New York
-
Pantonic Steel Orchestra and CASYM
Steel Orchestra held their 2011 Steelband launches on
successive evenings this past weekend. Two of New York’s valued music franchises
delivered
the
goods.
It’s
August
and
folks
were
indeed
in a New
York
state of
mind.
Tonic’s
Albemarle
Road panyard -
the site
of the
front
side of
this
dual Pan
launch
weekend
- was
abound
with NY
Yankee-style
caps. Pantonic
had
Saturday,
and
CASYM, on
Sunday -
for this
musical
double-header
of a
‘home
and
home’
concert
series
featuring
NY’s
finest
steel
orchestras. The
constant
threat
of rain,
and on-and-off
drizzle
definitely
impacted
the
turn-out,
but it
had zero
impact
on the
enthusiasm
of those
in
attendance,
and
on the level of
music
performed
by the
groups.
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| Pan Ambassadors at Pantonic’s 2011 Band Launch |
|
NY Pan Stars at Pantonic’s 2011 Band Launch |
As
expected
the
stage
sides
are in
mid-season
form
with
the great
‘2011
New York
Panorama’
on the
horizon.
Every
time you
take the
stage at
these
launches,
your
‘shirt’
and
good musical
name are literally
at
risk. Despers
in blue,
Pan
Stars in
green, Pantonic
in
white,
Pan
Ambassadors
in
mainly
purple -
true
colors
again
with
NY caps
on heads.
And yet
through
it all,
there is
a
sincere
spirit
of
unprecedented
cooperation
and
support
among
the New
York
fraternity.
The “Band
Launch”
system
simply
cannot function
with
even a
modicum
of
success,
without
cooperation
and a
certain
level
of trust
among
the
participating
orchestras.
It is a
prime
example
of
community
institutions
working
together
successfully
for
their
own
self-interests.
Pantonic Steel Orchestra Launch
Pantonic
Launch
Pantonic’s
band launch
started
promptly
at 9 p.m.
as
advertised
with
Higher
Levin as
the
opening
act.
Each
orchestra was
afforded a
30-minute
running
performance
clock
with a 5-minute
DJ break
that was
eliminated
as the
night
progressed. Higher
Levin
was
followed
by
Harmony,
Despers
USA,
Ambassadors,
D’Radoes,
NY Pan
Stars,
CASYM,
Sonatas
and hosts
Pantonic
who
closed
the
show. Pantonic’s
Wayne
Bernard
was the
floor
director.
He
successfully
maintained
a fluid
and
tight
rotation
of the
bands
throughout
the
event.
Event coordinators Wayne Bernard, Anne Aspilaire and Matthew Bascombe - happy
with the fruits of their efforts at Pantonic’s launch
One
thing is
abundantly
clear
from
these
launches:
the New
York
steelband
music
culture
is alive
and well
among
the
youth. Moreover,
as
respected
veteran
panist
Vern Rosemin
of
Despers
USA put
it, “the
youth
are
performing
very
well, at
a much
earlier
age.”
In terms
of
improvement,
two
groups really
stood
out
- one
being
the
youth in Pantonic,
displaying significant
growth
musically
and
performance-wise
in
a
relatively
short
period
of time. The
other is
the rise
of New
York Pan
Stars.
In a
couple
of years
they
have
found
both
their
musical
voice
and
signature
sound.
They
have
great
instruments
and
talent
(and yes,
there
wasn’t
even one
fingerprint
smudge
on any
of the
instruments).
In
addition
this
band
appears
to be of
the
mindset
to bring
a
command
performance
every
time
out. If
management
can hold
it
together,
look for
NY Pan
Stars to
etch a
position
among
New
York’s
elite
stage
sides
the
likes of
Sonatas,
Despers
USA,
CASYM
and
Steel
Sensation.
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|
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| Harmony at Pantonic’s 2011 Band Launch |
|
Pantonic at their 2011 Band Launch |
This
is where professionalism
and
great
management
kick
in.
It’s the
second
leg of a
long
weekend;
it’s
hot,
you’re
tired
and you’re
in the
middle
of the
NY
summer
pan
season.
You are
competing
against
the
Yankees, Mets and
a host
of
summer
concerts
and
activities
for
people’s
attention
and
support.
Can you
deliver
the
goods?
CASYM
Launch
CASYM Steel Orchestra Launch
With the
threat
of rain
severely
diminished,
the
crowd
came out
in
droves
for
CASYM’s
Sunday
evening
launch. And yes,
the
bands
did
deliver.
With
only a
few
hours
rest,
five of
the
bands
from the
previous
night
pick up
from
where
they
left off
at Pantonic’s and head
for
CASYM’s
Brooklyn
yard on
Church
Avenue for
round
two.
This
time
four of
the
biggest
names in
the North
American
steelband
music
scene -
all past
New York
panorama
champions
(CASYM,
Sonatas,
Despers
USA and Pantonic)
were on
the
performing
card. In
addition,
Harmony
and Pan
Royal
led by
Brian
“Bean”
Griffith
rounded
out the
lineup.
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| Pan Royal at CASYM’s 2011 Band Launch |
|
CASYM at their 2011 Band Launch |
Anytime
you put
these
past
champions
together
in the
same
performance
venue
you can
expect a
show.
They did
not
disappoint
the show
attendees.
They are
indeed
the
toast of
the
town. With the
reduced
number
of
orchestras,
each
group
was able
to give
a more
complete
musical
offering
that
showcased
more of
their
musical
performance skillset
and
repertoire.
The
higher
level of
musical
sophistication
brought
by
several
of the new,
young
steelband arrangers,
was not
lost on the
audience
as the
bands
executed
their
music
clearly.
Overall,
a tight,
and
again
smooth
operation
was
maintained.
The
floor
general
and
director
of this
event
was
CASYM’s
Travis
Roberts.
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| Despers USA at CASYM’s 2011 Band Launch |
|
Sonatas at CASYM’s 2011 Band Launch |
Pan
Royal, a
‘traditional’
orchestra
opened
the show
and
immediately
engaged
the
audience
with
memorable
classics
from the
past.
They
were
followed
by
Despers
USA who
passed
on to
Harmony,
to be
followed
by Pantonic,
Sonatas
and
CASYM
respectively. For
these
musicians
on this
Sunday
evening
it was
all
about
the
music -
no talk,
just
music -
nothing
but the
music. A
New York
state of
mind was
had by
all.
Big-up
to
Pantonic
and
CASYM on
a
weekend
of great
Pan
and
tight
shows.
ADLIB,
Sonatas
and Metro
launches
up next.
Related
article:
On Time
Steelband
Launch -
A
welcome
rarity
