Archive
Pan News Digest
Web Feed
Press Releases
The latest from our PR department.
Hot CD Releases
BASEMENT
CD & DVD Productions
|
|
|
|
The Business of Steelpan Music 24 -7
When Steel Talks (WST)
T-Shirts are now available! Show your
love for the Steelpan artform!
Get your
When Steel Talks
Everybody Listens!
Tee shirt now!
Click for details
|
Connect
with When Steel Talks on
facebook
|
Join
the When Steel Talks mailing newsletter
Stay on top of everything happening
in the global steelpan music world...
Over 100,000
members
subscribe now!
|
Follow
When Steel Talks on
|
“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
|
|
WST
YouTube Channel
|
|
Pan in New York CD and DVD available
here
|
“CD
Samples”
Pan in
New York 2009
|
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 -
Very Sweet Pan Music
Get Your Copy Now
click - limited copies available >>
|
Join
the
When Steel Talks family!
Get your When Steel Talks
T-Shirts
When Steel
Talks
|
WST’s Official Steelpan Music
Shop
Order Now!
|
order now
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 31, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Song for Panorama 2012
“Pan Turbulence”
sung by Natalie
Yorke
composed by
Jason “Peanuts” Isaac & Anthony “Lexo” Alexis
|
Global
- Jason “Peanuts” Isaac is an
extraordinary panman. He hails from the sleepy village of Point Cumana, north
Trinidad, where the band Boystown originates. From age six he was a member of
this famous orchestra, before he moved on to the Pan Am North Stars. This
versatile panist was like the restless wind.
....He migrated to the USA, Brooklyn to be exact, and there started to make
sweet music. Jason is best known for songs like: Jam Dem Raw, Hard Wine, Ten
Commandments of Pan and the classy and inspirational, Pan Redemption.
For 2012, Jason is back with Pan Turbulence.
click
to hear song |
|
Web Posted
- Sunday October 30,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
It’s Steelband Time in
Nigeria with the Third Secondary Schools’
Panorama
|
Nigeria
- The first day of November is a day of Steelpan
in Nigeria, as the Nigerian Schools Steelband Panorama is held for the third
time. Last year, seven steel orchestras participated in the event and this year,
additional schools which were in the audience as spectators will now take the
stage themselves. In all, twelve orchestras are expected to duel in the battle
for steelband music supremacy with the goal of winning top prizes. “We expect
more schools to participate each year as more schools get interested and want to
join up in the competition,” Chief Bowie Sonnie Bowei tells When Steel Talks.
Bowei, who came up with the idea of the Nigerian steelband competition is also
President and founder of the Nigerian Steelband Association.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Sunday October 30,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
“Thwaites Brothers” take the Steelpan on Tour to Indonesia, Jordan, Israel, North Africa and the Mid East, with Nasheed Hip Hop Group
“Native Deen”
|
Global
- It would be an understatement to say that the Thwaites Brothers are actively promoting steel pan all across the globe. Better, they're sweetening the planet with Pan! As musicians within Native Deen, they have performed in eleven (11) countries, three (3) continents and eighteen (18) cities since the beginning of 2011.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Sunday October 30,
2011
Trinidad &
Tobago Guardian
|
Codringtons take crown at
Pan Jazz challenge
|
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
- The Codrington Pan Family has won The First
Citizens International Steelpan Jazz Challenge, taking home the first prize of
$50,000. The other six finalists—Starlift, Couva Joylanders, Courts Sound
Specialists of Laventille, Redemption Sound Setters, Renegades, and Exodus—each
received $20,000. Held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on Friday, the Codrington Pan
Family edged out former Panorama champs Exodus and Renegades, who placed third
and second, respectively, in the finals.
....Playing Austin Lyons’ Ethel and Andre Tanker’s Forward
Home, arranged by Keisha and Khari Codrington, the eight-member band got a
standing ovation from the small crowd for playing a variety of conventional
instruments.
read more
then
discuss it here
|
|
Web Posted
- Saturday October 29,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
Duvone Stewart named 2012 Panorama Arranger for Renegades Steel Orchestra
|
Global
- It is now official, Duvone Stewart will take the BP Renegades Steel Orchestra to the Savannah for Panorama 2K12. The popular Charlotte Street band has won the national competition on nine occasions (including a hatric between 1995 and 1997) with arrangements by its former musical director, Dr Jit Samaroo. Since Dr Samaroo’s retirement in 2007, the band has been out of the top three placing but according to its President, Michael Marcano, is determined to stick to its policy of using home grown arrangers. Amrit, son of Dr Samaroo, worked on the band’s panorama arrangements in 2008 and 2009; Kenneth Guppy took over in 2010 and 2011; now its Duvone’s turn to show what he is made of, quipped Marcano. Amrit, Kenneth, and Duvone are all former players with the band and together with Desmond Waithe have worked on the band’s stage-side, Pan in the 21 Century, and Steelband Music Festival presentations since Jit's retirement.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Friday October 28,
2011
Fowler Tribune
|
DU Lamont Steel Drum
Ensemble Pan Nation in concert at OJC
|
Colorado, USA
- Otero Junior College will present the
University of Denver’s Lamont Steel Drum Ensemble Pan Nation in concert at the
Ed Stafford Theatre on Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. An outreach concert will
be held earlier in the day at 1:30 p.m. for area schools. Performing for the
first time in the area, Pan Nation is a national award winning steel drum group
directed by Tom Miller, music professor, performer, composer and arranger at DU.
According to Miller, Pan Nation explores
traditional and modern steel drum repertoire in-depth with the active
involvement of Pan Nation’s members as composers and soloists.
“The result of this experience is a unique new
sound for the steel drum ensemble that combines the traditional sounds of the
Caribbean steel drum band with jazz, pop and other world rhythms. Pan Nation’s
unique repertoire has been well received at concert performances throughout the
Western United States as well as their master classes, outreach and innovative
community programs,” said Miller.
read more
|
Web Posted
- Thursday October 27,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
PDN PhotoPlus Expo -
Technology, The Immediacy of Now and the
Steelpan Music Movement
|
New York, USA
- ....In the age of texting, cloud computing,
smart phones, HDSLR cameras, SD camcorders and the like - expectations have
changed and the new “norm” is being constantly redefined. And in this regard WST
is again at one of the major technology shows checking out “tomorrow,” today.
The PDN PhotoPlus International Conference and
Expo is a once-a-year happening for all photo-related technology and services -
anything and everything that makes the sharing of experiences through imagery
possible. The steelband community is one such that is filled with imagery and
sound, finding expression in both still and moving pictures. This International
Conference and Expo is therefore the place for anyone related to the steelband
artform and movement to be at.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Thursday October 27,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
October 27 - The
‘Pan Buzz’ to date: Ask “Boogsie” not “Lexo”
|
Global
- ....What has “Lexo” done wrong? If pan people
want the facts about the break-up, they should
ask Len “Boogsie” Sharpe... not “Lexo.” If I
know “Boogsie” as well as I do, he has nothing
to do with this primitive behaviour, by a
disciple who feels aggrieved with “Lexo” linking
up with Jason “Peanuts” Isaac. Both men are
riding a wave of success with “Pan Turbulence,”
the first of many efforts.
I have been reliably informed the “Lexo” broke
none of the agreements - verbal or legal - over
the years. Ask “Boogsie” what happened, or what
he has done to sever the bond of Panorama’s most
successful combination. These men were magical.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Tuesday October 25,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
Remembering Lovely
Latavia... Despers USA Steel Orchestra Tenor
bass player
|
New York, USA
- Miguel Reyes’s “The Last Band” sung by Peter
D’Royce was the last Panorama piece lovely Latavia Deane got to perform with
Despers USA Steel Orchestra, when the band competed in the 2010 New York
Panorama. A song that makes one dance and sing whenever it is heard, it was
close to the heart of Latavia, who herself was a dancer and who enjoyed what was
to be a three-year relationship as a member of one of New York’s premier and
champion steel orchestras. Despers USA’s PRO Kern Simon shared the background of
the song and the chords it struck within Latavia, as the band was about to play
before those present for her home-going service at Cross Over Ministries on
Clarendon Road in Brooklyn, New York.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 24, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Vignettes of Pan History - The Montreal Story |
Republished from - PAN -
Fall 1987 - Vol.2 No |
Montreal
- Montreal was one of the first locations in North America to experience steel band music. From the mid-fifties until not too long ago there had been a conspicuous presence here of some of the most formidable pan players (panists), tuners and orchestras to leave the shores of the birthplace of pan— Trinidad...
A great factor influencing the development of the art in Montreal has been the visits of some of the top bands from Trinidad. Most memorable were two visits each by Rudolph Charles’ Desperadoes (Despers) and Tripoli, led by Hugh Borde. Despers was the first group to arrive, in February 1964; around 1970 they returned as a much more sophisticated and traveled orchestra. Esso Tripoli played in Montreal during Expo 1967 and again around 1968.
click
for more |
|
Web Posted
- Saturday October 22, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
A Force within the
Steelband World - Dr. Geraldine Connor - In Her
Own Words
|
England,
UK
- “My name is Dr. Geraldine Connor
(PhD, MMus, LRSM, Dip.Ed.).
My father Edric Connor (Singer, folklorist, actor and
film-maker) was responsible for bringing TASPO to the Festival of Britain in
1951.
Between 1978 and 1984 I adjudicated as a Judge many Panorama
competitions.
I was the first woman to play bass in the then Trintoc
Invaders 1977 - 1983 and in 1984 was the first woman to arrange a panorama tune
for them. Indeed I might have been the first woman to arrange for a panorama
competition.
....I think that When Steel Talks [WST] is one of the best
things that has ever happened to pan!”
click
for more |
|
Web Posted
- Saturday October 22, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Dr. Geraldine Connor has passed
|
Global
- Dr. Geraldine Connor has passed. She wrote, composed, directed and produced the very successful Caribbean musical called Carnival Messiah. She arranged for Ebony
Steelband in the UK and Invaders Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago. She is also the daughter of actor Edric Connor (Moby Dick & The Vikings).
click
for more |
|
Web Posted
- Friday October 21,
2011
Campbellsville University
|
Campbellsville University
Steel Band to Perform Nov. 2
|
Kentucky, USA
- The Campbellsville University Steel Band will
present its fall concert, "A History of the Steel Band," Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 8
p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall in the Gosser Fine Arts Center, 210 University
Drive, Campbellsville, Ky.
The program will trace the evolution of the
steel band from its origins stemming from the late 1800s in Trinidad through the
development of the modern band throughout the United States in the 20th
and 21st centuries.
A variety of musical styles will be performed
including soca, calypso and samba, according to Dr. Chad Floyd, assistant
professor of music, who directs the band.
A tamboo bamboo band and metal band will also be
featured in presenting the origins of the steel band.
read more
|
Web Posted
- Thursday October 20,
2011
ThisWeekNews.com
|
New school projects to
broaden musical, multicultural horizons
|
Ohio, USA
- The Bexley City School District will broaden
its musical and cultural horizons this school year, with the advent of a couple
of new projects.
Montrose Elementary third-graders are
participating in a world musical collaborative program called World Hope Songs.
....An additional aspect of the project is the introduction
of steel pans (drum instruments) into the elementary curriculum and the teacher
training to make that possible. The Montrose PTO and Bexley Middle School PTO
helped the school district fund the purchase of steel drums, as well as hands-on
workshops that will take place in the Cassingham Theatre on the morning of the
staff in-service day, Friday, Oct. 21. Steel pan musician Josh Watkins will
guide the teacher workshop.
read more
|
Web Posted
- Thursday October 20, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Song for Panorama 2012
“Who Is Copeland?”
sung & composed by
Mark “Oscar” Roberts
|
Global
- ....Under the leadership of the
late great Rudolph Charles, and master arranger - the late “Sir” Clive Bradley,
Mark Roberts was given an informal but extremely valuable music education - one
which cannot be expressed in words. Because of this union he acquired a little
knowledge of music theory.
He started composing in 1991; his first formal piece was in
2006 with “Clive Gone” to honor Bradley's memory. Publishing works also in
2008 and 2010, he is back for the 2012 Panorama season with “Who Is Copeland,” as both composer and
vocalist.
click
to hear song |
|
Web Posted
- Thursday October 20,
2011
Trinidad &
Tobago Guardian
|
Desperadoes fails the
challenge
|
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
- ....Although guests commented favourably about
the evening’s performances, many expressed disappointment with a number of
shortcomings in the production, including a problematic sound system.
....Though not playing at its usual best, many
were still surprised by Witco Desperadoes’ cellar placing, throwing the band out
of the grand final, scheduled for the evening of the Divali holiday October 26,
at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
read more
then:
click to comment in the WST forum
|
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 17,
2011
When Steel Talks -
Special
|
Champion Panorama
Tunes of Trinidad and Tobago
|
Global
- A critical component to winning any panorama
competition is the song the orchestras choose to
use as the basis of their panorama arrangements.
Over the years these songs have inspired classic
panorama arrangements. When Steel Talks invites
you to take a look at and listen to, these famed
tunes which have played more than just a cursory
part in the history of Pan, and the lives of the
players and fans.
click to hear and/or view
|
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 17, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Meet Iman Pascall - Steel
Panist Extraordinaire - Up-close!
|
New York, USA -
She is young, gifted,
extremely intelligent, self-aware, self-assured,
eloquent, very humble and respectful. Blessed
with an abundance of talent to match her beauty,
this steel panist is out there blazing the
trails and meeting the new challenges.
In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks
(WST) - performing artist, Berklee College of
Music student and now
panorama arranger, Iman Pascall shares her
latest experiences, successes and wishes.
click for interview |
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 17, 2011
Trinidad &
Tobago Guardian
|
La Pierre takes pan to
China
|
Trinidad & Tobago,
W.I. - Steelpan
sololist extraordinaire Noel La Pierre departed
Trinidad and Tobago en route to Shanghai, China
to represent T&T steel pan culture at the 13th
Shanghai performing Arts Festival (SPAF) 2011.
Recently, La Pierre was featured as part of the
T&T contingent hosted by the Ministry of Arts
and Multiculturalism in Shanghai Expo 2010,
China, where he was invited to participate as an
artiste at the 12th Shanghai Arts
Festival. After thrilling the audiences from all
over the world with his talent and tremendous
performance, the committee invited La Pierre
back at this year’s arts festival.
The 13th Shanghai
Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) is an
international performing fair which has become
the largest and the most fruitful international
performance fair so far ever held in China.
read more |
Web Posted
- Thursday October 13,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
October 13 - The
‘Pan Buzz’ to date: - Pan Tuners
in the Dark Ages
|
Global
- If I had my way, I will hit every Pan tuner a
hot bullpistle; similar to the one Kitch
threatened to dispense on the backs of steelband
men in the heady days of steelband riots. Now
don’t get me wrong. We have long passed that
stage. Now when I hear tuners complaining, I
wonder if they are still in the Dark Ages.
Haven’t they heard about the co-operative
effort? Or is it that they so taken up in their
own business, that they forget unity is
strength?
Pan tuners and arrangers are the kings of Pan. I
don’t begrudge them for the money they make,
especially around Carnival time, Panorama to be
exact. Why can’t a few of these get together and
form their own co-operative and import their
drums, rather than cry every year like an
abandoned child?
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Wednesday October 12,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
Sunshine Awards
nomination for former Pan Trinbago president
|
Trinidad
& Tobago, W.I.
- The former President of Pan Trinbago Inc.,
Patrick Arnold, has been nominated for the 2011 Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame.
Arnold, who was recently awarded Trinidad & Tobago’s second highest national
award: the Chaconia Medal (Gold), will be recognized for his contribution to the
steelband movement and music. He has served the movement as a player, tuner,
administrator and president of the world governing body for pan, Pan Trinbago,
from 1996 to 2009.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Sunday October 9,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
Nigeria and Trinidad &
Tobago set up Lagos-based Steelband Development
Company
|
Lagos, Nigeria
- Panland, Nigeria received some visitors from
Trinidad and Tobago in August 2011. Keith Diaz - Pan Trinbago president, Ladi
Franklin - Co-Chairperson of the Nigeria-Trinidad & Tobago chamber, Taharqa
Obika, as well as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago to
Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Nyahuma Obika - were all received by the CEO and
the president of the Nigerian Steelpan Society, Chief Bowie S. Bowei. Their
mission was to see how the steelpan movement had developed so far in Nigeria,
and to discuss ways to improve on the efforts of Bowie who till this time had
carried the entire burden of the steelpan movement in Nigeria single-handedly,
with the backing of former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo.
....The team, along with Chief Bowei, visited the
initiator of the Steelpan movement in Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who back
in 1977 brought the Starlift Steel Orchestra to Nigeria, when he [Obasanjo] was
Head of State.
read more
|
|
Web Posted - Friday
October 7, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Song for Panorama 2012
“Muster Point”
sung by Dr. Will B
composed by
William Bannister
|
Global
- ....William Bannister, more
fondly known as Dr. Will B, has been a patriarch of Trinidad & Tobago culture
for the past 40 years....With his parents hailing from Tobago and Barbados
respectively, Dr. Will B is a true Caribbean man who has Trinidad and Tobago
culture deeply entrenched in him.
....Dr. Will B has also been an avid pan player and is a
calypsonian singing with the Klassic Ruso calypso tent.
click
to hear song |
|
Web Posted
- Wednesday October 5,
2011
When Steel Talks
|
October 5 - The
‘Pan Buzz’ to date: “Happy” is
‘sad’ over Pan songs
|
Global
- Veteran bassist/composer and singer, David
“Happy” Williams is sad over the level of “Pan
song” composing, and hopes that composers will
put more effort into their songs. He is not
enthusiastic over the idea of everybody washing
his or her feet and jumping into the arena. He
wants “quality and not quantity.”
An outspoken commentator, “Happy” told The Buzz
that he quit the Pan song arena, because he felt
unwelcome in the zone, and unimpressed with the
quality of songs people were going crazy over.
Now, excellence is a “Happy” trait and there is
no compromise; even it if means bowing out.
read more
|
|
Web Posted
- Monday October 3, 2011
When Steel Talks
|
Song for Panorama 2012
“Heavy on Pan”
sung & composed by Allan Oxley
|
Global
- ....Allan Oxley was once part
of a tribute performance in Trinidad to the late Aldwyn
Roberts - The Grandmaster, the Lord Kitchener.
As a result of this, he composed his first song,
“HEAVY ON PAN – (A Tribute To The Grandmaster).”
....In addition to this recording, Allan has arranged and fully scored a Steelband Panorama version of this song which he hopes to work with any
steel orchestra who require his services as an
Arranger in 2012.In addition to this recording,
Allan has arranged and fully scored a Steelband
Panorama version of this song which he hopes to
work with any steel orchestra who require his
services as an Arranger in 2012.
click
to hear song |
|
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.
|
When Steel Talks
T-Shirts are Here!
|
Global
- When Steel
Talks (WST) T-Shirts are available!
Join the When Steel Talks family
and show your love for the Steelpan
art form! For USD $14.00 plus
shipping and handling, make sure you
have your WST T-Shirt! Current
available colors are: Black and
Red in sizes Small (S) through X-large
(XL). Order now!
click for more, and to ORDER
|
Web
Posted -
When Steel Talks
|
When Steel
Talks Now on
facebook
|
Check
out our Page and
Group
on Facebook
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.
When Steel Talks
Here’s the link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/When-Steel-
Talks/22270666964
|
Last Month’s News -
Click Here
Top Steelband Music Videos
|
When Steel Talks Video Channel
|
This Week’s New
WST Steelband Music Videos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join Us on facebook
|
|
|
|
|
|
|