A Prosperous and Happy New Year To All Steelpan music
indeed transcends language, time and borders. The global When Steel Talks
pan family grew by leaps and bounds in 2005. Look for bigger and greater
things in 2006... Pan-4-Life
New York - The stage side of one of Trinidad's best known
steel orchestras, Pan Knights, will be "Christmasing" in a slightly warmer
environment for 2005. The steel orchestra is based in San Juan, Trinidad and
Tobago in the Caribbean, but the upcoming holiday will find the
twenty-member steel orchestra in Calabar, capital of Cross River State in
Nigeria, Africa. The orchestra will be there to join in Cross River State's
Christmas Festival and Carnival by invitation of the state governor, Donald
Duke.
I'm listening to a recording of Carib Pan Jammers playing
"One for De Savannah," their 1997 Panorama tune. It's bringing back a
feeling of nostalgia from the days when I knew nothing about the inner
workings of the pan fraternity: the trash-talking, the womanizing, the
politics, the favoritism, the controversies, or any of that. I can remember
spending hours watching my '97 Panorama video and being amazed at the
pannists, especially the basses. It wasn't about watching the guys...it was
about the amazing passion the players showed, the marvelous music, and the
synchronization of the bass players hands as they did their thing.
Bradley gone. What do you say about composers when
they're gone? I'm not much for speeches. But I was a fan and we were casual
friends. Like everybody else I just want to throw in my two cents, say
goodbye. As far as I know Bradley couldn't play pan at all, had never even
bothered to learn. But it was obvious that the guy had the feeling for
steelband music. He understood orchestration and what makes a steelband
swing. The thing I always loved about his music was its straightforwardness
- elegant, simply stated. LIke he had enough respect for his ideas to let
them stand on their own. Less is more. Make the music sweet.
Many ideas about a proper memorial are being entertained
for master musician Clive Bradley since his passing. And we are sure many
more will be explored in the near and further future. Mr. Bradley won a
record ten New York panorama competitions among his many other
accomplishments as recently reported in the New York Times. Nine of these
wins took place on the Brooklyn Museum grounds. In this regard, nothing
short of a life-like memorial statue and site honoring the master at the
entrance of the Brooklyn Museum would adequately address this giant's
significance and work.
His preferred drink is rum and coke though he sips a beer
in the pan tent this particular night. Standing a slight five feet three
inches in sandals, he peers through round, brown glasses. Cigarette smoke
punctuates every word of his flat, nearly monotone voice. And while he
engages in lively repartee with band members, he does not tolerate
skylarking. "You are losing concentration," he warns an embarrassed double
second pan player. It's now abundantly clear that Clive Bradley takes his
music seriously. At 46, he is the only winner of four Panorama championships
and believes he was robbed of three others. Perhaps as much as anyone else.
Bradley is responsible for Desperadoes supremacy among steelbands today.
As I mentioned before many people are speaking only about
his association with Despers, but according to my brother Aldwin Albino they
are forgetting the higher level. Bradley was academically sound. So great
was he that after being a student at the Gov't Training College and passing
with distinction in his subjects he was recalled- this time as a lecturer in
Mathematics. He also taught Math at the Catholic Women's Teachers College
where I lectured in Music.
In the spirit of the holiday season the House of Classic
Steel is featuring new and past memorable holiday steelband performances
from all over the world. House of Classic Steel is formatted for the popular
wide screen format and requirements include windows media 9 or better and a
high speed internet connection for optimal viewing.
New York - Germany is interested in providing
accommodation for pan musicians planning to attend the World Cup Soccer
match between Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden on June 10, 2006. Deadline for
inquiries January 15, 2006. For more information email:
steelpanvibes@yahoo.com
Newark, New Jersey - Oasis Youth Steel Pan Ensemble, part
of the Oasis Folk Arts Academy program directed by Bevan Black, proudly held
it's first annual holiday celebration this past Sunday. Parents, family
members and well-wishers crowded into the meeting room/auditorium of the
spacious facility that was previously an area hospital which closed its
doors eight years ago. It was subsequently acquired by Drs. Clyde Pemberton
and Trevor Atherley and put to use as the New United Center, a meeting place
for social and cultural activities for area residents, as they give back to
the community. Pemberton shared some heart-felt words with the audience, and
thanked them for their support of the young people, and being part of his
own dream of community outreach.
Trinidad - Silver Stars not only have had the right idea
for a number of years, but they have kept on using the same winning formula
on an annual basis around the festive season in Trinidad and Tobago. This
year their Parang and Steel series is in its fifteenth year, and remains
immensely popular with the upper middle class in Trinbagonian society.
December 17 will be the final in the six Saturday nights of Parang and
Steel. The night of December 3rd was yet another one in the steel
orchestra's super successful musical series. Each weekend, the Silver Stars
stage side of pan musicians performs two sets, along with their invited
guest artistes. This time around, one-time Calypso Queen of the World,
Denyse Plummer joined the line-up. A consummate performer, Plummer
engendered crowd involvement from the beginning of her time on stage, and
included musical favorites such as Mih Lover and Nah Leaving, and an
old-time medley of Jean and Dinah, Last Train to San Fernando, Rum and
Coca-Cola.
New York - The night belonged to the Caribbean American
Sports and Cultural Youth Movement (CASYM) Steel Orchestra, the parents, the
players and the steelpan instrument. CASYM held its annual "Classical
Caribbean Christmas" at the world famous Brooklyn Museum. The capacity crowd
was treated to a very special show. For two hours the audience witnessed an
exceptional and entertaining show that showcased the talent, and teaching
ability of the members of CASYM. CASYM showed again why it is one of the
most successful youth organizations in the country. For over twenty years
the multifaceted youth-oriented organization demonstrated the power of pan
to motivate, provide options, provide exposure, discipline, access to
skills, education, and high achievement through culture and education.
Moreover, ninety percent of their program participants graduate from college
with degrees. Indeed, CASYM proudly boasts about its members who stared as
youths in the group and now have college and advanced degrees.
United Kingdom - The British Association of Steelbands
7th Annual Awards was hosted at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury on the 3rd
December 2005. This event was established in 1999 to recognize and celebrate
the contributions of individuals and groups within the steelpan community.
Since its inception, the event has grown in stature and has established
itself in the UK Community’s calendar. Guests included her Excellency,
Glenda Morean-Phillip – High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, London
Notting Hill Carnival Limited Directors – Chris Boothman and Debi Gardner,
Dr Andrew Ramroop and Mr Gerald Forsyth who held office in the GLC as
Instrumental Organizer and by 1990 was responsible for pan being part of
their curriculum in over 160 schools across London. He highlighted the
artform as the perfect machinery for bringing together the UK’s diverse
population and for reflecting and promoting the culture of Trinidad and
Tobago.
When asked to review Panyards 2005, at first I was very
apprehensive. As a musician, (particularly an arranger) we tend to become
attached and very protective of our piece of work. Therefore, it becomes
hard to accept criticisms from outsiders who don’t know the work from it’s
inception.. Now let’s review. The great thing about Panyards is that the
bands are playing at nice slow to medium tempos . Therefore, it makes it
easier to hear each section with clarity . I’m not sure if the recording was
mixed in Pro Tools or some other high-end recording medium , but audibly it
is pristine. I think the technique used is called the ‘box in one
technique’. This technique makes each section sound clear and still gives
you that grumble of a big band without harming the integrity of the
recording.
I know it been said already For those of us who live and
breathe this music What else is there to say! It’s not like I didn’t thank
you personally. Remember that night, Trini to the bone was sizzling. Yeah!
That night I thanked you for all the music. You have given us so much Like a
dream that haunts, I still hear Party tonight Just like Desperadoes played
it at festival, Cause I was there that night, suited up in rival colors.
Knowing after hearing them that we were under-prepared. Yes man,
begrudgingly I thanked you for the Music.
-Through the eyes of those who knew him- It is taken for
granted these days that all the faults of everyone are held under a
microscope for everyone to examine. And so it was that while on the plane
returning from the burial of Clive Bradley, the sadness still fresh in my
heart like a new coat of paint, I learned there were some who chose to write
about the alleged circumstances of Mr. Bradley’s death. It can hardly have
been unexpected, but I confess to having been a little shocked that without
the benefit of an autopsy report, and with a most irrelevant photograph of
the man’s grieving children such things could be printed under the guise of
“news”.
-Through the eyes of those who knew him - Pelham Goddard,
Ray Holman, Jit Samaroo, Ella Andall, Dave "Peck" Edwards, Pat Bishop, Dr.
Dawn Batson, Garvin Blake, Collins Jackman, Arddin Herbert, Andy Narel and
others share their thoughts and memories on master arranger Clive Bradley.
Trinidad - On Friday December 2, just later over an hour
before the scheduled 10:00 AM celebration of his life, Clive Bradley lay in
state at the Desperadoes pan theater in Laventille, before he left 'The
Hill' for the last time. The backdrop of the blue sea in the distance, made
brilliant by the morning sun, framed the scene for this equally brilliant
individual, as villagers and others came to pay their final respects.
Florida - Since news of Clive Bradley’s death Sparrow’s
calypso “Memories” has been looping continuously through my brain. In the
pan world we often pay great homage to competition and competition winners
sometimes neglecting and underrating truly beautiful music because it was
not in the winner’s row. Bradley however, inside and outside of competition,
was able to capture the beauty of the instruments of the steel orchestra and
the essence of its players.
United Kingdom - The following is a lasting memory I have
of the greatness of Clyde and his captivating music. This episode of my life
is often relived when his music is played.
New York - Most people would argue–and there is much
certitude to it–that Clive Bradley was a master steelband arranger, a top
class musician, and an illuminating teacher. But while he was all of these,
he was a person of much complexity and this aspect of Clive Bradley’s
personality was brilliantly articulated in his music. What made his musical
sensibilities interesting and complex was his ability to take very simple
melodies or motifs and superimpose on them a symphonic opus that would
always leave many standing in awe. Bradley was the kind of artist who could
see the beauty in something that would generally be considered by others to
be, low-brow, tawdry and insignificant. He was, in many ways, a humanist,
resurrecting from the olden days, musical riffs, motifs and presenting them
to his contemporary audiences with a modern twist that made these antiquated
concepts and styles simple, relevant, appealing and hip. His music and his
approach to it was the epitome of the idea that “there’s complexity in
simplicity”.
New York - Did you ever know Clive Bradley? Did you ever
meet Clive Bradley? Did you ever talk to Clive Bradley? Did you ever dance,
sing or listen to the music of Clive Bradley? As I write this I think to
myself what a bummer. How dare Mr. Bradley make me write this. How dare he
not live to one hundred and two? How dare Mr. Bradley be so selfish and die
and rob us of more years of his musical genius, his wit, charm, brilliance,
genius and compassion for the people who loved him so much.
Laventille, Trinidad - It was after three AM on Saturday
December 2, as the last of us straggled out of Desperadoes panyard in
Laventille, high up on the hill, with the lights of Port-of-Spain and
environs ablaze down below. That particular lighted scene is normal every
night on the hill. But on this occasion, it was another set of lights which
commanded attention, and demanded and received respectful acknowledgement.
These were candles, continuing to flicker fiercely in the evening breeze for
hours before, daring anyone to consider even for a moment, that they were
any less brilliant than their commercial counterparts down below. After all,
were they not a representation of the brilliance of the man whom all those
present acknowledged that 'there was only one!" - the legendary arranger,
and musician, Master Clive Bradley?
Trinidad - It's Saturday morning again, and very much
like last Saturday exactly one week ago, it's another surreal atmosphere.
I'd worked through the night, and as dawn broke, we got the call that Clive
Bradley had just passed away at hospital. The rest of that day was spent in
a kind of denial, that this really wasn't happening, that having worked
through the night, I had fallen asleep, and was having a bad dream.
New York - In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare wrote of the
Roman warrior “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft
interred with their bones.” So let it not be with Clive Bradley. I implore
us all to remember the music that Bradley provided for us, the lion’s share
of which was played on the pan.
Celebration of the Life of Clive Bradley: The Service
Dec. 2, 2005 Venue: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Independence
Square, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, W.I. Time: 10:00 AM (local time) Interment:
St. John's RC Church cemetery, Cemetery Street, Diego Martin, TRINIDAD, W.I.
Master steelband music arranger Clive Bradley passed away
today in Trinidad. The revered musician recently celebrated his 69th
birthday. He was a father, a scholar, a gentleman, a teacher and respected
giant among his peers. His passion for life and his music will not be
duplicated. We at When Steel Talks are proud to have called Mr. Bradley,
friend, mentor and champion.
United Kingdom - What a night it was, filled with the
sweet sounds of steelpan music. BAS sixth annual Pan Explosion competition
staged at the Pyramids in Portsmouth this year on Saturday 5th November 2005
certainly brought the extra fireworks on ‘Guy Fawkes’ Night to Portsmouth on
the English South Coast. The evening started with Loxford Pan Ultimate
Steelband entertaining the audience as they drifted through the lobby of the
banqueting suite towards the seating area. Pan Ultimate’s wide repertoire
ensured that everyone listened to their favourite genre of music.
As a means of keeping the When Steel Talks steelpan music
audience at the forefront of new and emerging technologies When Steel Talks
begun to add "RSS" News feeds. The feeds provides When Steel Talks with a
means to provide you with continuous updates, information, breaking news and
stories at regular intervals in a addition to reaching a wider audience.
These feeds are updated whenever relevant new content is published to the
site. To find out how PanOnTheNet news feeds can benefit you, read the FAQ.
New York - Steelpan musicians were wined and dined in the
rotunda at the world-famous Brooklyn Museum as representatives from the New
York steelband panorama participants were on hand to receive their prizes
and accolades at the annual West Indian Day Caribbean American (WIADCA)
award ceremony. In attendance along with the pan
participants/representatives, were the WIADCA executive board members, local
politicians and Brooklyn carnival mas representatives.
Botswana - On entry to Form One at Rainbow High School in
Botswana students are exposed to basic Elements of Music and recorders. In
Form Two they then embark on Research and Presentation in music. Here they
are exposed to different cultures and styles of music and the historical
backgrounds. At the end of Form Two they are expected to have researched on
one of these aspects and choreograph it to match the setting. The course
tutor is Ms. Irene Soko with Mr. Hollis Clifton as facilitator/consultant.
Los Angeles - Internationally renowned Calypsonian
"CRAZY" has released brand new music for the 2006 steelpan season. The song
for pan is called Women In Pan. The lyrics for the song were first shared
with the When Steel Talks audience earlier on this year in March, as part
our Celebration of Women and the Steelpan Art Form series. Crazy has been
performing professionally for over thirty years and is an avid supporter,
fan and lover of the steelpan instrument.
Trinidad - Clive Bradley is easily one of the most
important music figures in the history and development of the steelband
movement. This prolific composer and charismatic educator, scholar and
steelband music arranging master turned 69 this past weekend. Recognized all
over the world, Clive Bradley is to steelpan music, what Duke Ellington is
to jazz and Mozart is to classical music - and much more - because of the
social significance and genius he brought to the art form and a people.
While Mr. Bradley has achieved success on every level and with many
organizations, he is most recognized for his successful musical works with
the legendary Desperadoes Steel Orchestra from Trinidad and New York's
powerhouses Pantonic and Metro Steel orchestras.
Massachusetts - 2005 New York Panorama Champions Pantonic
Steel Orchestra took their awesome performances to the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) one evening this past weekend. The Caribbean
Club ably hosted their popular Annual Caribbean Weekend of events, including
their Dinner on Friday in MIT's Julius Adam Stratton building.
Australia - The second Australian Schools Panorama was
held on October 22nd 2005 in Sydney and involved Over 150 children from 7
different schools participated in the event. Pan is just starting to be
recognized in Australia. The Panoramas are raising public awareness of this
instrument and the capabilities of the steel band.
The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) Steel Band
was formed in 1999 as an extension of the university percussion ensemble
class. The 10 person group usually performs with the percussion ensemble
during the fall semester, but has recently started performing its own
concert during the spring semester. The summer of 2005 saw the ensemble
expand to an outreach group by performing many concerts throughout the
Birmingham area - several country clubs, private parties, retirement
communities, and even a high school band banquet.
United Kingdom - The sixth annual British Association of
Steel bands’ Pan Explosion competition will be staged in Portsmouth this
year on Saturday 5th November 2004 (Guy Fawkes Night) at the at the
Pyramids. As the skies are lit up with fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes,
equally the Pyramids Hall will be filled with a wealth of quality steelband
music. Loxford Pan Ultimate steelband will entertain patrons before the
start of the show. In 2005, BAS is supporting the Making Poverty History
Campaign at all their events. The British Association of Steelbands (BAS) is
proud to have initiated and developed this competition. Its concept is to
encourage younger players under the age of twenty-five for the ensembles
competition and thirty for the soloist’s competition. 2005 being the fifth
year the soloist’s competition is in existence. The objectives of the
competition are to • Encourage younger players to develop their arranging
and performing skills. • Encourage the composition and production of
compositions written especially for pan. • Provide an environment in which
the talents and dexterity of young players can be displayed.
United Kingdom - Brent started playing pan with the Port
of Spain Police Youth Club in Trinidad was from the tender age of eight.
During his time at the Youth Club, he also able to play with Potential
Symphony and Blue Diamonds steel orchestras at the Trinidad and Tobago
National steelband Panorama competition. The youth club also competed in
many school festivals until they were victorious at the School Steelbands
Music Festival in 1991. In that same year, at the age of thirteen, Brent
played with the infamous Renegades Steel Orchestra at the T and T National
Steelband Panorama competition. They attained second place playing ‘Rant and
Rave’. Brent’s pan playing skills continued its development cycle whilst he
was at Renegades steel orchestra for eight years.
A thorough examination of pan's past is necessary in
order to obtain a better understanding of where the steelpan instrument is
presently, and where the steelpan movement itself is going. Real Stories
from the Pan Yard focuses on past pan events from the perspective of those,
who, over the years have been considered well-versed in the pan world. -
This week>> Ritual of the Drum by Knolly Moses
Pan Podium lifts the promotion of this wonderful
instrument to yet another level. Pan Podium was developed to promote this
amazing instrument, the steelpan, steelband activities and to highlight
individuals within the steelband communities particularly in the United
Kingdom as well as Europe, USA and the Caribbean. The recent release of the
revamped website and future plans to increase the production and
distribution of its magazine is yet another phase of Pan Podium's vision to
take this 20th century acoustic instrument to its rightful podium. Join in
this venture, become a member of Pan Podium and help spread the Pan Gospel.
Sweden - Rudy Smith is the panorama arranger for
Trinidad's Birdsong Steel Orchestra. In addition the Sweden based "two left"
Smith, plays the alto steel drums, is a composer, recording artist and
arranger. His music can be described as a fusion between pan and jazz , in
be-bop and is referred to the jazz king of steeldrums.
Sonic Steel is one of the most exciting steelbands in
Denmark, Europe right now. The band convincingly combines the qualities of
larger, traditional steelbands with the lightness and manageable size known
from bands consisting of ordinary instruments.Sonic Steel consists of 6
professional musicians from various areas of the Danish rock-, jazz-, and
steelband scenes. They play four sets of steelpans together with bass and
drums.
Trinidad - The year is not yet over and ace arranger and
master musician Clive Bradley is still hard at work, but loving it - 2005 -
that is. When Steel Talks checked in with the man who has been enjoying
success in good measure since April 16. That was when Desperadoes Steel
Orchestra took first place in the Pan In the 21st Century competition in
Trinidad and Tobago. Bradley continued to bask in glory for the 2005 New
York Panorama competition when the two bands he arranged for, Pantonic Steel
Orchestra and D'Radoes Steel Orchestra, took first and second place honors
respectively.
New York - They are so nice we brought them in twice.
Hear and see for yourself why Sonatas Steel Orchestra is one of the première
steel orchestras in America. In a sneak preview from their upcoming CD - in
Stage 2 Sonatas performs the smash music hit "Footprints" by TOK. And in
Stage 1 Basement Recordings captures Sonatas playing "From Beyond" in their
panyard performance as they prepared for this year's 2005 New York panorama
competition. Windows Media Player 9 or better is required for proper
viewing. http://www.stage2.panonthenet.com
STEELBAND “MI・SO・LA”は、2001年1月に３名で福島県郡山市で発足しました。 STEELBAND
"MI-SO-LA" began with three persons in Fukushima Prefecture Koriyama City,
Japan, in January, 2001. There are now 27 members in the orchestra.
New York - The annual Audio Engineering Society (AES)
119th convention was ongoing this past weekend at the Jacob Javits
Convention Center in New York City. There were over four hundred and
fifty-four exhibitions by leading manufacturers in audio technology, and
twelve thousand registered attendees over the four-day period. The event
showcases the latest developments in audio engineering technology. As is
customary, steelpan recording outfit, Basement Recordings (BR) was on
assignment at the show with the intention of scoping out what's new in
broadcasting and recording technology, especially as it relates to enhancing
steelpan artists' creativity, and to the capturing and performing process.
When Steel Talks asked the BR crew to pick one piece of technology that was
a must-have for the steelpan musician.
New York - The Steelpan artist was among the many
performers from the African Diaspora who performed at the revered African
Burial Grounds Ceremony in New York this past weekend. Click on the link for
the stories, pictures and video.
Dekalb, Illinois - This August I spent some time
observing some of the different steel bands of Brooklyn for the New York
Panorama. I was struck at how much dedication the members had towards
perfecting their respective music. Dedication is the maxim of Panorama. To
me it is the most distinguishing characteristic for steel bands that compete
in Panorama. Rehearsals occur an average of five days a week and often go
into the wee hours of the night and early morning. The music is learned by
ear so initial rehearsals are dedicated to committing the composition to
memory. Once the music is learned the composition is drilled in a seemingly
interminable manner. The process of memorizing music and rehearsing can seem
lengthy and arduous, yet players come night after night to work. Why is
there such a strong commitment to play for this competition? I suspect the
reasons go beyond the thrills of performance and competition. Anton Estaniel
Northern Illinois University
New York - Brooklyn Panorama 2004 is long gone. Though
many of us have forgotten the tunes we learned for that season, we have not
forgotten the long hours of rehearsal, nor have we forgotten how good our
bands sounded (to us, anyway) those last couple of nights leading up to the
competition. Basement Recordings' NY Panyards 2004 DVD is a crisp,
professionally produced reminder of those summer nights more than a year
ago.
Republic of Maldives, Southern Asia - Musician and
steelband arranger Duvone Stewart is in The Maldives for one month, charged
with imparting knowledge about the music of the steelpan instrument. He is
working with a group of about seventeen young men, tutoring them in the art
of playing steelpan. They will eventually go on to take the musical message
of sweet steelpan music further afield within their own population.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina - In response to a recent
article you ran entitled "Panorama 2005 - Behind Enemy Lines" by Augustin
Hinkson, I was deeply troubled to see that "When Steel Talks" would even run
such an article. Mr. Hinkson has some personal problems that he feels should
be aired on the "stage" of Pan. It should be noted that the Pan movement is
not a New York thing. Thanks to the help of "When Steel Talks", Pan is
spreading throughout the world like wildfire. I am amazed to see news
relating to pan groups from all over the world and the number of people that
are getting involved in pan. Pan is even taking a prominent place in the
churches across the world. Mr. Hinkson seems to think first of all that Pan
is strictly an "African" movement. I have never considered Pan as an African
art form, but an art form of Trinidad. There is a difference
Pretoria, South Africa - The newly opened TT High
Commission in South Africa pulled out all the stops to showcase the fact
that pan was the only musical instrument discovered since the 20th century.
The occasion was the 43rd Independence Anniversary of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago held at the Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria, South Africa. In
attendance was St. Dominic's Catholic School for Girls Steelband - one of
some two hundred steelbands from all around South Africa.
New York - Rarely can the past, present and future
converge to a single point; however - such is the case in the New York
steelband music culture, experience and history. The steelpan is the only
music instrument invented in this century and it has bridged the generation
gap. It has found a comfortable home in both the young hip-hop and I-pod
generation, and the generation of the past. Indeed, it is not uncommon to
find three generations from the same family together in an ensemble or
orchestra
New York - An in depth analysis of one the greatest
annual performances of tuned percussionists in North America The drums of
steel and summer are again quiet. And another fabulous panorama season has
come to an end. Of course, not without tremendous travail. But once again
the men and women of steel have triumphed and conquered, however
temporarily, their environment, to put on once again one of the greatest and
biggest music extravaganzas in North America. Moreover, tales and music that
will be repeated for the ages came into being. The panman, with his
resilience continues to lift the human sprit through his stubbornness,
tenacity and undeniable passion for his music. There is nothing like the
anticipation, excitement and visual grandiosity generated by the steelpan
folk as they wheel musical war chariots into the staging area and then onto
the performance stage by the hundreds, coming from all parts of Brooklyn,
New York to partake in 'Panorama'.
Massachusetts - Pan United under the leadership of
Charleston Sarjeant, Director, and Debra Sarjeant, Co-Director, held its 5th
annual steelpan launch in Dorchester this past summer. Debra Sarjeant -
teacher, mother, singer, musician, engineer, producer, music director and
the only woman to produce winning steelband music panorama arrangements for
six consecutive years in major competition. Ironically, it is a feat
accomplished by only one other arranger - her father Denzel Botus, as
arranger for Despers USA in New York.
New York - From Panorama Night to J'Ouvert morning
steelbands reign supreme in the Big Apple. Thousands of steelbands folks and
old Mas take to the streets to celebrate during the pre dawn hours. Check
out New York J'Ouvert in pictures
