New York
-
Since
CASYM
Steel
Orchestra’s
relocation
to their
Church
Avenue
pan yard in 2010,
the band
has
joined
other
New York
steelbands
in
hosting
annual
band
launches;
last
year’s
attendance
was very
good.
So was
that of
the 2011
edition
this
last
weekend.
The Sunday
stood for
Steel,
and
Steelbands
reigned
for
several
hours at
the
band’s
pan
theater.
Around
7:30
p.m.
Pan
Royal, a
traditional
steelband
complete
with
dudup et
al and
guided by
Brian
“Bean”
Griffith,
got
things
started
for a
crowd on
hand
thirsty
for the
music to
begin.
This
crew
struck a
special
chord
within
pan
elders
in the
crowd,
under
what was
at the
time a
still-sunlit
sky.
Pan Royal opens up the show at CASYM’s 2011 band launch
Naturally
present
at this
band
launch -
those
who
missed
out on
Pantonic’s
show the
previous evening because
of weather
that was
forecast,
but
did not materialize.
Needless
to say,
they
were not
about to
be
caught a
second
time.
And the
season
is always
too
short
in the
opinion
of many pan
lovers;
there
are only
three
official
band
launches
left on
the
2011 schedule:
ADLIB on
August
13,
Sonatas
the
following
day, and
the
revival
of Metro
Steel
Orchestra
celebrating
with its
event on
August
19.
So
CASYM’s
launch
was a
must-attend
on the
calendars of many.
Tiny
tot
steals
the
hearts
of
onlookers
during
Pantonic
Steel
Orchestra’s
performance
As
always,
the
family
atmosphere
was in
full
force
at
CASYM,
including
young
babes in
strollers
or
hoisted
on
shoulders.
While
the
crowd
lapped
up the
pan
performances,
little
people
tore
around
the pan
yard on
scooters,
and on
fast
feet,
darting
in and
out of
the
adults
on hand.
Even
tinier
ones
stole
the show
on
occasion,
like the
tot who
had his
own
sticks
and
danced
away to the
sounds
of
Pantonic
in front
the band during
their
round.
CASYM’s
William
“Jonsey”
Jones
was very
happy
with the
turnout,
and
showed
his
pleasure
at the
number
of
families
in
evidence
at their
event. The mas
camp
open within
the pan
yard was
brightly
lit
with,
enticing
costumes
to be
worn in
all
their
glory
come
Labor
Day on
Eastern
Parkway.
Well-known
culture
lover
and
ardent
Despers
USA
supporter
Manty
Benjamin
was as
happy
sitting under
those
costumes
on
display,
as she
was
dancing
away in
front
and around
Despers
USA as
they
played.
 |
|
 |
CASYM’s
William
“Jonsey” Jones (right) with Travis Roberts |
|
Manty Benjamin (right) with friend - enjoying everything CASYM’s launch had to offer |
Steelband
legendary
artist,
pan
maker
and
tuner
Emmanuel
“Jack”
Riley
stood
with
well-known
Paddy
Corea
at his
side,
with the
latter
proudly
identifying
Jack as
his
mentor.
Both
were
part of
the
crowd
taking
in
Pantonic’s
performance
at this
juncture.
Well-known
steelpan
arranger
and
artist
Duvone
Stewart
put in
an
appearance
as well, with his
very
affable
and open
demeanor
in
evidence
as
always.
 |
|
 |
Emmanuel “Jack” Riley (left) with Paddy Corea |
|
Duvone Stewart (in NY cap) hanging out with New York pan folks |
Next in
line,
Sonatas
Steel
Orchestra
turned
on pan
lovers with
their
music
powering
through
the
crowd
which
surged
to the
front of
their
pans.
Like
Pantonic
before
them,
the
players
came
alive
behind
their
instruments
and put
on a
show.
CASYM’s
Travis
Roberts
was on
the go
during
the
entire
event,
keeping
things
on track
and
doing a
very
good job
at it.
Like the
Pantonic
launch
on the
Saturday,
the DJ
at
CASYM’s
launch
was just
as cool,
simply
playing
very
good
music
when
called
upon;
patrons
had no
need to
shout at
each
other to
be heard
above
the
music.
Just
before
Harmony
Music
Makers
had
their
turn in
the
musical
spotlight,
and in
the
spirit
of
camaraderie
that has
been
characteristic
in
recent
years
among
New
York’s
younger
steelpan
generation,
Travis
approached
When
Steel
Talks
(WST)
with a
similar
idea
of a
feat that WST
has
pulled
off to
date
only
in
Dominica
a few
years
aback:
that of
having a
picture of
all the
bands
together
in one
group,
with as
many
members
as
possible
in the
shot.
With
laughter
and ‘picong’
punctuating
the
quick
preparation
for the
scene
being
patiently
organized
by
Travis
Roberts
-
it was a
happy
and
perky
bunch of
New York steelpan
musicians
who
primped
and
preened
for the
WST
shot,
shorter
ones in
the back
leaping
high in
the air
every
few
seconds
to be
seen, even as
others
slid
into the
front of
the
shot at
the last
moment.
Congrats
to
Travis
(kneeling
in white
cap -
front,
below) for
organizing this for
the New
York
steelband
community.
Pan
players
from
all
six
bands
performing
at
CASYM’S
launch
get
together
for
a
quick
photo
shoot
- NY
style
Sherlanda Willie on 6-bass playing up a storm during “Forget
You”
All good
things
must
come to
an end,
and this
was true
of
CASYM’s
2011
band
launch
as well.
The
hosts
closed
off the
evening
of
sterling
steelband
music
entertainment
with an
energetic
and
exuberant
session
which
began
just
after
midnight.
The
band’s
many
supporters
young
and the
not-so-young
left
almost
no space
surrounding
the
group as
they
opened
up by
belting
out
Sherlanda
Willie’s
arrangement
of Cee
Lo
Green’s
Forget
You.
It was
about
thirty
or so
minutes
later
when
they
brought
the
event to
its
official
end, and
the
final
music
lovers
filed
out,
making
their
way back
home,
apparently
thoroughly
satisfied
with
their
Sunday
of Steel
-
courtesy
CASYM’s
band
launch.
Related
article:
A New York State of Mind - Steelband Launch Galore - Pantonic & CASYM NYC Music Fest Weekend
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