Carnival of Instruments III-
Steelpan Jazz at Brooklyn's Afrika House - Utopia Pan Soul:
The Next Generation Clears the Road Trevor Stubbs & the Utopia Pan Soul
Quartet
You are
listening to live samples of the Utopia Pan Soul 2007
Steelpan Jazz Show at Afrika House
New York - In a little more than a week and a day New York residents were
treated to a second healthy helping of top notch steelpan jazz.
June 16 had marked the third such
show at Lincoln Center in New York. This time
it was at Afrika House located in Brooklyn, New York as headliners Garvin Blake
and his ensemble, Jambalasi, the Andrea Rose Trio featuring
Jason "Peanut" Isaacs and of course Utopia Pan Soul:
the Next Generation, and more all treated the
packed house to a very special show appropriately called
"Carnival of Instruments III." It was truly Steelpan Jazz,
at times with a Caribbean flavor, with no additives, no faking the move, no artificial anything.
Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation
is much more than the average steelpan side. They are a young group of dedicated talented young men and women
who have a plan and a vision that shatter the expected norms of
a steelband on every level - musically, fiscally and
historically. There is Steelpan Jazz at Lincoln Center and now there is Steelpan Jazz at Afrika House compliments of Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation. This was one of the best shows
of the year. Not even the sound problems that bedeviled the show and
horrendous placement of the speakers could dampen the spirit of the audience or
take away anything from the ambience of the high level performances.
By 6:15 PM the audience had already started
filing in for the
advertised 7:00 PM start. The intimate setting
arranged by Utopia's show and set designers included silver U-shaped
table centerpieces, each highlighted by two steelpans and topped
off by balloons, celebrating both the steelpan and Utopia, and only adding to the ambience,
anticipation and expectations. By showtime all the tables
were filled with the standing area and refreshment area also
abuzz with activity.
Garvin
Blake Ensemble
This Sunday-evening Brooklyn audience was clearly aware in
advance of the
musical prowess of the Garvin Blake Ensemble and eagerly
waited to experience something special. Anytime you get a
Garvin Blake (2nd pan), Frankie McIntosh (Keyboards) and a Calvin
Jones (Bass) together, you are in for a special treat when it comes to
the best in the Caribbean steelpan jazz music genre. These
cats are in a class that few really can attain. Moreover,
they bring that Brooklyn, New York attitude to their music.
Their authenticity is grounded in a
unique experience that cannot be duplicated or manufactured.
Those in the audience who knew what to expect were not
disappointed and those who were new to the experience,
instantly became lifetime fans - so compelling was the
interaction between the audience and artists. Rounding out
the ensemble was drummer Sipho from South Africa, and Senegal's
MBoup on percussions. The ensemble left the crowd hungry
and thirsting for more of their particular brand of pan jazz.
Iman
Pascall on Tenor
But long before the Garvin Blake ensemble
stepped up, the show had opened with solo pan performances of
the Trinidad & Tobago and US anthems, by Iman Pascall and Kareem
Thompson, respectively. Then Utopia Pan Soul Youth
delivered a set that included I Want You Back, Donna Lee
and Inspiration, featuring the
arranging talents of Brooklyn's own steelpan impresario Ms.
Pascall. Not only did Iman additionally anchor the group on drums,
but she also wrote their last selection, Inspiration. There are very few
accolades that have not already been
bestowed upon this young lady, who is currently a sophomore music
major at Florida Memorial. The Utopia Pan Soul Youth
musicians demonstrated one of the main tenets of Utopia
Pan Soul, that being - to give gifted and talented youth an
opportunity to grow and display their musical gifts. The
musicians of Utopia Pan Soul Youth set the pace for superior pan
jazz performances for the rest of the evening.
Next in the spotlight was Jambalasi who
included in their set, The Stylistics' classic Betcha By
Golly Wow, and with Petra on vocals - Robin Thicke's current
chart topper Lost Without You. They also featured the talents of another
Brooklyn virtuoso and current Florida Memorial sophomore, Kareem
Thompson (2nd pan). There is no denying this young
man's talent and future -
simply awesome. Kareem again displayed why he is one of
the most talented steelpan players in the USA. His innate
Afro-Caribbean vibe, fluidity, command of the instrument and comfort
of the jazz idiom separate him from his peers, and in fact many others
who are several years his senior. Jambalasi is an
extremely talented intergenerational family unit that graces stages around the country. It is headed by founder and
percussionist Edgar Fitzgerald; his twin sons, Iba (Bass) and
Toure (Keyboards) and grandson Kareem on steelpan round out the
group. For the show at Afrika House, rising young drummer
Keith Marcelle, Jr. - who is himself a skilled pan player, and
the resident drummer for Sesame Flyers Steel Orchestra -
accompanied Jambalasi.
Andrea Rose Trio
The Andrea Rose Trio who ended the first
half, engaged the audience with some straight
ahead jazz, and were also the back-up band for jazz singer Betty
Blue whose soul-felt jazz vocals were appreciated by the
audience. The trio also accompanied hometown Brooklyn favorite Jason "Peanut" Isaacs (2nd pan);
his series of solos extended the scope of the Rose trio to true
steel pan jazz.
After a short intermission, Utopia president
Yolande Richardson made several presentations on behalf of
Utopia to individuals who made contributions to the existence of
Utopia, and the wider pan community. The Garvin Blake
Ensemble took the stage, garnering spontaneous bursts of
applause during their stint. The Utopia Pan Soul Quartet,
featuring musicians from Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation
closed the show. One of the group's founders, Trevor
Stubbs was in the spotlight, first accompanying the quartet,
with Jambalasi's Edgar Fitzgerald on congas. They
delivered several numbers, including an innovative 'swing'
version of David Rudder's The Hammer. It was close
to midnight when the pan jazz show wound down, with patrons
reluctantly leaving, and surely looking forward to 2008 when
Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation hosts 'Carnival of
Instruments IV.' And artistes are going to be clamoring
long in advance to be included in that line-up.
Contact Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation -
Sheldon Elcock: 1 (917) 862-6974
Yolande Richardson: 1 (917) 287-5412
Nigel Clarke: 1 (917) 753-9873
