Brooklyn's Finest Come Together
 

New York - Their names ring like an All-Star team of some of the most talented and respected steelpan musicians in North America.  In the steelpan arena they are recognized with single names.  An honor that is reserved for an elite few.  Their reserve and humility creates a mystique about them - that is only matched by their monster talent.  Moreover, their youthful looks and tender ages belie their accomplishments, resolve and musical knowledge base.  And in one of the most competitive arenas where you are only as good as your last hit - this crew intends to break new ground and let their music do the talking.
 -

D.C. Carnival In Pictures and Sound - 2005

Washington D.C.
-

"Bush" whacked
DC Panmen yet to recover...
 

Washington D.C. - The Washington DC Carnival in 2005 will be one that will be remembered for a while to come.  There was a surprise awaiting steelbands, masqueraders, and the thousands of carnival and pan lovers, especially those lining the last four blocks of  the Caribbean festival.  It was not a pleasant one - the surprise that is.

Who Stopped The Carnival?
- DC PanMen Shut Down Early
 

Washington D.C. - Usually, the sheriff tells the undesirables to get out of town by sundown.  Not in Washington D.C. Panmen barely made it pass noon.  At 1:00 pm the last steelband on the carnival route, PanMasters Steel Orchestra crossed the seemingly designated - No Play Zone - (which means - no music of any sort, no chipping, no dancing, no singing, no drumming, and definitely, no Pan Playing) at the beginning of the Howard University campus.  They were abruptly shut down with an order to stop playing.   Revelers of course had no music now to chip to.  Never mind the walls of the university, and the lawns just outside were laced with patient and adoring fans waiting for chance to hear and enjoy the sweet pan music in temperatures that reached 93° in the shade.

The Year 10 Steel Pans Band
Rod Barnett from Biddenham School
 

United Kingdom - The Year 10 Steel Pans Band performed at Great Barford and Biggleswade on Saturday 11th June.

The Great Barford event was the Battle of Barford Bridge Festival. Under somewhat threatening sky's the Year 10 band put in a fine performance.

Youngsters learn to play steel drums

By MICHAEL REED
Staff Writer
 

Florida - A community center north of Bunnell seemed an odd place for the metallic sounds of steel drums playing "In the Jungle."

But the island feel the instruments produce was in the air, and feet were unconsciously tapping to the fast rhythm. Inside the African American Cultural Society, a class of children was happily drumming away, learning an instrument that will teach them discipline and help them work off stress for years to come.

"It's a psychological experience," said band director Tony Cezair. "It just helps you deal with everyday life."

Playing steel drums teaches the children tolerance, direction, awareness and togetherness, Cezair said. It teaches them to concentrate, and they are often more calm when the lesson in finished.

Promoters see World Steelband Music Festival as investment in future
By Renee Cummings in New York
 

Trinidad - The pan world is still abuzz with the astounding victory on Sunday night by Sagicor Exodus at the final of the World Steelband Music Festival, staged at Madison Square Garden. With an audience estimated in excess of 4,000, the St Augustine steel orchestra topped a field of seven.

Exodus has previously won this championship in Trinidad and this was the first time the final has been held outside of T&T.

The Father’s Day turnout was the largest crowd to ever attend a World Steelband Music Festival, in the competition’s five year run. Organisers guesstimated some 4,400 were in attendance. Tickets sold at US$44.50 and US$59.50 which were relatively cheap for a performance at the Garden.

The Guts...
Behind the Glory
 

New York - The steel orchestras did not disappoint at the June 19 show at The Theater, Madison Square Garden. The World Steelband Music Festival (WSMF) featured seven credible performances, including two from past steelband music festival winners. In the house were near four thousand music lovers with a preference for Pan. And the steel orchestras, in all their finery, their glory, put down their best performances after what would have been for most, months of arduous preparation.

Just before 10:00 PM, it was made known to the world that past festival winners Exodus Steel Orchestra had once again triumphed. Running a close second and only three points behind was Skiffle Bunch, who have also been festival champions.
But even as the steel orchestras basked in the adulation of adoring music fans, there was much that led up to their moment of stardom on stage, and followed even when they finished their respective performances with triumphant and euphoric signature flourishes.

CASYM Steel Orchestra Represents
New York Pan Big-Time at
World Steelband Music Festival
 

New York - CASYM Steel orchestra is one of the premiere steel orchestras in America. This past weekend this talented young crew participated in the WSMF held at the world famous Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theatre in New York City. CASYM was the sole New York representative in this prestigious festival that fielded representatives from Trinidad, Canada and Grenada. New York is the home of the largest and most competitive steelpan community outside of Trinidad. The orchestra is led by Arddin Herbert who arranged both the test piece "Pan In A Minor" and their tune of choice Marche Slave.

New York - Live footage from the yards as they prepared for the WSMF 2005.

World Steelband Music Festival 
A Success
 

New York - On Father’s Day, June 19, 2005 New York was treated to a musical extravaganza at Madison Square Garden. The 2005 World Steelband Music Festival was held at the Garden with 7 Steelbands that came to participate in the Finals of the competition. New Yorkers got their moneys worth. All the bands did well but three steelbands stood out.

WORLD STEELBAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL FINALS, MADISON SQUARE GARDENS
NEW YORK, JUNE 19TH 2005
In Pictures
 

New York - A close look a the WORLD STEELBAND MUSIC FESTIVAL as seen through the lenses of Basement Pan photographers...

WSMF In Review

New York - Dressed in black jackets with black slacks and red ties (males) - white dresses (females) - defending champions Exodus was dressed to kill. Exodus again demonstrated why they are one of the most efficient, polished and respected music organizations in the world. A case study in how to get the job done. Their no nonsense approach is legendary.

Exodus Wins World Steelband Festival
What Next?

New York - Congratulations to Exodus on their 2005 WSMF championship.  Congratulations are in order to Pan Trinbago for having successfully produced the 2005 World Steelband Music Festival in New York. And a special congrats to Patrick Arnold for stepping up to the plate and taking full responsibility for both the good and/or bad.

The show was great and the steelband musicians were simply superb.  They have been without question, and continue to be, ready for prime time. They (the performing steelbands) are operating on a world stage with presentations to suit. The professionalism, look, sound, performance and content - the whole package is there.

Just added performances from Pathmark 2005 Festival

PATHMARK
gives back to the Community
through Pan, Dance, and more...

New York - For the third year in a row, Pan played a major role in the annual Multicultural Festival hosted by supermarket giant Pathmark. New York's own Women In Steel, Pantonic Steel Orchestra and Pan Ambassadors joined other performers in the annual festival which heads to various areas where the supermarket giant has service locations. In addition to their generous traditional outreaches via their corporation pipeline, Pathmark pointedly makes community involvement their watchwords, paying special attention and tribute to the diverse and respective cultures in the communities.

Steelpan Music Reigns Supreme at Pathmark's 2005 Multicultural Festival
 

New York - Internationally renowned Women In Steel and perennial champions Pantonic Steel Orchestra among others, headlined a performance-filled afternoon of dance, song, and music. Thousands of King's Plaza Mall shoppers and program attendees were treated to grand performances as part of the King's Plaza edition of the annual Pathmark Multicultural Festival series.

CrossFire
gets the 2005 New York Pan Party
started with a Bang!
 

New York - Long before the event, pan lovers anxiously check their calendars to ensure that there are no conflicts, and that nothing stands in the way of their being at CrossFire's annual Fundraiser Barbecue. In little more than three years, this event has become the place "to be seen at" if you wish to make any kind of statement regarding your presence for the respective pan season - whether you are pan player, steel orchestra, or band management.  It is the unofficial, yet pivotal launch which opens the floodgates to what always turns out to be an intriguing and eventful summer season of steelpan for the New York pan scene.  Many bands send their musical "messages" that demand reckoning, not merely reasoning, with.

University of Arizona Steel Band
Virtual Percussion Festival
 

Arizona - On April 30th, 2005, the University of Arizona Steel Band in Tucson, Arizona enjoyed the opportunity to perform in Winnipeg, Canada without ever leaving its home at the university. They achieved this through the rapidly developing technology of iChat, computer-based video conferencing that allows synchronous (real-time) activities to take place over the internet.

The University of Arizona Steel Band was the featured steel pan ensemble on a concert as part of an International Virtual Percussion Festival. The band performed the world premiere of “Rub the Buddha” by Jay Rees and arranged by Mike Sammons, Director of the UA Steel Bands.

CrossFire
2005 Invitational Launch
In Pictures

Sonatas Serves Notice
"We Come Out To Play!!!"
CrossFire Launch/Invitational

New York - The CrossFire annual barbeque/launch is traditionally New York's opening salvo into the Steelband season.  A who's who in pan - as almost everyone of steelpan note is there, critiquing and comparing notes on any and every aspect of Steelband music-related to the participating bands' performances.  It is the place where bands send early messages to each other, as they jockey to shape favorable public opinion, and gain a psychological edge, that they expect to carry over into the panorama championship competition.  Each band is expected to produce a new and varied musical repertoire that touches multiple genres of popular music - usually rap, R&B, reggae, jazz in addition to soca and calypso offerings.

New York's reigning panorama champions Sonatas Steel Orchestra let it be known loud and clear, that all roads to the 2005 NY steelband panorama championship will go through them.  Moreover they are more than just a panorama steelband.

Join the
 When Steel Talks
Family
One million pan-fans
under a world pan groove...

When Steel Talks
Hits The Road
 

 USA - May/June of any given year means the pan yards of North America are opening up, and pan events are on pan lovers' schedules.  The When Steel Talks crew took to the road this last week with quick stops at various pan yards and steelpan events in the North American eastern region. One such event was hosted by Maryland's PanMasters Steel Orchestra, which held its popular annual steelpan jamboree this past weekend.  The show brought together bands from both the D.C. and New York areas.
 
When time and scheduling permit, When Steel Talks  (WST) takes advantage of invitations extended by bands to cover their steelband activities.  Two such occasions included WST taking in one of the recording sessions of New York's power house Pantonic Steel Orchestra for their upcoming CD, as well as accompanying the band to the PanMasters' jamboree.  WST was able to see a championship steel orchestra in action, performing some of the very pieces earmarked for their forthcoming CD.