New
York,
USA
-
...music
and art
by the
people,
for the
people
that is
inclusive,
inviting,
relevant,
entertaining
and
uplifting
With a
New York
Summer full
moon
illuminating
the
skies,
the “Pan
stars”
came out
to play. Literally. Under
the
auspices
of
New
York Pan
Stars
Steel
Orchestra,
an event
of
authentic
high
culture,
music
and art
was made
available
to the
New York
community
via
“Saturday
Evening
at D
Pan
Yard.”
The
event
featured
musical
performances
by the
area’s
top
steelband
music
orchestras.
New York,
and in
particular
Brooklyn,
has long
been the
home of
some of
the best
performing steel
orchestras
in North
America
-
featuring
home-
grown
personnel
with
impeccable
musicianship
and live
performance
abilities.
Harmony
performs
On this
evening
New
Yorkers
were
again treated
to rich
musical
performances
inundated
in
community, tradition,
high
culture
and art by
Despers
USA,
Harmony,
Pan
Sonatas,
Pantonic, Steel
Sensation
and hosts New
York Pan
Stars.
The
enterprising,
successful,
entertaining and
enjoyable
happening
featured
command
musical
performances
on steel of a
wide-ranging
repertoire
that
included
on the
menu the
likes of Caribbean music superstar Machel Montano’s 2011
smash
hit “Advantage”
and classic instrumental jazz fusion
standard
“Spain”
by Chick Corea. In fact
it was
New York
Pan
Stars
who gave
a fantastic
rendition
of the
latter
as
arranged
by Marc
Brooks, that met
with the
approval
of this
supportive
but
highly
critical
and
knowledgeable
audience.
Steel Sensation
entertains the crowd
Each
highly-skilled
and well-rehearsed
orchestra
was
afforded
two
rounds
of
performances
to
present
their
musical
offerings
to the
community
and
their
supporters,
as a means
of both
providing
entertainment,
and
stating
their
musical
case
through
their
performances
- for
their
inclusion
into the
conversation
as one
of the
top
steel
orchestras
in the
country.
In
addition,
the
event
allows
for many
of
tomorrow’s
‘next
musical
genius’
to
showcase
their
musical
prowess.
The
night’s
activities
also
included
an
energized
“Ramajay”
that
featured
panists
from all
the
bands
and
guests.
Pantonic
entertains the crowd
In spite
of the
highly
competitive
nature
of
community-based
steel
orchestras
in New
York
that has
resulted
in their
musical
excellence
- there
was a
great
sense of
fraternity,
and a
display
of
support
and camaraderie
among
the
members
of the
steel
orchestras,
players
and
fans.
Despers USA
entertains the crowd
Over the
coming
weeks
steelpan
music
enthusiasts
and
supporters
will
have
multiple
opportunities
to
experience
the
performances
of these
talented
orchestras
that
have
been a
mainstay
of New
York
culture
for
decades,
as the
performance
locations
of these
weekend
events
shift,
with
each
orchestra
assuming
the duty
as host. These
steelpan
music
events
will
culminate
with the
grand
competition
known as
“Panorama”
at the
end of
the
Summer
when 100-player steel
orchestras
will
then
compete
for the
coveted
title of
New York
Panorama
champion.
Sonatas
entertains the crowd
Better
sometimes
known as
launches
these
steelpan
performances
are what
the
great
world
famous
musical
centers
of New
York
like
Lincoln
Center,
Carnegie
Hall and
the
likes
located
just
across
the
river
could
never be
to these
communities
and the
masses -
that is
music
and art
by the
people,
for the
people
that is
inclusive,
inviting,
relevant,
entertaining
and
uplifting.
Hosts
New York Pan Stars
entertain the crowd
Arts and
culture
have
always
been the
hallmark of
a great
civilization. And New
York
represents
one of
the most
cultured
and
diverse
dynamic
communities
in the
world.
There is
no
shortage
of great
performance
halls
and
settings
in the
New York
metropolis.
Yet in
spite of
all of
New
York’s
riches
and
entertainment/performance
opportunities
- there
are few
live
performance
circumstances
that are
as
meaningful
to the
survival
and
expression
of a
community
and
people
as these
steelpan
music
events.
The
power of
that
greatness
of the
steelpan
music
community
and
culture
was on
full
display
at this
New York
Pan
Stars
event.
These
performances
are a
must-attend,
must-see
and
definitely
a ‘must’
of an
experience.
Check
the
events
calendar
for the next
New York
launches.
In
Pictures
