Steelpan Jazz at the House
of Jazz at Lincoln Center
New York - The 2007 version of the annual
Steelpan Jazz Concert at the House of Jazz at Lincoln Center is
in the history books. The crowd was ready, the showground
was ready and the artists delivered. Robert Greenidge,
Ralph MacDonald and David Rudder - the show's headliners - left the
crowd calling for more. Indeed, another successful
show for the event producers Abstract Entertainment Inc. (AEI),
whose name has become synonymous with high level successful
music events.
Tickets for the event had
been sold out for over two weeks prior to show day - making them
some of
the most talked about, hottest and hardest items to gain possession of.
Indeed, many
of the previous shows' past attendees were shocked to find that they
were locked out of this year's Father's Day weekend event. The show's popularity,
coupled with the forward-thinking marketing of AEI, make this
event automatically the one to watch every year.
Robert Greenidge, Ralph MacDonald, David Rudder and crew
perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center
This year the show was moved to Jazz at Lincoln Center's
Allen Room. In past years the show was held at the
institution's Rose Theater and Alice Tully Hall. Though smaller
than the previous performing halls, the Allen Room provided show attendees with a much more intimate setting, and a breathtaking
late evening into night view of New York's Columbus Circle and entrance to
Central Park.
Before Lenny Green of 98.7 Kiss FM-fame opened the
show as MC - this year attending fans were treated to a
pre-concert complimentary reception that in addition to
showcasing cuisine and product from event sponsors - provided
educational demonstrations on the steelpans for those
who desired to have a closer look at, or were not familiar with, the family of steelpan instruments.
Ricardo Greenaway and Keith Green conducted the demonstrations
and personal Q & A sessions. Participants were quite
pleased with the demonstrations and reception.
Robert Greenidge, Ralph MacDonald and David
Rudder all are great internationally known artists whose careers
have been unapologetically intimately intertwined with the steelpan
instrument, music and art form.
These three - each
respected musical giants in their own right, brought a historical
context and moment to Lincoln Center's House of Jazz, as they
celebrated the genius of the steelpan instrument from its humble
beginnings to the present; they performed selected pieces for
the audience out of their vast catalog of known hits, each
showcasing the steelpan under the artistry of Robert Greenidge's
masterful touch.
MacDonald's "Just the Two of Us", Greenidge's "From
the Heart" and of course Rudder's "The Hammer" all touched a
special cord with audience. Each received tremendous
applause for the night's rendition of their famous compositions.
In addition to the featuring of music icons
David Rudder, Robert Greenidge and Ralph MacDonald - also
on hand as part of the performing musicians were
drummer extraordinaire Buddy Williams (drums),
Onaje Allan Gumbs (keyboards),
Nicholas Brancker (bass), Arturo Tappin (sax), Etienne Charles
(trumpet), Scott Galt (guitar) and Wayne
Bruno (Guitar).
A poignant part of the evening's event was the
presenting of the 2007
Abstract Entertainment
Life Time Achievement Award hailed as the "Oscar of the
Steelpan Music Movement." This year's 2007
Abstract Entertainment
Life Time Achievement Award was presented to Mr. Neville Jules
by Dr. Myrna Nurse,
for his creative contributions of outstanding music and his
inventive significance to the development of the steelband music
and movement. Moreover, Mr. Jules' steadfast
commitment to excellence and honor throughout his life has
improved our society and inspired others. Mr. Jules, always
the consummate gentleman, received two standing ovations from the
appreciative crowd, as in his acceptance speech he took the
audience on a short history lesson through his personal
experiences. Moreover, he accented his appreciation for
the instrument and its rise to where it now commanded the
respect of sold out audiences at prestigious halls within the
confines of a facility such as Lincoln Center.
Indeed, New York city was afforded the chance
to be part of a historical and magical moment as the Steelpan
instrument again took front and center at Lincoln Center - as
Greenidge, MacDonald and Rudder delivered the goods.