Steelpan Jazz at the House
of Jazz at Lincoln Center
In an
interview with When Steel Talks a few years ago,
legendary Jazz great, Max Roach said that the
"steelpan belongs on a world stage." Max,
always forward thinking and musically
progressive knew what was soon coming down the
pipe.
Steelpan
great Neville Jules addresses the
audience after receiving the 2007 AEI,
Life Time Achievement Award
The
rafters of Lincoln Center are still shaking from
the tremendous musical tribute Robert Greenidge,
Ralph MacDonald, David Rudder and cast put forth
to the steelpan instrument and its pioneers this
past weekend. As a matter of fact it was
a magnificent party for the steelpan ancestors.
They were all present, smiling - enjoying the
journey and recognition that their intelligence,
genius, sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears were not in vain.
Looking down from above were Rudy King,
Rudolph 'The Hammer' Charles, Lord Kitchener, Clive Bradley,
Winifred Atwell, Lord Blakie, Mighty Terror, Leo
Coker, Lincoln Noel and many other greats to
numerous to name; they now joined Miles Davis, Dizzy
Gillespie, Tito Fuentes, Thelonious Monk,
Charlie Parker and the many others whose
pictures adorn the walls outside the Allen Room
and Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. And
living steelpan legend the Honorable Neville
Jules registered his pleasure about the
journey of pan during his lifetime when
accepting the 2007 Life Time Achievement Award.
June is
officially Black Music Month and as of 2006,
also Caribbean
Heritage Month in the USA. And
additionally it is now known as the month in
which the steelpan instrument takes front and
center at Lincoln Center in New York. It
is just a matter of time before Abstract
Entertainment takes up permanent residence with
their own hall dedicated and designed for the
steelpan instrument and music.
Congratulations to AEI for having the foresight
to composite Robert
Greenidge, Garvin Blake, Andy Narell, Rudy
Smith, Liam Teague, Ralph MacDonald,
Frankie Macintosh, David Rudder and the other
selected world-class artists that have graced the
Lincoln Center stage in the name of pan, at one
consistent forum to serenade the steelpan titans and jazz
giants in the House of Jazz.
Congratulations to Abstract Entertainment on
making the ancestors proud.
