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Steelpan Music CD/DVD Lookout

 
ANDY NARELL AND RELATOR
BRING JAZZ AND VINTAGE CALYPSO TOGETHER
 
"University of Calypso"
Featuring Dario Eskenazi, Pedro Martinez, Gregory Jones, Mark Walker,
and Special Guest Paquito D’Rivera


With Andy Narell—who’s been playing calypso music from Trinidad since he was barely tall enough to reach the pan—it’s always been about expanding the role of the steelpan in jazz. Now, with the June 23, 2009 release of University of Calypso (HUCD3168) on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, Narell joins forces with calypso legend Relator to explore the role of jazz in vintage calypso. Together, they perform 15 classic compositions by Lord Kitchener, Lord Melody, Mighty Terror, Roaring Lion, Spider, and Relator, supported by a group of world-class Latin-jazz cats who can swing the calypso and blow le jazz hot. It’s been over 50 years since a major calypsonian went into the studio with a bunch of jazz players. This CD is cause for serious celebration! (from Heads Up International) - : Click for Exclusive WST Interview

 

The Bradley Years

Pantonic Steel Orchestra Releases Epic Steelband Music CD

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 captured 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 a clarity and the realism of a large steel orchestra fielding between one hundred and hundred twenty musicians - unlike any other steelband music recordings in its class.

Go to www.pantonic.com/cds to order Click here to hear samples from CD

“Plot/Scheme”

Many can talk the talk - but few can walk the walk.  Panist Jonathan Scales without a doubt is ‘walking the walk.’  On his sophomore release called Plot/Scheme, Scales takes the listener not only into unexpected territory, but clearly uncharted real-estate.  The fact that he takes us there with the steelpan instrument navigating the journey - is all the more fascinating.

click for full review

Pan in New York 2007 CD

The famed recordings series continues...  Basement Recordings again captures the prominent steel orchestras of  New York City, the North American Mecca of pan, in their panyards as no other in the world...

click to hear samples

Festival of Voices

Northern Illinois University Steel Band

MADE IT 
CALYPSOCIATION Steelband’s CD is out!

click for full interview and story.

Andy Narell has been on a fascinating  musical journey with the steelpan instrument for more than 4 decades.  In a recent interview exclusive with When Steel Talks, Andy shares his thoughts on his latest musical offering named "tatoom" on the Heads Up International label. The latest from the Andy Narell.  click for full interview and story.

Pan In New York 2006

Life after Clive Bradley

With the passing of Clive Bradley - New York's steelband scene becomes even more competitive as the bands jockey for the leader of the next era... click to hear samples

 

Pan In New York 2005

Master arranger Clive Bradley captures 1st place and 2nd in this historic panorama 
the series continues...  click to hear samples

 

New York - Steelband music recordings specialist Basement Recordings has released the long-awaited NY Panyards 2005 DVD.  The 2-Disc set is part of a series of high level multimedia performance products designed to deliver an authentic big band, steel orchestra sonic and visual experience into the home of the audience.  Basement Recordings has a long history of capturing and producing unparalleled steelband music productions that showcase the beauty and power of the steelband music instrument family.

This 2005 addition to the series is truly special as it offers a two-disc package containing the two final classic music arrangements of the Caribbean-born music genius Clive Bradley.  The arrangements as preformed by two of the bands featured on the DVD (Pantonic Steel Orchestra and D'Radoes Steel Orchestra) would go on to make music history by capturing the championship title and second place honors respectively in the renowned New York Panorama competition.  The late great master steelband music arranger passed three months later in November of 2005. 

Also included on this DVD are arrangements by noted musicians/arrangers Pelham Goddard, Yohan Popwell, Arddin Herbert,  Brian "Bean" Griffith and Freddie Harris, III & Andy Akiho.  The arrangements are masterly performed by Pantonic, D'Radoes, Sonatas, CASYM, Marsicans, Crossfire and Sesame Flyers.

The 2-disc DVD set would be of particular interest to educators and performing musicians involved in the steelband music artform, in addition to steelband enthusiasts, ethnomusicologists and musical historians.

The DVD will be available primarily online and directly from participating performing steel orchestras.

Click on see sample to review.

Recorded open air - live at Boston's MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and their East 49th Street Brooklyn Digs, Pantonic Steel Orchestra's "Tonic Gems" is the much anticipated follow-up to the famed "Tonic for the Soul CD."  The New York music powerhouse offers another treasure that captures the unique urban attitude, style, intensity and musical talent of the New York steelpan players and music scene.  Harsh realties of city life, coupled with brilliant determination and melodic genius fuel their rise, and find expression in their Caribbean-tinged music with a brutally honest and unapologetic edge - in an environment where the sound path of the future, is treaded in the present - by Pantonic Steel Orchestra. From the haunting "Earth a Run Red" reggae by Richie Spice, to Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" Pantonic takes you on a multi-cultural musical experience that is germane to the New York landscape.

[Read Full Review and hear samples]

Hear and see what makes New York Pan so special on this fabulous DVD direct from the panyards of the Big Apple.  Once again, Basement Recordings Inc. takes you on an audio visual experience unlike any other. For 2004, Basement takes you to five of New York's most exciting panyards.  2004 NY Panorama champions, Sonatas, along with CASYM, Marsicans, D'Radoes and Pantonic.

Exhilarating arrangements by the likes of Yohan Popwell, Arddin Herbert, Pelham Goddard and Clive Bradley.  The NY Panyards 2004 DVD takes you into the panyards like only Basement Recordings can, using their exclusive "Box and One" audio capturing technique.

Click on see sample to review.

If video does not auto start click on link
www.whensteeltalks.com/spilc/v2004/2004_promo_panyards.wmv

On June 5th, 2004, Sesame Flyers International staged their first "Steel Pan Extravaganza."  The show featured the composing, arranging and playing skills of young talents such as Freddy Harris, III and Andy Akiho, among others.  Remember these names - you're going to be hearing them a lot in the near future.  Indeed, this event showcased the next generation of pan composers, players and arrangers.  And the future of pan is in good hands.

Performances by: Jambalasi, Joubala, Andy Akiho, Steel Sensation, Sesame Flyers Steel Orchestra....

Click on see sample to review

If video does not auto start click on  link
www.whensteeltalks.com/spilc/v2004/sesame_promo_500k.wmv

Sakésho - We Want You to Say...Simply put - Sakésho's We want You To Say - the follow-up CD to the group's initial musical venture, is great.  When you add great production, great material, great musicianship plus great chemistry, you expect a special CD.  Sakésho does not disappoint.  We Want You To Say is a group effort that should be view and listened to in that context.  The group skillfully powers, explores, and navigates through a seamlessly woven tapestry of personal experiences.  And so taking the listeners through musical episodes of musical treats from the African Caribbean Diaspora with a wicked sense of rhythm, drama and humor. Elements of ska, zouk, jazz, funk, calypso and big drum to name a few, are all present in a big way.  These musicians bring a spirituality, freedom and freshness that is rarely captured in a studio setting. [Read Full Review]

Let's make a long story real short. Simply put, this CD is one of Trinidad and Tobago's best efforts at capturing and reproducing it's great steelband music panorama competition.

Without question Trinidad and Tobago have some of the greatest steel orchestras in the world.  This CD finally presents a closer semblance/audio representation of the power, beauty, talent, genius and skills of the Trinidad and Tobago steelpan musicians, arrangers, instrument tuners and manufacturers

[Read Full Review]

An educational, historical, cultural and artistic masterpiece that showcases one of the most vibrant live music performance movements in the United States today...
[hear sample]

Six of this year’s top New York steelbands are featured in the Basement Recordings' annual recording of steelbands, on the Pan in New York 2004! CD.  It features panyard recordings of the bands in the final days of their panorama preparations which in itself is a unique experience.

The wait is over!  CASYM Steel Orchestra's CD "D'Blueprint" is now available.  Check out www.CASYM.com to get your copy! 

"COLOURS"

Billy Cobham - Colours: Renowned jazz drummer Billy Cobham started his illustrious career playing with legendary acts like Miles Davis, Dreams, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He has worked with a wide variety of artists, from Sonny Rollins to James Brown.  After leaving the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1973, Cobham released the solo record SPECTRUM, which went on to sell more than one million copies and bowled critics over. Billy Cobham is one of the greatest drummers on the planet and needs no introduction or validation.  Culturemix The result is an artistic masterpiece of authentic JAZZ Fusion -- with a realistic taste of the Afro-Caribbean experience always right around the corner when desired.

[review by When Steel Talks]

Andy Narell - The PassageThe Passage All of Narell's talents come together in The Passage, a recording featuring Narell, the steelband Calypsociation, and three of the greatest soloists in jazz - Michael Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera and Hugh Masekela. The Passage was recorded and mixed using cutting-edge technology to capture all the excitement of the steelband sound, and is being released in two formats: a great-sounding CD, and a 5.1 surround-sound SACD that will put listeners right in the middle of the band!

Pantonic Live!!! 
Four-time New York Panorama champions show why they are the best in the North America...  Easily one of the best steelband recordings ever made..

Simply the best recordings of the music works master arranger Clive Bradley...

 review by Frankie McIntosh

Evolution The widely anticipated compilation CD from seven New York Steelbands who participated in the extremely popular 2003 Vibrations in Steel concerts is now available.  Titled 'Evolution' the CD features two selections from each of the participating New York bands.  This is the first time that the New York Steelbands have come together to create such a product.  Moreover, the CD provides the listener with a unique opportunity to hear New York steelpan performers outside of the annual panorama competition...

From The Heart  The new CD release by  Robert Greenidge...

Home Grown The latest CD from Ralph MacDonald is "Home Grown", a smooth jazz album that brings MacDonald back to his Caribbean roots. Featuring breezy instrumentals and smoky ballads (as well as "Meet Me In Margaritaville", a song Ralph wrote for Jimmy Buffett) "Home Grown" may go down as MacDonald's best album yet.

Home Grown
Featuring: Dennis Collins. Nadira Shakoor. Robert Greenidge, Anthony Jackson, Tom Scott, Will Lee, Chris Parker, Milt Grayson, Jeffrey Mirnov, Clifford Carter, Rob Mounsey, Lou Marini

Tonic for the Soul  a treasure full of musical works by New York powerhouse Pantonic Steel Orchestra...

In Touch  - the latest by one the most respected steelpan musicians - Ray Holman  composer, steelband arranger and performer

TAPAS

Are you ready for steeldrum's new wave?  BIMA will lead you into another dimension - beyond the pans of calypso and soca.. BIMA, a well renowned steeldrum player for more than 20 tears, recipient of the German Phono Academy award has reached new atmospheres with playing the BIG MAMA, a pan offering incredible variations of harmonious music.

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