Sakésho delivers big time at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Summer Event

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Pan News Digest

Date: 08.20.06

Sakésho delivers big time at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Summer Event

Sakésho Pictures

New York- Andy Narell (pictured) continues his ambassadorship of the only acoustical instrument invented within the twentieth century - the steelpan. As part of Sakésho, Narell was recently part of the 36th season of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Series at Lincoln Center in New York.

The backdrop was an evening which completed what had been a picture-perfect summer afternoon. Sakésho delivered a near-flawless hour-long set, taking their audience on a course that wove a musical web within their unique blend of the Jazz/French Caribbean Creole music genres with a touch of blues, at the same time broadening the tastes of some who may have been newly-introduced to this particular expression within world music genres.

Sakésho is no stranger to New York, but what was unique to this experience was this show was free to the public as part of the 2006 Lincoln Center Out of Doors celebration of artistry. The audience gathered for the event was greeted promptly at the scheduled time of 6:30 in the evening, with words of welcome dispensed by Jenneth Webster (pictured left), producer of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Series. She paved the way for Bloomberg TV's June Grasso (pictured right) who introduced all present to Sakésho, highlighting Andy Narell on steelpan. Grasso's presence was especially significant as the 2006 Lincoln Center Out of Doors series is sponsored mainly by Bloomberg and PepsiCo Inc., in tandem with other additional supporters.

During the band's sound check, many enterprising individuals had made their way to seating in plum locations close to the stage, so that when the band did begin, those particular folks reveled in an up-close-and-personal musical concert experience with Sakésho. Beginning with a piece called Laventille, written by Andy Narell himself and featured on the band's self-titled debut CD, the quartet went on to ply the crowd with such selections as the funky title track from their sophomore CD We Want You To Say written by the group's bassist, and more.

During the evening the sheer brilliance of the quartet shone through in the personages. Marion Canonge on piano, was flamboyantly refined in delivery; bassist Michel Alibo who, like Canonge, is a star in his own right, (including being in the limelight as a musician in Paris on the French version of American Idol), dished out musical rhythms, delving within to display the very depths of his heritage and himself. Drummer Jean-Philippe Fanfant delivered marvelous rhythms syncopated with mechanical precision, ultimately humanized and brought to life by his passion for his percussive instruments. Andy Narell - arguably the most commercially successful solo steelpan player in the world - rounded off the quartet, fascinating many in the audience with his experience in the handling of his steelpan instruments. Additional pieces performed included Bwa Moudong penned by Canonge, Ewa Belia by Fanfant and Narell's One More Touch.

The audience was not limited to Lincoln Center Out of Doors regulars. Many well-known faces on the New York steelpan music scene and synonymous with New York's respective steel orchestras were present, including: Anthony 'Pra' Trebuse (Pan Rebels), Collins Jackman (Nutones), Eddie Quarless - arranger for Despers USA, musical brothers Sherwin and Sheldon Thwaites - the former a Berklee College of Music graduate, and the latter - younger brother Sheldon - (still on a euphoric high from his recent award of a full Berklee scholarship to attend the prestigious music education institution), and others.

As the sun went down, it did not diminish the passionate delivery of the Sakésho quartet. In fact as they drew to a rousing close, members of the audience rose to their feet in appreciative applause. Shortly after, people crowded around the quartet slightly off the side of the stage. Andy Narell autographed copies of the group's two CDs - both their debut and sophomore recordings. The steelpan player chatted, joked and shook hands with admirers who lined up awaiting their turn to take home with them, musical memories of the performance they had just witnessed at the North Plaza stage of Lincoln Center's Out of Doors event.

The crowd afterwards turned its attention to the stage located on the Josie Robertson Plaza in the front area of Lincoln Center. There was a change from music to theater as the display of artistry continued into the night. Taking the spotlight this time around was the San Francisco-based troupe of acrobatic stilt walkers - Carpetbag Brigade Physical Theater Company (pictured) - who entranced the audience with the visual impact of their dramatic portrayal called Mudfire, a forest tale of legend brought to life with theatric imagery.

When Steel Talks (WST) takes this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and specifically the Out of Doors event crew: Eileen McMahon, Director - Press and Publicity; Marian Skokan, Publicity Manager (right in picture); Ruth Shnider- Out of Doors Assistant (left in picture), and Jenneth Webster for graciously facilitating the WST' coverage of the steelpan events. This has allowed steelpan music connoisseurs and the pan community around the world, the opportunity to share in the experience of Lincoln Center's summer steelpan-related events - both Sakésho's and CASYM Steel Orchestra's performances. The latter was also part of the Out of Doors series and showcased their steelpan skills on Sunday August 13 as part of the Caribbean Cultural Center: 30 Years of Carnival celebrations.