Brooklyn, New York - The “Cultural Center of the World” is a title that New York City has earned for quite awhile now because of its size, diversity and respect for the arts. And now within the city, Brooklyn has become the epicenter of this renewed cultural boom. Leading the charge is none other than the great steel orchestras of Brooklyn.
This past Friday, real, living, practicing, breathing, meaningful culture of the people got a great infusion of life when New York Pan Stars steel orchestra held its annual “Pantastic Friday” steelband fundraiser. It was an awesome display of high culture, history, community spirit, talent and wellness. This event marks the official opening of the New York Panorama season.
Seven orchestras were billed to perform. By show-time six of New York’s finest steel orchestras were setup and ready to play. New York Pan Stars, CASYM, ADLIB, Steel Sensation, CrossFire and Despers USA were all in the house and smartly dressed up in their group uniforms. All the groups looked spiffy - real nice. There was no need for the fashion police. As you may already know, in Brooklyn how you look is as important as how you sound.
New York Steel orchestras turn up the musical heat for Pantastic Friday
New York Pan Stars opened up the night’s musical proceedings with a deft set that ran the musical gauntlet from Chick Corea’s Spain to Lord Kitchener’s Pan in A Minor. Indeed NY Pan Stars set the bar real high for the rest of this season’s performances and musical content. Their musicianship was on point and the sonic quality of their steelpan instruments was outstanding. You could almost imagine the Verizon man from the famed commercial after every song performed by NY Pan Stars screaming at the audience “Can you hear me now?” And indeed, the audience was engulfed by a musical firestorm, and responded in kind with rousing applause and singing. In fact, veteran champion panist and founding member of Trinidad & Tobago’s famed Solo Harmonites Steel Orchestra - HueLoy Lila Yip Young - called that performance of Spain “One of the best pieces I’ve heard played in my 40-year New York pan history,” in his facebook post. It was indeed, that professional a performance.
New York Pan Stars perform at their 2014 fundraiser ‘Big In De Dance’ on a ‘Pantastic Friday’ evening
Defending New York Panorama champion, CASYM Steel Orchestra followed NY Pan Stars. They executed a varied musical set of old and new hits with a lot of pizzazz. CASYM was simply about the old musical adage “Let’s get this party started right” - and the crowd fell right in place. So thick was the row of fans listening to the band, that the physical body absorption of the music brought only muffled tones to those listening in the rear.
CASYM like all the other orchestras on this night came out with a full stage side and their ‘A’ game. From Earth, Wind & Fire’s September to Machel Montano’s 2014 smash hit E.P.I.C., CASYM lived the lyrics through their performance - (Ah waiting whole year - Ah want everybody to know - We out here - Ah feeling the vibes, Our time is near - And we taking over the show - We don’t care...). The listening audience reciprocated as CASYM captured the fancy of the crowd. Dressed in their trademark blue shirts enhanced by sparkling highlights - CASYM players gave a personal touch to their wear with their nick names on the back.
Members of CASYM Steel Orchestra perform at ‘Big In De Dance’ on a ‘Pantastic Friday’ evening
Anchoring the middle of this event was ADLIB Steel Orchestra from Freeport, Long Island. No stranger to Brooklyn, it is always a special treat when ADLIB mixes it up with other fellow New York steel orchestras. ADLIB executed a very entertaining musical set. By the time ADLIB dropped Kerwin Dubois’ monster 2014 Soca hit Too Real, ADLIB had the crowd singing in tandem “Gyal how yuh bad so, How yuh bad so, How yuh rude so...” - but, we digress. Let’s just say the young people totally enjoyed themselves. ADLIB simply owned the moment when they followed up with Big People Party. A tune to watch, as we hear a few bands are considering this tune for New York Panorama 2014. ADLIB as their usual looked good and gave a generally tight performance.
Members of ADLIB Steel Orchestra perform at ‘Big In De Dance’
You know you ‘got it going on’ when the chatter in the crowd stops and there is nothing but ‘ears’ listening. Such is the case with Steel Sensation. The sextet has made a name for themselves by delivering great skilled and entertaining performances. Displaying pure, unadulterated talent and musicianship, Steel Sensation released a musical barrage of hits - both current and old that had the audience fully engaged. From Brasil to Band From Space, the group did not disappoint.
Steel Sensation performs at New York Pan Stars’ 2014 Pantastic Friday event
Unexpectedly, the last band for the night was CrossFire, as Despers USA never got to perform. More on that in a moment. CrossFire is definitely one of the bands you want to check out this year. If you are new to the Brooklyn steelpan music scene, take a good listen to the arrangements and musical attitude arranger Kendall Williams has imparted to [and imprinted on] the group. Although CrossFire only got to play three songs there was great enthusiasm, high musicianship and an instant connect with the audience. Couple phenomenal and well-tuned instruments with CrossFire’s musical approach and you will be entranced in one of those rare live music performances and “just listen” moments.
There seems to be some bad left-over remnants from the Bloomberg administration as the NYPD (New York Police Department) shut down the event before the final band was able to perform - [this around 12:30 a.m.]. Hopefully, with new mayor Bill de Blasio in office, the continued and de facto disrespect meted out through the years for steel orchestras and certain sections of the population, will finally come to an end. It is ironic that in many ways these very steel orchestra performances and practice sessions that have been crudely shut down over the years, are far more substantial, vibrant and meaningful - than some music activities attended by the cultural elite in the great performing halls just across the river. In fact, many of these ‘community’ performers have themselves already performed at these venues.
New York Pan Stars facilitated a level of professionalism not normally experienced at past launches; let’s see if this is going to be the new norm. In any regard the message was loud and clear for future band launches. Come with a ‘full’ stage-side orchestra - size matters. And come good - or you are likely to get a musical whipping and your feelings hurt. At this first salvo ‘launched’ at the New York Pan Stars’ event, attendees were treated to full stage-side orchestras - not the ‘two grains of pans’ as the ole people used to say. Size does matter...
It was great to see the representatives of the various New York steelband franchises turn out in support - both past and present. Albert “Bing” Reid of New York’s now-inactive Marsicans and Silhouettes steel orchestras, was very pleased at what he saw and as one of the veterans of the steelband movement, looked on favorably while marveling at the skill, energy and enjoyment of the players. “Look at how the young people are enjoying themselves. Make sure you put that in your article!” he urged.
It is imperative that future launches start on time, and time management be under strict control. Until bands are clear on the policies of this new Mayor’s administration [and what in turn has been communicated to the NYPD] - the show (launches) could end at any moment, as transpired last Friday. Like any normal pre-planned activity, steel orchestras participating in band launches should each be advised by organizers of the approximate ‘window’ of time when they would be playing, so they in turn can promote to prospective patrons, their fans and the Press, exactly when they can catch their performance at respective band launches.
Hosts New York Pan Stars operated as a professional unit. They are to be commended not only for their high musical content but for also developing and inculcating that professionalism in their young and upcoming musicians. The only critique overall is that there really should have been tighter stage/time management; had the event started at the advertised time of 8:00 p.m., it is probable that even Despers USA could have gotten in a brief performance before the NYPD shut down. Moreover, such a move would bode well in marketing the launches outside of the immediate Brooklyn community.
2014 Band launches
- New York Pan Stars June 27 launch - review
- D’Radoes July 12 launch - review
- Steel X Plosion USA Showcase July 19.
- ADLIB band launch on July 26.
- Despers USA August 3 launch - review
- Harmony band launch on August 9.
- Sonatas August 10 launch - review
Next up:
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Contact CrossFire: 1 (347) 262-5746
Crossfiresteel@yahoo.com
Contact New York Pan Stars:
nypanstars1@gmail.com
Contact ADLIB: adlib4pan@aol.com
Contact CASYM: 1 (718) 735-6708
casymsteelband@gmail.com
Contact Steel Sensation: 1 (718) 809-8288
steelsensation@gmail.com
Tenor - Sage Harrison, Joel Edouard, Antonio “AJ” John, Shireen Seales, Navarre Mason, Alexia Isaac, Averey Debriz
Double Tenor - Shane McDonald, Selena Antoine
Double Second - Andrew Semple, Sparkle Demming
Double Guitar - Tamika Small, Tahjet Lewis
Triple Cello - Andrea Wilson
Bass - Kianna Carrington, David Cersier, Brianna McNutt
Percussion /Arranger - Marc Brooks
Drums - Noah Smit
New York Pan Stars after their performance
Tenor - Travis Roberts, Lance, BJ, Brittney, Abiola
Double Tenor - Daneisha
Double Second - Kyle, Haajar, Isaiah
Guitar - Sheianne Danglade, Siboney, Tyler
Cello - Jonathan
Bass - Curtis Lynch, Lakeisha Danglade, Juquan
Percussion - Elroy Primus
Drummer - Jahlani Roberts
CASYM Steel Orchestra performs
Tenor - Jelani Noel, Tyrell Smith, Che Fernandez, Cassie Gangaram, Urbe Tucker
Double Tenor - Anthony Bryan, Joshua Forbes
Double Second - Christian Melhado, David Pierre
Guitar - Brittany Seymour
Triple Cello - Joshua Forbes
Four Pan - Nicole Turner
Quadrophonic - Natasha Ribero
Six Bass - Natasha Turner, Tyese Edmonds, Kadeem Pierre
Percussion - Mark Gangaram Jr., Chris Raymond, Tyrell Taylor
Drums - Ian Japsi
Arranger - Tristan Japsi
Members of ADLIB Steel Orchestra after their performance
Six Bass - Edward Clarke
Cello - Bossman “Goose” Joseph
Double Second - Marc Brooks
Tenor - Ryan Joseph, Tristan Japsi
Drums - Ian Japsi
Tenor - Giselle Desir, Zeandre Douglas, Isaiah Daniel, Norzika Lewis, Ayana Wright, Sciyahn Koonkoon
Double Tenor - Khyah Judah
Double Second - Warren Webster
Guitar - Keifer Dover, Sukinah Porter
Cello - Arielle Chase, Matthew Best, Danielle Edinboro
Six Bass - Nia Jacob, Kalifa Reid, Alexis Schloss
Drums - Jerry Guy
Arranger/Drums - Kendall Williams
New York Pan Stars’ ‘2014 Pantastic Friday/Big
In De Dance’
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