Despers Take Lead Going Into
Pan in the 21st Century

Trinidad - One point separated the first three bands in the TSTT Pan in the 21st Century Preliminary Round.

WITCO Desperadoes, Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars and bp Renegades amassed 274, 273 and 272 respectively in a keenly contested competition spanning five days.

The results were announced at Port of Spain City Hall on Thursday morning before representatives of participating bands. Two hours later, the 12 finalists drew for playing positions at Pan Trinbago’s Head Office, Park Street, Port of Spain.

Click for  the finalists and their playing positions

Despers thrill with ‘So Sick’

Trinidad - ANY STEEL Orchestra competing in the TSTT-sponsored Pan in the 21 Century which feels it could take away the title from WITCO Desperadoes, has to come very good.

On Tuesday night in the preliminary round of judging in the panyards, the defending champions sounded a clear warning to all and sundry that they were not loosening their grip on the coveted trophy.

Their rendition of the Qualess/Saldado’s arrangement of Neyo’s “So Sick” was “mind blowing” so much so that after their performance the band received a standing ovation from onlookers.

Grenada Introduces Improvements for Upcoming Pan and Carnival Season

Grenada - On Wednesday April 19th the Grenada Carnival Committee hosted its first ever Press Launch at the Grenada Trade Center.
The aim of the Launch was to alert the Media, the Business Houses and the general public about plans for the 2006/2007 Carnival seasons.

Celebrations as steel band hits a
 silver year

United Kingdom - A steel band which formed in Coventry in 1981 is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special show on Friday.

And the group has invited former members, even anyone who just drove the van or made the tea, to go along and enjoy the evening.

That includes pensioner and former church member Brian Scott, who founded the band back in the early 80s, who has been invited as a guest of honour.

Band member Sheryl Davis, who has played tenor pans with the band for 23 years, said: "Brian will be there along with a lot of the original players.

Sesame Flyers Organization Hosts
Second Steel Pan Extravaganza

New York - It is only April but already for 2006, three of New York's noted steelpan orchestras were out in full form last Saturday evening at the second Sesame Flyers Music Extravaganza.  Present  were Women In Steel, Sonatas Steel Orchestra and Sesame Flyers Steel orchestra, among a host of cultural, dance and music acts.

New York - Pantonic Steel Orchestra has been the toast of the town for a number of  years. Their mercuric rise to musical prominence and storybook collaboration with master arranger Clive Bradley has been well chronicled.  Five championships in their seven year history.  2006 marks a new era for the North American juggernaut.  In the When Steel Talks spotlight - Pantonic Steel Orchestra.

Trinidad - Seven (7) bands in the South/Central region will face the panel comprising Jeanette Johnson, Christine Moasaheb, Sherry Ann Saunders and Clement Danclair tonight as judging for TSTT Pan in the 21^st Century continues at the respective panyards.

Starting the evening’s itinerary is Starland of Point Fortin.  Next stop will be Tornadoes also of Point Fortin. Then the judges’ cavalcade will proceed to Petrotrin Deltones, San City, Pan Elders and TCL Group Skiffle Bunch with NLCB Fonclaire bringing up the rear.

Band drums up money for a cause

Ohio -- The Clark Montessori Steel Band is in a funk. Actually, though, that is a good thing.

The students are preparing for a benefit concert, which will feature funk music and guest of honor Bootsy Collins.

 Atlanta Pan Symposium In Review

“Pan in the 21st Century:
The Scholarship and Music of
Steel Drums”

Atlanta, Georgia - April 21, 2006 was proclaimed “Pan People Steelband Day`” in Atlanta, Georgia, by the Atlanta City Council. The proclamation was made to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the formation of the group in the Atlanta University Center, the largest consortium of black higher education in the world.  A symposium, “Pan in the 21st Century: The Scholarship and Music of Steel Drums” held at Clark Atlanta University, on April 20-21 was the first of several activities planned to celebrate this milestone.

16 groups spread good vibrations at Steel Band Jamboree

ST. THOMAS - From the calypso and soca rhythms ringing out from the steel pans to the spirited grooving of several hundred spectators, Sunday's annual Steel Band Jamboree was packed with good vibes.

Sixteen St. Thomas and St. John orchestras, both youth and adult, took the Lionel Roberts Stadium stage for more than five hours during the free, family-centered event.
[full story]

Comets Youth Steel Orchestra triumphs at the
Croydon Music Festival

United Kingdom - The Festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech of which Her Majesty the Queen is Patron. The Croydon Music Festival itself has a long history dating back to 1912, with mixed fortunes over the years. However, during the last fifteen years, the Festival has grown from strength to strength, attracting increasingly more entries covering its twenty different sections, and with the standard of performances reaching an ever-higher calibre.

We would not likely intervene if the festival was a purely private adventure, since enshrined freedoms safeguard investors against such intrusions, limiting observers to comment only on the basis of pragmatic or personal preferences.

Steel band Jamboree features several adult and children's bands
 

Virgin Islands - Reverberating steelpan melodies will enswirl Lionel Roberts Stadium starting at 5 p.m. Sunday during the Steel band Jamboree featuring the territory's adult and children's bands.

Featured performances include Antilles School's "Steel Hurricanes," the Love City Pan Dragons, the St. Thomas All Stars, the Joseph Sibilly Elementary School "Sun Rays," Ulla Muller Elementary School, Sts. Peter and Paul "Angels of Steel," Boschulte Middle School "Burning Blazers," and Joseph Gomez Elementary School.

Exhibition pays tribute to old musicians
 

Bermuda - Calypso originated in Trinidad and Tobago from the West African musical genre called kaiso, which was used as a means of communication among slaves. The lyrics were composed in patois and were smarting in nature, often depicting the slaves' dislike, especially towards their masters!
Calypso melodies have been a staple of the steel pan repertoire and Rudolph Commissiong and his Carib Caciques Steel band, later known as the Esso Steel Band, first introduced it to the island.

Admission to the museum is free and visitors get a thorough review of Bermuda's music history, its roots and how it evolved. It is well worth it to attend to see priceless artifacts such as the original LPs of the musicians as well as timeless photos both candid and staged.

Steel Drum Festival will make some noise today in Preble

Scores of students and some professionals will play in a steel drum extravaganza.

By Lou Grieco

Ohio -  The sounds of the islands will be drifting across the grounds of National Trail High School tonight as several professional steel drum performers, plus student groups from various local schools, play at a festival.

Steel band offers exploration of culture
Possible grant to open new doors in percussion ensemble program

Texas - Last summer music professor Dr. Daniel R. Smithiger began creating a grant that, if accepted, would adorn the campus and community with a new worldly sound.

Many people are familiar with Soca when it is referred to as steel band music because the names can be used interchangeably.

Patrick 'Stone' Johnson
Arranger Gemonites Steel Orchestra
(Dominica's OECS Junior Pan competition)

Antigua - His name is well known throughout the Caribbean and in steelband music circles as one of the top arrangers out of the region.  When Steel Talks caught up with Patrick "Stone" Johnson, the resident co-arranger  and co-founder of Gemonites Steel Orchestra (current panorama champions of Antigua & Barbuda) -  for an exclusive interview.

'Billy' Pilgrim to be laid to rest Monday

Guyana - Renowned Guyanese musician, William Alexander Pilgrim, popularly known as 'Billy' Pilgrim, who died after a brief illness at a city hospital is to be buried on Monday following a funeral service at St George's Cathedral.

Prior to joining the National History and Arts Council, Pilgrim worked with the Bauxite Industrial Development Company (BIDCO) in Linden as its public relations officer and conducted the BIDCO Invaders Steelband. He later worked with the Parkside and Pan Wave steelbands.

Pan Down Memory Lane & Pan in the 21^st Century Preliminaries  

Trinidad - Steelpan enthusiasts are gearing up for one of the most anticipated musical events in the pan calendar, Pan in the 21^st Century/Down Memory Lane 2K6.

Thirty nine (39) Conventional Bands and 35 Single Pan Bands will face their respective panel of judges in one of the most keenly contested competitions.   (see schedule)

Pan Down Memory Lane competition is open to all financial Single Pan Orchestras whereas Conventional Steel Orchestras will be judged in the Pan in the 21^st Century competition.   The latter must play tunes selected from the contemporary world beat repertoire/styles and the arrangements should be innovative, creative and in a different manner than is normally done in the typically Panorama music format

From the Preliminary round, twelve (12) bands from each category will be selected to go forward to the Finals carded for Saturday 29^th April, 2006 at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Showtime is 7:00 pm.