!’ read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 23, 2011 The Trinidad Guardian
Media get bashing by Pan
Trinbago
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. - I don’t know which was worse—the hurt or the shock—hearing Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz bash the media on national television. It was during last Sunday’s National Panorama semifinals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, that Diaz was being interviewed on NCC TV (Ch 4) by Judith Laird, when he launched his anti-media attack. Suggesting that local media practitioners were a bunch of freeloaders, Diaz said the media were just about “freeness.” He proceeded to ask what tangible does the local media do for Pan Trinbago, adding that Pan Trinbago was in dire need of funding but the media were doing nothing to assist; instead just hitching a free ride at Pan Trinbago projects. I thought I’d heard wrong until my colleague, Bobie-Lee Dixon, exclaimed: “What is that he say? The media like freeness?”
It then sunk in that I’d heard correctly. Dixon is the reporter I’d assigned over a month ago to get an interview with the Pan Trinbago president about previous utterances made by Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston Peters on pan and Panorama. She reported back to me that Diaz had declined being interviewed, telling her, “the Guardian does only write s**t about Pan Trinbago.” To date, not a single member of the Pan Trinbago executive has acceded to Dixon’s request for an interview on the matter. When I told my Editor Suzanne Sheppard about Diaz’s comments, she asked: “Which Pan Trinbago? The same one we just paid money to the NCC for accreditation to cover Panorama? What freeness is Mr. Diaz referring to?” read more
Web Posted -Tuesday
February 22, 2011 The Trinidad Guardian
Primary school pan short
of facilities
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. - A lack of space and facilities are hindering many primary schools from qualifying for the Ministry of Education’s Pan in the Classroom programme and other arts initiatives proposed in the ministry’s revised primary school curriculum. The announcement was made yesterday by Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh during his feature address at the launch of the National Junior Panorama at Diego Martin Boys’ RC School, Church Street, Diego Martin. The school’s steelband kicked off the competition with their selection of Benjai’s Trini. read more
Web Posted -Monday
February 21, 2011 When Steel Talks
Trinidad
& Tobago
-
The finalists for
the Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband
Panorama Finals were announced during the wee
hours of the morning of February 21.
Thirty-one steel
orchestras made the cut from a field of
forty-four who took the stage at the “Savannah
Party’ yesterday witnessed by thousands.
The event started after 10:00 a.m. and ended
after 1:00 a.m. the following morning.
Usually the top
ten steel orchestras move on to the final phase
of competition. However, two two-way ties
in the Small Conventional Steel Orchestra
category generated eleven bands in the “top ten”
positions, which will vie for the title of 2011
champs in among the small bands.
The Grand Finals
for the Medium and Large Conventional Steel
Orchestra categories is scheduled for Saturday 5
March at the Queen’s Park Savannah,
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The finalists in each
of the three categories reflected in the
results page. click for complete
results
Web Posted -Monday February 21, 2011 Trinidad &
Tobago’s Newsday
Golden Symphony tops
semi-final
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. -After placing third in the preliminaries, Arima Golden Symphony placed first in the semi-final round of the small band Panorama at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Their strong and energetic performance of De Fosto’s “In She Rainorama”, earned them first with 263 points.
First time entrant, St Margaret’s Superstars, which placed first in the preliminaries, slipped to fifth place in the semis with 256 points. The band is made up of a mixture of teachers, parents and students of St Margaret’s RC School in Belmont. The school has been in winner’s row several times at the Junior Panorama level.
Tornadoes and Merrytones tied for second with 261 points and Golden Hands placed fourth with 259 points.
The small band competition got things off to a steady start in the National Panorama Semi-Finals which also featured bands in the small, medium and large categories. In small bands the number of players allowed for the semis is 60; the figure is no more than 90 for mediums and large bands are allowed 120. read more
Web Posted -Sunday
February 20, 2011 When Steel Talks
Junior Panorama kicks off
for the Trinidad & Tobago 2011 Panorama season
Trinidad
& Tobago
-
It is the turn of the
nation’s Junior National
steel orchestras to be in
the spotlight in a music
showdown, the first round of
which runs February 21—24,
2011. Some forty-seven bands
in the Primary (18),
Secondary (15), and
Non-School (14) categories
registered to be part of
this year’s Ministry of
Education National Junior
Panorama 2011 - being held
in collaboration with Pan
Trinbago and the Pan in
Schools Coordinating
Council.
....All the bands will be adjudicated at their schools or panyards. read more
Web Posted -Sunday
February 20, 2011 Trinidad Express
Newspapers
Pan lovers see red over
Greens
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. - Pan lovers and Pan Trinbago officials were yesterday upset over the lack of respect shown to the National instrument by patrons liming on the Greens at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, during the National Panorama semi-finals.
On several occasions yesterday, the house announcer had to plead with the DJ sound systems and rhythm sections to stop playing when the steel orchestras were performing before the judges. These calls for the music to stop were, for the most part, ignored and the DJ music could be heard in the Grand Stand.
It was an alarming sight on the Greens, with a couple thousand people packed into the area, which also housed tents, bar-b-que pits, buffet tables and large bars. There were also sound systems, stages with rhythm sections, steel ensembles and even a small brass band. In effect, there were several mini fetes taking place on the Greens.
Pan Trinbago Vice President, Byron Serette, was clearly upset over the situation, but told the Express the people on the Greens had purchased tickets to attend the event just as everyone else. He said Pan Trinbago did have stipulations on use of the Greens, but everything just seemed to be "thrown out the window" yesterday.
Web Posted -Sunday
February 20, 2011 The Trinidad Guardian
Forgotten cavaliers of
pan New beginnings for Bobby Mohammed
and old pan side
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. - How
can a man devise a way to share the
love for his wife and his dedication
to his music without any compromise?
At the height of his musical career,
Lennox Bobby Mohammed encountered
such a debilitating dilemma; a
passionate and sensitive panist, now
in his late 60s. Looking back to his
past, he recalled the event when he
and his wife parted ways. He
suddenly grew melancholy and poetic
as he mused: “How could love be so
beautiful and turned out to be so
painful?” Mohammed recalled his
boyhood days when he lived with his
parents in a humble home in Siparia
Old Road, Fyzabad. In those days he
listened with horror to the many
weird and scary stories. A childlike
smile played on his face as he
explained, “Boy, my grand moddah
used to tell us some scary stories
about jumbies and lagahoo wid chain
dragging behind; soucouyant, la
diablesse and douennes wid feet
turned backwards.” Many nights he
was forced to sleep alongside his
father for comfort and security
against those ghostly, nocturnal
characters. However, the village
life was generally a happy one,
mingling with his elder sister
Lynette and younger brothers Selwyn
and Lester along with neighbours and
other school friends. read more
Web Posted -Friday February 19, 2011 The Lethbridge Herald
CCH plays to the sound of a different drum
Alberta, Canada -
Music students at Catholic Central High School don't need encouragement to beat the drum about the school's new steel pan drums.
"I was really excited because I've always loved the sound of steel drums, I've always loved that Jamaican kind of sound," said Jayme Webb, a Grade 10 student. "When I found out I was going to learn how to play them I was just ecstatic because I love percussion." read
more
Web Posted -Friday February 18, 2011 Tobago News
Katzenjammers tops first
round
Tobago, W.I. -
Steelband music reverberated from the East to West of Tobago last week Saturday as all roads in Tobago led to the various pan tents, as seven pan sides played before the national judges, vying to see, which band would be into the Panorama Semi finals.
The first stop was the T&Tec New East Side Dimension in Belle Garden. Central Symphony was next with their rendition of 'Scratcherman' by Crazy. Then it was off to Buccoo, where the NLCB Buccooneers played their piece from Destra's, 'Call Meh'. Bucconeers are the 2010 Tobago Pan Champs.
Their arranger Seion Gomez said Panorama does not end here, as his future aim is to develop the youth in the band, and help them to read and write music.
One pan player Chad Duncan, has been playing with Buccooneers, for the past 4 years and he is expected to be handed the reigns as arranger of the pan side.
"I love the national instrument, I have been playing it since I know myself, and I just love pan," Duncan said. read
more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 16, 2011 When Steel Talks
Steelband Music Panorama
Semi-finals: Order of Appearance - 2011
Trinidad
& Tobago
- St. Margaret’s
Superstars and Katzenjammers
Steel Orchestras scored the
most points in their
respective categories in the
National Panorama Small and Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries.
St. Margaret’s
Superstars, the Junior Panorama winner 2009,
now competing in the ‘senior
panorama’ – appeared at position eleven, playing “Calling Meh” arranged by Shenelle Abraham. For their effort, they amassed 271 points.
In the Medium Band category, Katzenjammers of Tobago placed first with a total of 252 points. Their tune of choice was Edwin Pouchet’s
arrangement of “Wake Up”.
The qualifying round which was held over a period of four days in
the Tobago, North, South/Central and East
regions of Trinidad and Tobago - saw a total of 87 steel bands vying for places in the semi final round. While the sixteen Large Bands were not
adjudicated, they played their Panorama piece and were subjected to the band count
(number of performing musicians).
At the end of
the Preliminaries, forty-four bands
will proceed to the National Panorama Semi Finals aka “Savannah Party” on Sunday 20th February 2011 at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain,
beginning 9:00 a.m. click for complete listing
Web Posted -Tuesday
February 15, 2011 When Steel Talks
Steelband Music Panorama
Preliminary Round Results - 2011
Trinidad
& Tobago -
Two steel orchestras from Trinidad’s
sister isle of Tobago bands emerged at the top of the Medium Band Category after the
Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama Preliminaries ended on Monday
February 14. Katzenjammers from Blackrock, was first playing an
Edwin Pouchet arrangement of “Wake Up”. Buccooneers also impressed with their rendition of
“Calling Me” arranged by Seion
Gomez. The first fourteen
bands go through to the
National Semi-Finals on
Sunday 20 February, 2011.
First time entrant St. Margaret's Superstars, a mixture of current and past pupils and parents of St. Margaret's R.C.
in Belmont, surprised many with
their classy performance of Shenelle
Abraham's arrangement of “Calling Meh”. That performance earned them the top spot in the Small
Conventional Steel Orchestra category at the completion of
Monday’s preliminary round. Last year's winner and defending champs Arima Golden Symphony was not too far behind in third position. The first fourteen bands go through to the Semi-Finals on Sunday 20 February, 2011. full results
Web Posted -Monday
February 14, 2011 When Steel Talks
Esperanza Spalding takes home the
Grammy for Best New Artist
Global -
Jazz singer Esperanza Spalding took
home the Grammy for Best New Artist.
When Steel Talks revisits a past
article about Ms. Spalding. read more
Web Posted -Monday
February 14, 2011 Trinidad &
Tobago’s Newsday
Steelband competition off
to rollicking start
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I.
- Playing a rollicking Alexis
“Lecky” Hope arrangement of Brian
“Bean” Griffith’s “How We Coming”
before a crowd at their Pan Theatre
at Belle Garden, in east Tobago,
Friday night, TTEC East Side New
Dimension lifted the curtain on
competition in the National Panorama
Preliminaries among Small and Medium
Conventional steelbands in the
island.
TTEC East Side, as the band is
widely known, which once ruled the
roost in Tobago’s steelband
fraternity having captured the
Panorama Champions title on the
island a record 13 times, was first
before the judges playing in the
Small Bands category.
From Belle Garden the roving panel
of judges moved onto Old Road
Junction in Scarborough to hear
Central Symphony play “Scratcher
Man”. Next stop was the little
seaside village of Buccoo on
Tobago’s south-west end where NLCB
Buccooneers served up a
scintillating rendition of “Calling
Me”. read more
Web Posted -Monday
February 14, 2011 The Richard
Francois Blog
Congratulations to
Parkside Steel 2011 Guyana
Panorama champs
Georgetown, Guyana
- Parkside Steel Orchestra
arguably remains the modern Guyanese
steel pan music standard bearers who
continue to redefine musical
excellence with their every
performance. From its humble
beginnings downstairs of the
Department of Culture building which
was located at the back of the
National Park, Parkside has become
the top steel band in the country.
I would like to congratulate the men
and women of Parkside Steel for
winning the recently held Republic
Bank’s 2011 Mashramani Steel Band
Competition. Parkside showed its
dominating excellence by
convincingly winning the competition
by an astounding 36 points, beating
their opponents by a wide margin.
read more
Web Posted-
Monday February 14, 2011 Stabroek News
Mashramani Pan-O-Rama
Steel Band
Georgetown, Guyana
- The energetic North
Ruimveldt Steel Orchestra competing at the
Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-O-Rama Steel Band
Competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
yesterday.
click for original post
Web Posted-
Monday February 14, 2011 Trinidad &
Tobago Guardian
Judges fearful of
panyards
Trinidad & Tobago,
W.I. - Music
adjudicators are not comfortable going into
panyards in Laventille and environs to preside
over steelbands competing in this year’s
National Panorama competition says Douglas
Williams, chairman, northern region Pan
Trinbago. As a result, Pan Trinbago is staging
this year’s competition series at major public
venues across the country. read more
Web Posted -Sunday
February 13, 2011 Trinidad &
Tobago’s Newsday
Pan arranger discharged
from hospital
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. -
Pan arranger, Edwin Pouchet who had
been hospitalised in Tobago after
complaining of feeling unwell, has
returned home after being discharged
and is said to be resting
comfortably.
The long-time arranger of defending
Panorama champs PSC Silver Stars,
had been in the process of arranging
for one of Tobago’s top medium band,
Katzenjammers.
The 55-year-old was admitted to the
Scarborough General Hospital last
Sunday after he complained of
feeling unwell while working at
Katzenjammers’ panyard in Black
Rock.
Pouchet’s wife, Christine said he
had been kept under observation
following his medical history which
included a triple by-pass in 1999
and angioplasty in 2004. read more
Web Posted -Sunday
February 13, 2011 When Steel Talks
Broadcasting Panorama
2011: Another Year, Same Old Story Panorama 2011 on
the air?
by Kenneth Headley
Global -
It is panorama time again, and all
pan lovers around the world are
excited to see what surprises this
year’s competition will bring.
Nonetheless, the first rounds of
Panorama 2011 have come and gone for
many bands except for the East and
South Zone Preliminaries without
most of us not hearing the sweet
sound of pan.
As a true pan lover I don’t just
want to hear the medium bands and
large bands, I want to hear the
brilliant interpretations of
arrangers in the single pan and
small band categories as well. With
Tobago and the large bands only
being adjudicated in their
perspective yards, why isn’t the
rest of the preliminary round of
panorama streaming on the internet.
With current advancements in
technology, we should be able to
watch or listen to the full
progression of this competition from
any part of the world. read more
Web Posted -Saturday February 12, 2011 The Trinidad Guardian
How Sagicor Exodus came to settle for $1
Trinidad & Tobago -
Pan Trinbago Apology to Exodus” screamed the headline over the body of text that stated in its final paragraph: “In an effort to resolve this matter which has been under legal consideration since then, Sagicor Exodus has agreed to accept the sum of $1 representing damages.” What had the Caribbean Panorama, World Steelband Music Festival and National Panorama champions done to become embroiled in a legal matter with Pan Trinbago and, after being victorious, settle for just one dollar?
....“But we learned that Arnold said he wanted to ‘break up the big five’—Desperadoes, Phase II, All Stars, Renegades and Exodus,” said Mohammed.
“So on the night of the final someone called and told him we were appearing with more than 100 players. I called him one hour before the start on his cell phone to enquire, and he admitted that he received the call, but said he ‘was not taking on that.’ “Yet, when we went on stage we were delayed for nearly 45 minutes by Pan Trinbago personnel and police who were there to ensure law and order and not to determine the numbers in bands. “Sagicor Exodus was the second in playing position, but the first of the “power” bands. We admitted to the officials that we had 124 players, and we were bullied by them and the Police to reduce the numbers to 100. This was never done before by any past president of Pan Trinbago. read
more
Web Posted -Friday
February 11, 2011 The Trinidad Guardian
Emily, the female Ellie
Mannette
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I. - Meet Emily Lemmerman. She is not just a panwoman, she is a tuner, and builder of steelpans in Austin, Texas. She owns the Barracuda Steel Drums Company and, together with Darren Duke and Billy Sheeder, they have been charting a beautiful course for pan. Now get this, Lemmerman eats, sleeps, breathe and even sits on the pan. It’s her life. She is not fly-by-night pan tuner. Her skills have been honed under one of the best in the business—Elliot “Ellie” Mannette. She served her apprenticeship for years (1998-2004), and in tribute to the man Mannette, she chose the name Barracuda for her company. read more
Web Posted -Friday February 11, 2011 The Noosa
Journal
Search for players to
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Doonan, Australia -
Doonan resident Matthew Davies started Panschool - this week’s feature business in The Journal’s Stimulus Package promotion - with one mission: to inspire steel bands across the Sunshine Coast.
Originally from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Matthew grew up entrenched in steel bands and their percussion instruments.
“Sharon, Lennox and myself decided to start Panschool because steel bands are almost unknown in Australia,” he said.
“Steel bands are hugely popular throughout the Caribbean, North America, the UK, Europe and, more recently in Asia. We want to develop a steel band culture that will result in Australia being able to compete at the international level in the steel band competitions.” read
more
Web Posted -Thursday February 10, 2011 Tobago News
Tobago’s young musical
doctor
Tobago, W.I. -
Binta S. Carrington is one of Tobago's young, talented musical geniuses. She personifies herself with words such as: humility, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and success.
...."My mom realising this struggle, sat me down one day and told me that I had the potential to achieve any goal I pursue. However, seeing that I was good at music, it was better to pursue a field that would pose a challenge to me. She said to me, that if for some strange reason I became tired of my career path, then it was possible for me to fall back on Music."
This is where she decided that she would become a 'Musical Doctor'. This meant that after becoming a medical doctor, she would use music as therapy in the healing process of her patients.
....During the last 14 years, she played the tenor pan, and has performed as a soloist, duet, and band member. Additionally, she has composed and arranged music.
"In 2004, my arrangement of Winston "Shadow" Bailey's "Cocoyea" copped sixth place in the National Junior Panorama finals for "Katzenjammers' Kids". In, 2005, I arranged on the road for 'Our Boys Steel Orchestra' both Carnival Monday and Tuesday." read
more
Web Posted -Thursday February 10, 2011 Tobago News
Hope Pan Groovers tops
Tobago Single bands
Tobago, W.I. -
Hope Pan Groovers which once ruled the roost as the premier single pan steel band in Tobago sounded the first warning in the quest for steel band honours in the 2011 Panorama competition in Tobago.
The Hope village steel band emerged as the top Tobago single pan steel band in the Pan Trinbago Tobago Region Single Pan Band preliminary round of the national Panorama competition.
Last week Friday, Hope Pan Groovers was among five Tobago bands which faced the national judgers at their pan yards.
When the 'smoke cleared' and the judges declared their results, it was Hope Pan Groovers with 235 points which finished as the top Tobago band. Groovers rendered a Tony 'Pan Jumbie' Williams arrangement of 'Showtime'. read
more
Web Posted -Thursday
February 10, 2011 When Steel Talks
Steel Orchestra Under
Siege in the Land of Pan - Trinidad and Tobago by Michael L.
Joseph
Trinidad
& Tobago- In Trinbago, the home
of the Steel Pan, there is mischief
afoot. Please allow me some space to
tell my story. On the night of Feb.
9, 2011, just around 10:45PM the
Southern Marines Steel Orchestra was
outside their Pan Theatre rehearsing
for Panorama 2011, as is the custom
and practice for the near sixty
years of this Steel Orchestra in the
community of Marabella and with
Panorama preliminaries just three
days away two Police officers, in
Police vehicle #PCL 9796, came and informed a member of the leadership that the Steelband does not have permission to practice outside the yard, and they should stop playing the instruments immediately.
The members thought this had to be an early all fools trick, so they kept on playing. I came in time to see the driver reentering the vehicle. I indicated to him and the WPC at his side, that, maybe we should talk. He made a sign indicating that he was not hearing and drove off. Within half an hour a member came into the Pan yard to inform me that they were back, with reinforcement. When I came outside, I saw one other officer, making them three in number and they were trying to explain something to a member of our executive. I intervened by saying goodnight, who is the senior officer in charge here. The new comer identified himself as the one. read more
Web Posted -Thursday February 10, 2011 The Times
Reporter
Dover High Steel Band to
perform annual Pantasia concert
Ohio, USA -
Dover High’s Steel Band will transport members of the audience to a more tropical setting Feb. 20 when members present their annual Pantasia concert.
“Here Comes the Sun” will be performed at 7 p.m. in the Dover High auditorium under the direction of Joan Wenzel.
The program will showcase the 35 musicians of the steel band, sharing the stage with special guest and clinician Tom Miller. Miller’s experience as a performer, composer, arranger and educator has made him an integral part of Pantasia for the past 15 year, teaching and performing with the students.
The band will perform a a program of favorites, including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” their signature song; an arrangement of “Amazing Grace” with a distinctive Trinidad setting, and others.
In addition to new selections taught by Miller, the band will perform a trio of arrangements by Matt Dudack, artistic director of the University of Akron Steel Band. read
more
Web Posted -Thursday
February 10, 2011 When Steel Talks
North Region Small & Medium Conventional Steel Orchestras - Preliminary: Order of Appearance
Trinidad
& Tobago- Twenty three (23) North Bands competing in the Small and Medium Conventional steel orchestra preliminaries drew for positions earlier today.
Come Saturday 12 February, they will go through their paces before two separate panels of judges at Victoria Square, Park Street, Port-of-Spain. The competition starts at 1:00 p.m. read more
Web Posted -Thursday February 10, 2011 Trinidad Express
Band members discuss
moving to ‘safer’ location Panyard shooting
victim laid to rest
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
UNI-STARS band members are contemplating whether to remain at their Laventille base or move to Woodbrook, Port of Spain, after last week's gun attack which left a founding member dead and three others injured.
The possible relocation was the topic of discussion at the funeral of 55-year-old Henry Cyrus, who was shot dead on February 4.
Anthony Walker, another founding member, said, "It was told to me that we may move and that we may have to practise elsewhere until this thing blows over."
But his suggestion was shot down by another band member.
"Why we must move? What! Is because of some lil boys," said the woman, who declined to reveal her identity.
Cyrus's funeral took place the Solo Harmonites panyard, near the Morvant Junction. There was a group of police officers present. read
more
Web Posted -Monday
February 7, 2011 When Steel Talks
Journalist Keith Smith
has Passed
Trinidad
& Tobago- Respected journalist
and editor of the Trinidad
Express has passed. He was 65 years
old.
Noted writers,
educators and musicians shared their
fond memories of Mr. Smith in the
When Steel Talks Forum.
Author and
educator Kim Johnson says, “Keith
Smith was one of the most remarkable
men I’ll ever meet. He was certainly
the most gifted writer I’ve
known...” read more
Web Posted -Monday
February 7, 2011 When Steel Talks
Single Pan Band Preliminary Results:
North Region
Trinidad
& Tobago- Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra and Scrunters Pan Groove both tied for the top spot in the recent Single Pan Band preliminaries for the Northern Region. The two bands and twelve others now join other semi-finalists from all the regions, as they strive to make it to the finals, and ultimately, cop the 2011 Single Pan Band national title.
Performing at positions 11 and 27 respectively, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra and Scrunters Pan Groove emerged with 267 points each to secure a place in the National Semi Finals, to be held at the same venue on Saturday 26th February 2011. Also making the cut was the Trinidad & Tobago Fire Services Steel Orchestra. The Morvant-based band secured 257 points.
Twenty-eight steel bands were judged on Arrangement (40), General Performance (40), Tone (40) and Rhythm (10), making a total of 100 points. Fourteen of those Single Pan bands will advance to the semi final stage. click
to see bands that move on to the semi finals
Web Posted -Monday
February 7, 2011 When Steel Talks
Single Pan Band Preliminary Results:
South Region & Central Region
Trinidad
& Tobago- Four steel bands in the South/Central region have advanced to the National Single Pan Bands Semi Finals.
The bands are Self Help Marines, Rio Claro Koskeros, Shades In Steel and Fyzabad 4th Dimension.
Self Help Marines of Point Fortin performing in tenth position, played a Jason Baptiste arrangement of Denyse Plummer’s “Nah Leaving”.
A total of ten bands were scheduled to face the adjudicators on Sunday evening in an event billed The Pleasantville Scrimmage at the Pleasantville Community Centre, San Fernando, south Trinidad.
click for results
Web Posted -Monday
February 7, 2011 When Steel Talks
Single Pan Band Preliminary Results: Eastern Region & Tobago Region
Trinidad
& Tobago- The preliminary stages for the Single Pan Band competition have been completed. In the Eastern region, San Juan East Side Symphony under the baton of Duvone Stewart topped the category. In Tobago, Hope Pan Groovers with arranger Tony 'Pan Jumbie' Williams took first place honors in this rounds. Eleven bands, and three bands from these two regions, respectively - move on to the semi-finals.
Playing at position nine, San Juan East Side Symphony caught the judges’ fancy with their rendition of Burning Flames’s “The Magician” to amass 280.5 points in the recently-concluded East Zone National Single Pan Preliminaries 2011 last Friday evening.
Defending Single Pan Band champion L. H. Pan Groove has to settle for second spot with 276 points. Their tune of choice was Shurwayne Winchester’s “Dead or Alive”. San Juan All Stars came in third with 271.5 points for their performance of “Bacchanal Time” composed and sung by Super Blue (Austin Lyons).
Eleven East bands in order of merit will proceed to the next round of the competition which comes off at the Saturday 26 February 2011 at Victoria Square, Port of Spain. read
more
Web Posted -Monday February 7, 2011 The Daily Collegian
Students celebrate Caribbean heritage Brooklyn based
steel drum orchestra CASYM performs at the
Caribbean Student Association event & Royal
Caribbean: Island Hopping & Saturday night in
the HUB Heritage Hall
Pennsylvania, USA -
Students had the chance to travel to the Caribbean islands Saturday night when the Caribbean Student Association held its “Royal Caribbean: Island Hopping” event.
Though reggae artist Rupee known for his hit single “Tempted to Touch ” was unable to perform, it did not stop CSA from giving Penn State a little taste of the Caribbean. To provide the full experience, Golden Krust provided Jamaican food at the event. The meal included rice and peas, roti, oxtail, curry chicken, white rice and black cake. read
more
Web Posted -Saturday
February 5, 2011 When Steel Talks
Steel Pan History, UWI & Woodbrook Playboyz Eric Mannweiler reports on his 2011 steelband panorama
experiences
Global- Ok so I have some awesome experiences to share. On Wednesday I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Jeannine Remy and sit in on her "Steel Pan History and Development" course at UWI. The students were all young, around their 20s. It was really encouraging to see people investing in the history of steelband, and considering it's future. Dr. Remy has so much information and was very welcoming, so I hope to be able to talk to her more. (I also plan to buy her book on Invaders, which I encourage all of you to do once if comes out.) UWI has such an awesome pan program, which I must admit I am jealous of. They not only have the history and development course, but a Steelband Literature course, a Steelband Technology course, plus all of the ensembles.. wow, I wish there were programs like that in Indiana. read
more
Web Posted -Saturday
February 5, 2011 When Steel Talks
Dedicate Panorama 2011 to Those Lives Lost Steelpan Music Community in Crisis
Global- To When Steel Talks, the Steelpan Community, and PanTrinbago, The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has definitely hit a low point when innocent pan men are afraid to go to their rehearsals with the fear of being shot and killed by those people in the country who are not living a traditional or true Trini way of life..
Pan-men Henry Cyrus and Wendell Joseph (RIP) were both killed in their perspective panyards over the last week or so. Beyond that, others were injured including a young schoolboy and an up and coming arranger, composer, panist, wife and mother, Ms. Avis Bruce. It would be very fitting for Pan Trinbago to dedicate Panorama 2011 to these two pan men and their families. This is ought to be Pan Trinbago’s overture on behalf of the Steel pan community to recognize the dedication love and most of all the unselfishness of these two pan men. Beyond that, it would show those vagabonds completing these horrendous crimes that panmen do not condone any form of violence. read
more
Web Posted -Thursday February 4, 2011 Jamaica Obsever
Steel band player killed in T&T drive-by
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – Police are searching for the gunmen who shot and killed a member of a steel band practicing for the upcoming Carnival celebrations during a drive-by shooting in the volatile Laventille area, along the east-west corridor last night.
Police said that Henry Cyrus, a founding member of the 'UNISTARS' band was killed while three other persons, including a schoolboy, remain hospitalised as a result of the shootings.
The arranger for the band, Michael Green, speaking on local radio, said that the incident has come as a shock, since the band is not located in what he described as the “hot sports” in Laventille that has seen a flare up in rival gang activities in recent months.
He said the incident occurred just as the band members were re-assembling for practice after a short break.
"Within that time a car just passed by and let go bullets, killing one man and injuring three others," he said, insisting “this is the peaceful area of Laventille, we are out of all those (criminal) activities".
read
more
Web Posted -Thursday February 4, 2011 CNC3
Panyard Shooting - Trinidad News Video Clip
Panman gunned down
Web Posted -Thursday February 3, 2011 Intermountain
Catholic
Juan Diego will host the
State Steel Drum Festival
Utah, USA - Juan Diego Catholic High School will host the Utah State Steel Drum Festival, a multi-school competition featuring Caribbean-style steel drums, Feb. 12.
Bands from Juan Diego, Saint John the Baptist Middle School, American Fork High and Junior High schools, West High School, Riverton High School, Timpanogos High School and Pleasant Grove Junior High will participate in this clinic and concert. "This state-wide festival will feature each band performing for a half an hour, followed by each band working one-on-one with a guest clinician," said Jed Blodgett, Juan Diego orchestra, percussion ensemble, steel drum and drumline director. Blodgett also is the director for percussion, steel drum band, and 6th grade band and orchestra at St. John the Baptist Middle School. read
more
Web Posted -Thursday February 3, 2011 Patch
Old Mill Steel Drum Band
Rocks the Tent at Polar Bear Plunge
Maryland, USA - The Old Mill Steel Drum Band performed at the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge this weekend, offering the warming sounds of the Caribbean to those who jumped in the bay’s freezing waters.
With countless thousands in attendance, the band was one of the featured performers of the day, playing between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for some of the most committed plungers.
“The band performed in the super plungers tent,” said bandleader and Old Mill Music Director, Mike Miller. A significant privilege considering the tent is an exclusive area.
“The audience danced and cheered and seemed to have a great time while we played,” said Miller. “People are always surprised to hear how good the band sounds.” read more
Web Posted -Wednesday
February 2, 2011 When Steel Talks
Bake & Shark, Bake &
Shark, BAKE AND SHARK! Eric Mannweiler reports on his 2011 steelband panorama
experiences
Global- Well folks, I finally got a
trip to Maracas in this afternoon. All the hype
you may have noticed Bake and Shark getting?
IT'S ALL TRUE! Hats off to Richard's Bake and
Shark, for what is perhaps one of the best
things I've had this trip! For those of you who
don't know what Bake and Shark is, picture this:
a piece of fried bake is cut open to make a
sandwich, in which two pieces of lightly fried
or breaded shark meat is put inside. Then you go
and pile on toppings like pepper sauce, mango,
pineapple, and all sorts of sauces. Delicious!
Maracas is also a beautiful place, with an
incredibly beautiful drive to get there.
I mentioned the other day
that I had been invited to play with Woodbrook
Playboyz and I was not sure if I would play with
them or not. Well their arranger, Karon
Valentine (spelling?) asked that I at least play
for the preliminaries this weekend. read
more
Web Posted -Tuesday February 1, 2011 When Steel Talks
The Philosophy of a Tune for Panorama by Khuent Rose
Global - The problem that we will face is that calling anything a "pan tune", more specifically narrowing the scope of a musical composition to fit the mores of a cultural habit. Trinidadian-social thinking will inherently propose certain things are more valid for the instrument than others, because of the close nature of the music that historically been translated to the instrument. read
more
Web Posted -Tuesday February 1, 2011 When Steel Talks
The Pan Tune is an
Anomaly by Daryl Joseph,
MA
Global - I have always maintained that the ‘pan tune’ is an anomaly caused by an unfortunate and untimely combination of circumstances that gave birth to this pseudo-genre of local music.
Recall that around the late 90s, a few things happened simultaneously:
Pan
arrangers were rewarded by the judges for
discarding a more ‘people friendly’ approach
to arranging in favour of a more musically
complex approach
The
result of point 1, above, is that less
crowd-pleasing, but more musically
‘sophisticated’ arrangements, calling for
more complicated melodies, gave rise to the
increase of ‘own tunes’ by arrangers.
Web Posted -Tuesday February 1, 2011 When Steel Talks
What is a Pan Tune? A When Steel Talks
Steelband Panorama Competition Special
Global - When Steel Talks was recently contacted by a well-known steelpan music academic who expressed some concern over certain tunes which have been listed in the 2011 Pan Tunes lineup.
The heading “Panorama Tunes for 2011” simply means the composer of the tune sent us written confirmation, with the submission of their music work(s), that they wanted their tune to be considered by steel orchestras for the global panorama seasons of said year.
As to what constitutes a panorama tune, that is still up for debate. Is it musical content and/or layout? Is it lyrical content? Is it historical content that relates to pan? Is it a tune written by the band's arranger? Or is a “pan tune” simply a tune that a band has chosen to play at panorama - no matter what the reason? read
more
Web Posted -Tuesday February 1, 2011 Haverhill
Echo
Workshop steels the
limelight in school visit
Suffolk, England - A musical taste of the Caribbean came to Clements Primary School in Haverhill when pupils got the chance to play steel pan drums.
East London-based Maju workshop went to the school last Wednesday to spend the day giving pupils the change to see what steel pan drumming is all about.
All the school’s classes, from nursery through to year five, received a demonstration before being given the chance to play a drum.
A spokeswoman for the school said: “It gives children another outlook at a different culture and a different way of playing things.
“Some of them have not even seen them before. It was lovely to see it. They had them all up dancing.
“It was lovely to hear it, just to hear the noise of the steel band.” read
original post
Web Posted
- When Steel Talks
When Steel Talks Steelband
Music Message Board is Open
on the Ning Network
Some of the most important, controversial,
thought-provoking and enlightening discussions on
the steelpan instrument, music and culture worldwide,
have taken place over the years on the When Steel
Talks “Message board.” Considered by many
to be a lightening-rod for change in the steelpan
music community, the WST message board has
provided a means unlike any for steelpan enthusiasts
to share information and communicate ideas.
Windows MSN
Groups has informed us that they are shutting down
their groups service as of February 21, 2009.
You can now find the When Steel Talks Group at
whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum
We look forward to you joining us.
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