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The
Bradley Years represent the definitive collection
of steelband music arrangements and performances
for a large steel orchestra. This collection
showcases seven classic arrangements from the
master arranger Clive Bradley. Bradley
is considered to be the best steelband music
arranger ever by many, including his peers.
In addition, the arrangements are performed
by one of the finest steelbands in the world,
New York’s Pantonic Steel Orchestra. Clive Bradley
had a very special relationship with Pantonic.
This orchestra clinched the title of panorama
champions five times in seven years - performing
Bradley’s musical works. The performances
were captured by Basement Recordings days before,
and in one instance, mere moments before they
took the stage for the prestigious annual steelband
music panorama competition.
The recordings
capture, reproduce and present an unrivalled
clarity with sonic realism, of a large steel
orchestra fielding between one hundred and one
hundred twenty musicians - unlike any other
steelband music recordings in its class.
This body of musical work is a sterling addition
for all fans, educators, players, historians
and fine music collectors.
Global
- Experience
the beauty of the steelpan instrument through the
two latest CD releases from Basement Recordings.
Three-minute samples from the Pan In New York 2009
CDs - of both regular and slow tempo performances
- are being featured. Content is being added,
so keep checking regularly. Both “Pan
In New York 2009,” and “Pan In New York 2009 - The
Cooldown Versions” are a
continuation
of the Pan-4-Life series from Basement Recordings.
click for more
Simply
one of the greatest steelband recordings to date!
A collector’s item...
[ PANTONIC + BASEMENT + BRADLEY
]x 4 =
MASTERPIECE - Clive Bradley the Master at
Work -
When
Steel Talks has set up a
group on Facebook where
we can post more steelpan
pictures, videos and events.
We would like to add you
as a fan so you can expand
your steelpan music experience.
First, you need to join
Facebook! Once you join,
you can also create your
own profile.
Web Posted-
Sunday January 31, 2010 Trinidad
& Tobago Newsday
Ambassador visits
steelband house
Bethel, Tobago,
W.I. - Members of the RBTT
Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra of
Bethel, Tobago, are on a quest to become
national Panorama champions.
Ahead of today’s
semi-final round of competition at the
Queen’s Park Savannah, the band is confident
about their chances of capturing the coveted
title.
“The comments we received
from the judges at the preliminary round
were very favourable and we’re very excited
about our chances,” said Marie Toby, captain
of RBTT Redemption Sound Setters.
To win, the band must
out-perform 16 other large bands vying for
the title on Carnival Saturday night. click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 30, 2010 by When Steel Talks
‘Pavement’ is it for
Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra Look for
Arranger Carlton ‘Zanda’ Alexander to do
memorable things with this track
Global - The irrepressible
steelband arranger Carlton ‘Zanda’ Alexander
is once again at the helm of Siparia
Deltones, taking the spirited and daring
steel orchestra into the large band category
of Trinidad & Tobago’s national Panorama
with one of the youth anthems for 2010:
‘Pavement.’ Popularized by two of Trinidad &
Tobago’s hottest musicians, Kerwin Du Bois
and Farmer Nappy, ‘Pavement’ is in the
capable hands of arranger Zanda who
understands the steelpan art form is going
places, and it is the interest and passion
of the younger generation that continues to
be the vehicle. click
for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 30, 2010 Starbroek
News
Republic Bank donates
GYD $2.4M for Mash Steelband contest
Guyana, SA
- Republic Bank presented
a cheque for $2.4M to the Ministry of
Culture Youth and Sport, making good on its
commitment last year to support the
Mashramani Steelband competition.
According to the Government Information
Agency (GINA), the bank’s Branch Operations
Manager Denise Hobbs and
Communications/Public Relations Officer
Jonelle Dummett handed over the cheque to
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank
Anthony. Permanent Secretary Alfred King and
Steelband Coordinator Andrew Tyndall
witnessed the simple ceremony, the release
said.
The steelband competition is one of several
highlights on the calendar of activities for
Mashramani celebrations. The contest is set
for February 14 at the Cliff Anderson Sports
Hall. This competition is expected to
attract 12 participating bands, which is a
significant increase from last year. It will
also see a difference in the judging
criteria. Small bands and junior categories
will be competing and will be playing
carnival and classical pieces. There is also
a notable increase in the junior soloist
category. click
for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 30, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Pan is in the DNA
of Allan Clelland-Goddard
Global - Twelve-year old Allan
Clelland-Goddard is a Form 2 student at St.
Mary’s College in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
He has always enjoyed music and has been
singing from a very tender age. He has
a love for the steelpan and plays tenor.
His song for 2010 - ‘Pan in Meh DNA’ - is
about his passion for the instrument. click
for song
Web Posted-
Friday January 29, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Up-to-the-minute
2010 Panorama Results
Global - Get the full results
for Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2010 in the
small, medium and large steel orchestra
categories. Meet your favorite
steelband music arrangers and comment on
them in Facebook! click
for chart
Web Posted-
Friday January 29, 2010 by When Steel Talks
‘Pavement’ from
Farmer Nappy and Kerwin Du Bois in play at
Steelband Panorama
Trinidad, W.I.
- Kerwin Du Bois and
Farmer Nappy’s 2010 hit ‘Pavement’ is the
tune of choice for Siparia Deltones Steel
Orchestra hailing from south Trinidad.
The band joins sixteen other large steel
orchestras in the semi-final phase of
Trinidad & Tobago’s annual Panorama on
January 31 in their bid to make it to the
finals, and onto the championship. click
for song
Web Posted-
Thursday January 28, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Semi-final Steel
Orchestra Order of Appearance - Steelband
Panorama 2010
Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad and
Tobago - Small steel orchestras will be the
first category to be judged as the National
Panorama Semi Finals gets on the way on
Sunday 31 January at the Queen’s Park
Savannah, Port of Spain, from 9:00 am
Fourteen (14) Small bands will be followed
by 14 Medium bands culminating with 17 steel
bands in the Large Band category. click
to see order
Web Posted-
Thursday January 28, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Invaders Steel
Orchestra serves notice for Panorama 2010
with ‘Tell Dem’
Global - For 2010, Invaders
Steel Orchestra out of Tragarete Road,
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad once again goes to
Panorama with an original composition, this
time around penned by Ricardo Jones and the
band’s arranger for the last few years,
Arddin Herbert. Sung by Roland
“Rembunction” Yearwood - Invaders is looking
for their performance of Herbert’s
arrangement of ‘Tell Dem’ to take them into
the finals and ultimately garner them the
championship. click
for song
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 27, 2010
fwdailynews.com
Kekionga Steel Drumz
to release first CD
Indiana, USA
- The Kekionga Steel
Drumz will release its first CD Saturday,
Feb. 6, at a fundraiser dinner and concert.
....The Steel Drumz perform under the
direction of Michael Horan. The program for
sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders began in
1999 with eight members and has grown to
about 40 students participating in the
beginning extra-curricular ensemble,
advanced ensemble, which meets daily as a
class, and a high school ensemble made up of
former band members. The band has performed
at several festivals and other events as
well as with the Panyard Steel Orchestra
from Akron, Ohio, professional pan player
Tracy Thornton and the Central College
Flying Pans Steel Band from Pella, Iowa. click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 27, 2010 The Palm
Beach Post News
Steel drummer works
to put sound of music in young kids too
Florida, USA
- Ed Stephen grew up in
Trinidad and Tobago, where the unique sound
of music made from 55-gallon steel drums
originated.
As with many of the other kids in Port of
Spain, Stephen watched relatives playing the
steel drums, more properly known as steel
pans, while growing up.
"I was always around drumming," said
Stephen, a Lake Worth resident who still
plays in performances .
Stephen remembers his grandparents taking
him to Carnival celebrations in Trinidad,
where teams of pan players would compete in
"panoramas."
"That's where the music got really intense,"
Stephen said. "Imagine 120 guys playing with
precision. The music is very intricate." click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 27, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Semi-final Steel
Orchestra Line-up set for the ‘the Big Yard’
- Steelband Panorama 2010
Trinidad and Tobago
- Seven (7) steel
orchestras from the sister isle of Tobago
are among the forty-five (45) bands taking
the stage in the bmobile National Panorama
Semi finals carded for the Queen’s Park
Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Sunday
31 January 2010, from 9:00 a.m.
They are Steel Xplosion, NLCB Buccooneers,
Katzenjammers, West Side Symphony, Carib
Dixieland, Our Boys and rbtt Redemption
Sound Setters. click for full
line-up
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 27, 2010 Trinidad
Guardian
Steelband shakedown but US pan
chairman remains hopeful
New
York, USA - Flanked by members and
well-wishers, the new chairman of the United
States Steelband Association (USSA) Keith
Marcelle promised sweeping changes to what
he called, “an ineffective pan industry in
the US.”
In a low-key ceremony on Church Avenue in
Brooklyn on January 16, Marcelle was
optimistic that the installation of new
officers would usher in an exciting era “for
everyone involved in pan.” He said: “We have
to change the current laws we have on the
books to allow tuners and arrangers to
become members.” click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 27, 2010 Trinidad
Express
Panorama moving to a
new beat
Trinidad and Tobago
- For the first
time in 12 years, the National Panorama
Competition is being held under a new
administration with Keith Diaz having
supplanted Patrick Arnold as Pan Trinbago
president. While there is something to be
said for experience, the steelbands who
voted for a change in leadership must have
concluded that the time had come for new
initiatives.
Mr. Diaz has not been able to carry out his
campaign promise of full-blown
preliminaries, inclusive of all
participating steelbands. His administration
seems, however, to have been able to devise
a face-saving formula that winnows out some
of the weaker bands via regional
competitions. The result should be a larger
steelband supply at Sunday’s semifinals,
even as transportation and other costs are
desirably kept in check. click for
more
Web Posted-
Monday January 25, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Large Bands Take the Field for Panorama 2010
Trinidad and Tobago
- Seventeen (17)
Large Conventional Steel Orchestras shall be
subject to a count and adjudicator’s
comments over the next couple of days
starting the night of Monday January 25 in Tobago as the
National Panorama Preliminaries continue.
As a result, all of the participating bands
will proceed to the next round on Sunday 31
January 2010. The Large Conventional Bands
will join 14 Small and 14 Medium Bands for
the National Semi Finals, aka “Savannah
Party” at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of
Spain, Trinidad which starts at 9:00 a.m.
click for full schedule
Web Posted-
Monday January 25, 2010 Trinidad
& Tobago Newsday
Ambassador visits
steelband house
Woodbrook,
Trinidad - On the evening of
January 15, Chinese Ambassador to Trinidad
and Tobago Yang Youming, his wife, Geng
Hailing, and a few members of his diplomatic
staff paid a courtesy visit to the band
house of the Chinese Bicentennial Steel
Ensemble (CBSE) at McDonald Street,
Woodbrook.
The Ambassador and his staff were treated to
a repertoire of Chinese, local and classical
music that had their feet tapping during the
entire performance.
Their interest increased when they were
invited by the president of the CBSE, Franco
Siu Chong, to get a close-up look at the
steel pans and to try their hand at playing
pan. click for more
Web Posted-
Monday January 25, 2010 by When Steel Talks
An Interview with
Steelpan Musician and Songwriter Avis Bruce
Global
- Avis Bruce is a
professional steelpan musician, arranger,
composer and music tutor. She has been a
member of the present Trinidad and Tobago
National Steel Symphony Orchestra from its
inception; in addition she was a member of
the former Trinidad and Tobago National
Steel Orchestra. She is currently reading
for her Bachelors in Musical Arts at the
University of the West Indies in Trinidad.
For 2010 Avis collaborated with Amrit
Samaroo for the upcoming panorama season,
composing a song titled “Somewhere In
Tobago.”
In an
exclusive with When Steel Talks (WST)
panist Avis Bruce speaks on his
life’s dedication to the steelpan music art
form. click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 24, 2010 Trinidad
Guardian
Pan
lovers turn out ...for
South/Central prelims
San
Fernando,
Trinidad - Skinner Park, San
Fernando came alive with steelpan music last
Friday, as 17 bands competed in the
preliminary round of the National Panorama
Small and Medium conventional band
categories. Organised by the Pan Trinbago
South/Central region, the event—with a $60
entrance fee—generated a large crowd of pan
lovers and supporters. Twelve bands competed
in the small Conventional band category,
while the Medium category consisted of five
bands. click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 22, 2010 Tobago News
3 Single Pan
steelbands in National semis
Tobago,
W.I. - Three Tobago Single Pan
steelbands have qualified for the national
single pan semi-finals in Trinidad. Tobago
Golden Lane Panthers, Pan Fanatics and Hope
Pan Groovers all made the qualifying marks
when they played in their respective pan
yards before the national Panorama judges on
Monday night.
Tobago Panthers rendered their
interpretation of the Winston Des Vignes,
Baron sung 'Say Say'. Pan Fanatics playing
in their Mason Hall home base performed the
original De Fosto's 'Smooth Sailing', while
Hope Pan Groovers stimulated pan lovers with
Superblue's 1983 road march 'Rebecca'.
Large crowds of steel band lovers cheered on
the bands at all the pan yards. click
for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 22, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Steelband Association part of WIADCA-led
Haiti March & Rally - USSA joins Haiti
initiative “Haiti We Love
You”
Brooklyn’s Caribbean -American Community
Responds to the Disaster in Haiti
Brooklyn, New
York-
Aimed at coordinating a united community
effort in response to the destruction in
Haiti, the West Indian American Day Carnival
Association has put out a call for an
outpouring of love, prayers and solidarity
to salute the resilience of the Haitian
People. “Haiti We Love You” is the theme of
a massive solidarity march and rally that
will take place on Saturday, January 30,
2010.
....“In times of
celebration and joy we come together as one
people and salute our common heritage with
revelry,” says Yolanda Lezama-Clark,
President of WIADCA and VP of the Carlos
Lezama Archives & Caribbean Cultural Center
(CLACC-C). “It is befitting that in this
time of deep sorrow that the West Indian
American Day Carnival Association is used as
a vehicle to stage a united response from
our community.”
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 21, 2010 by When Steel Talks
North Zone - Small and Medium
Prelims for Steelband Panorama 2010
Global- Blue Diamonds
will start the Panorama Small & Medium
Conventional Band Preliminaries (Northern
Region) on the afternoon of Sunday January
24, at the Lord Kitchener Stand, South
Quay, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The steel orchestra hailing from south-east
Port-of-Spain is the first of sixteen bands
that will be judged in the Small Band
category. Blue Diamond’s tune of choice is
Slinger Francisco’s (the Mighty Sparrow)
“Lying Excuses.”
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 21, 2010 The Free
Press
Steel
Drum Concert to Help Team of Local Doctors
Travel to Haiti
Maine,
USA-
Steelin' Thunder, the midcoast steel drum
band, will give a concert this Sunday,
January 24, at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of
Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock
Street, supporting a medical relief mission
to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Dr.
Kevin Olehnik of Penobscot Bay Orthopaedic
Hand & Sports Medicine Associates will lead
a team of local physicians who will travel
to Haiti as soon as possible to help provide
medical assistance. click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 20, 2010 by When Steel Talks
New Rule Change for Panorama
2010
Global- Pan Trinbago has announced
an increase in the number of bands qualifying
for the National Panorama Finals 2010. As a result there will be ten
(10) finalists in each of the three categories i.e. Small, Medium and Large Conventional
Steel Orchestras.
“Over the years,” said
Richard Forteau, Secretary, “there have been
requests to increase the number of
finalists. We are pleased to note that we
have taken the call to the authorities who
have agreed to the increase, both in numbers
and prizes.”
click for more
Web Posted-
Tuesday January 19, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra
& Robert Greenidge sync for Panorama 2010 “Musical Magnum”
makes forceful entry
Global - For 2010, Desperadoes Steel
Orchestra is going into the ‘Big Yard’ with
music written by arranger, world-renowned musician
and performing artist in his own right, Robert
Greenidge. Determined to be once again
a force to be reckoned with on final night,
“Musical Magnum” is clearly the ‘ammo’ of choice
as the ‘pride of Laventille’ targets the million-dollar
prize and prestigious title up for grabs in
Trinidad & Tobago’s 2010 national Panorama championship.
Sung by
seasoned songbird Natalie Yorke, ‘Musical Magnum’
marks one of the few times that Desperadoes
Steel Orchestra has entered the panorama competition
with a Robert Greenidge composition. Needless
to say, they are working towards exactly
the same end result as one time before.
In 1991, Robert Greenidge composed and arranged
‘Musical Volcano’ for Desperadoes. And
after that eruption was over - Desperadoes Steel
Orchestra was the Panorama champion.
click for music
Web Posted-
Monday January 18, 2010 Dailycommercial.com
Steel Drum Band recognized
by Lake County School Board
Tavares, Florida,
USA - A simple
shutting of the eyes was all that was necessary
to give the rotunda at the Lake County Administration
Building the feel of an island resort. The mental
transportation was provided by the Seminole
Springs Elementary School steel drum band.
The band was recognized for its talents at last
week's regular meeting of the Lake County School
Board, and prior to the meeting, the musicians
gave an impromptu concert. Their jaunty tunes
filled the building with a tropical lightness
usually the product of Caribbean-trained musicians
with much more experience.
"It's actually taking off around the United
States," Musical Director Ed Anderson said.
"More and more schools are having ensembles
like this and it really gives the kids a different
kind of vehicle to experience different kinds
of music. We start with island music, but we've
done everything from jazz to classical to rock."
click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 17, 2010 by When Steel Talks
United States Steelband
Association - USSA: New Beginning, New Direction,
New Promise
New York, USA
- A new beginning,
era and focus were ushered into the steelband
movement as a new administration took the helm
of the North American-based steelband music
organization, United States Steelband Association
(USSA).
There
was a pledge of transparency, accountability
and support of members by the newly-elected
board. In addition, there was an announcement
that there would be a concerted effort among
the board members to facilitate the involvement
of the upcoming generation of young panists,
and to directly address their needs and concerns.
click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 17, 2010 by When Steel Talks
“Pan Army” finally here
- Legendary steelband arranger reveals his 2010
panorama contender
Global - The long-awaited 2010 panorama
music release from Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, steelband
arranger, composer and legendary musician extraordinaire,
is finally here. Going into the annual
panorama battle, Boogsie has called his Phase
II music troops to order with “Pan Army.”
Sung by
ace vocalist and composer himself, Kernel Roberts,
(who shows all the performance flair and panache
of his own legendary father - Lord Kitchener
aka Aldwyn Roberts) - many awaited the music
that Phase II Pan Groove - five-time national
panorama champions - would take to the competition
in an effort to capture their sixth title.
click for music
Web Posted-
Sunday January 17, 2010 Trinidad & Tobago
Newsday
Pan kicks off Sando Carnival
Trinidad, W.I.
- Carnival 2010 officially
kicked off in San Fernando on Friday night with
a major event — the National Panorama Preliminaries
(Single Pan Bands) which turned into a big street
party going on into the wee hours of yesterday
morning.
Thousands of pan lovers from across the country
converged on “D Coffee” (Coffee Street), San
Fernando, which for Friday night only, was renamed
“Tinnin Alley” by officials of Pan Trinbago
for presentation of nine single pan bands.
In officially declaring Panorama 2010 open,
Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz told spectators
that things were being done differently this
year with the pan competitions, in an effort
“to get the people back to support pan”.
click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 17, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
Young entertainer Akua
Leith:
Steelpan is my life
Trinidad, W.I.
- So declares
young musician Akua Leith. He’s the young arranger
who thrilled music aficionados with an imaginative
interpretation of Olatunji Yearwood’s Wild and
Wonderful at last year’s National Junior Panorama
competition. It was his debut as an arranger
as well as a competition first for the Trinity
All Generations Steel Orchestra (Tags). The
group appeared in the Under 21 category of Junior
Panorama, placing third. He had goosebumps while
in the spotlight despite having 14 years experience,
but in reflection said he’d have it no other
way. “When I’m on stage my anxiety level builds
up like it’s my first time.
click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 16, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Panorama 2010 Music Selections
Global- Steelband Tunes as selected
by conventional small, medium and large steel
orchestras for the Trinidad & Tobago 2010 Steelband
Music Panorama competition.
click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 16, 2010 by When Steel Talks
2010 Steelband Panorama Prelims
get Underway
Global- Panorama Preliminaries
begin around Trinidad and Tobago for the 2010
steelband Panorama season.
click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 16, 2010 by Trinidad Newsday
No loiterers on tracks
for Panorama
Trinidad and Tobago- Pan Trinbago president
Keith Diaz gave an outline of projects that
he feels will raise necessary funds for the
organisation. He also spoke of allowing the
regions to run their own prelims to be self
sufficient, then spoke of the building of bleachers
on either side of the track where a fee will
be charged for additional funding that is expected
to derive from the slower version of the competition
on the big stage. He added that patrons will
not be allowed to go from the track to the bleachers
nor would the public be allowed to just go on
the track without any business with a band.
He said Pan Trinbago will have a team to man
the track. The bleachers are expected to hold
5,000 patrons.
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 14, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Haiti you are in our thoughts
Global- A tremendous catastrophe
has befallen the people of Haiti. Please keep
them in your thoughts and prayers.
In late 2008 When Steel Talks
traveled to the island of Antigua to report
on the Moods of Pan Festival. David Rudder,
as one of the headliners performed his tribute
to the nation of Haiti. This song seems very
appropriate right now. Here is a video of that
performance as captured by When Steel Talks.
Web Posted-
Thursday January 14, 2010 by When Steel Talks
‘Roaming’ Steelband Music
Lead Sheet composed and arranged
by Pelham Goddard
Global- Veteran songwriter
and steelband music arranger Pelham Goddard
continues to set the pace. He has now made publicly
available the full lead sheet to "Roaming,"
the tune of choice performed by Exodus Steel
Orchestra for the 2008 National Steelband Music
Festival (better known as Pan Is Beautiful XI),
and of which Exodus emerged Champions.
....With the lead sheet of
his exquisite composition - “Roaming” - Mr.
Goddard has provided other bands interested
in learning the music, the opportunity to do
so.
click for lead sheet and audio
Web Posted-
Thursday January 14, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 13, 2010 St. Lucia Star
Local pan players off
to Panorama in Trinidad
St. Lucia, WI
- A contingent of
fifteen pan players from St. Lucia are off to
Trinidad to take part in Panorama 2010.
The group, which leaves the island this week,
comprises twelve pan players from Leverage North
Stars, two members of Diamond Steel and one
member of Pantime. Contrary to popular belief,
this demonstrates that there is some level of
collaboration between local steel bands. This
augurs well for the future of the art form.
This year’s outing is the fifth consecutive
trip for members of the Leverage North Stars
Steel Orchestra. Since 2005, members of Leverage
North Stars have played with the CLICO Sforzata
Steel Orchestra based in Curepe, Trinidad. This
collaboration stems from a long association
between Band Leader of Leverage North Stars,
Ivan Smith and President of CLICO Sforzata,
Mutt Gill. In 2006, five members of CLICO Sforzata
played Panorama in St. Lucia with Leverage North
Stars.
click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 13, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Order of appearance Trinidad
& Tobago 2010 National Panorama Single Pan Steel
Bands Preliminaries
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,
WI - The event takes
place in front of City Hall, Knox Street, Port
of Spain, on Sunday 17th January 2010
from 5:00 pm. Limited seating is available.
Bands
will parade from St. Vincent Street & Independence
Square, up Frederick Street to Knox Street where
they will perform their Panorama tune of choice
before the panel of adjudicators.
Based on the draw for playing positions which
took place yesterday Monday at the Region’s
offices in Belmont, Nuttin Big Pan Groove of
Petit Valley will start the program.
Two other
Regions have released the order of appearance
for the National Panorama Single Pan Bands Preliminaries.
South/Central
Bands will play off in front of WACK 90.1fm,
Coffee Street, San Fernando on Friday 15th January
2010, from 8:00 pm, while their Tobago counterparts
will compete on Monday 18th January at their
respective panyards/venues. Starting time for
the panyard judging in Tobago is 7:00 pm.
click to see choice of tunes & order of appearance
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 13, 2010 Trinidad & Tobago
Newsday
German donations for
Lydians, Exodus
Trinidad,
WI - German Ambassador
Dr. Ernst Martens will hand over donations to
Dr. Pat Bishop on behalf of the Lydian Singers
and to Ainsworth Mohammed, manager of the Exodus
Steel Orchestra next Tuesday.
In a release issued yesterday, it stated the
embassy was impressed by the passion that both
Exodus and the Lydians put into their work,
and how they have enriched the traditional Trinidadian
music scene by incorporating classical and baroque
music of Johan Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven
and Georg Friedrich Handel in their repertory,
all performed “Trini style”. To express the
respect the embassy feels towards the artistes,
it has decided to provide a lighting system
for the Lydian Singers, and eight folding stands
for Exodus.
With these donations the embassy hopes to contribute
positively, ‘in a minor key’, to their musical
work in 2010.
click for more
Web Posted-
Tuesday January 12, 2010 Trinidad & Tobago
Express
Look wey pan reach
Trinidad, WI
- ’On this occasion
I not only speak as a well wisher of the Laventille
Steelband Foundation, but equally important
I do so as a former constituent...
I contend, we can’t wait anymore, if Desperadoes
leaves Laventille, the working soul of Laventille
would have finally left, and a people without
a spirit and a soul cannot have the rhythm,
beat, tempo, the things all living organisms
must possess...
Desperadoes, is of Laventille, I repeat if we
allow it to leave the hill because it is no
longer safe-then all who went before, Rudolph
would have toiled in vain...’’ Media manager
(mogul yet?) Louis Lee Sing speaking at the
tribute function of the Laventille Steelband
Function.
click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 10, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,
WI - Trinidad and
Tobago's national newspaper, the Trinidad Guardian,
has been called out by the management of highly
respected and world renowned Renegades
Steel Orchestra for what it (Renegades)
considers a “mischievous
Guardian headline” by the publication.
In a written
response to the When Steel Talks forum, Renegades
management Michael Marcano, explained in detail
the circumstances leading to the recent decision
by the organization to not continue to employ
the services of arranger Amrit Samaroo for the
2010 Trinidad and Tobago national steelband
panorama competition.
click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 9, 2010 Trinidad & Tobago
Newsday
Accused in court for
kidnapping of Southern pan
player
San Fernando, Trinidad,
WI - A-34-year-old
man was yesterday refused bail by a magistrate
in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on a
charge of attempting to kidnap on Sunday Keinya
Calliste the daughter of calypsonian Stalin
(Leroy Calliste).
Beresford Asson, of Alman Road, Carapichaima,
appeared before Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes
in the First San Fernando Magistrate’s Court
to answer to the charge of robbing and kidnapping
Calliste.
....Ramoo-Haynes
read the first charge to Asson that on January
3, he unlawfully carried away Calliste against
her will. The second charge alleged that he
used personal violence against Calliste and
robbed her of a silver Almera motor vehicle
valued at $65,000. He also allegedly robbed
Calliste, who is a pannist, of an identification
card, driver’s permit, a cellphone, wallet and
laptop.
click for more
Web Posted-
Saturday January 9, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
De Fosto strikes again!
Trinidad
and Tobago- The Original De Fosto Himself
(Winston Scarborough) is in a Palace State of
Mind. Incidentally, that’s the title of his
2010 12-track CD. As usual, De Fosto gets bonus
points for his presentation. I always like it
when a CD is well presented. This CD, by the
man folks call the “Pan Messiah”, overflows
with creativity and great music.
The songs come at you with machine gun fire.
In A Palace State of Mind is a brilliant social
commentary, while De Flag Hunter, though mischievous,
is in the double entendre mode. The Duke of
Calypso pays homage to one of calypso’s fallen
soldiers, The Mighty Duke (Kelvin Pope), who
passed away last year. No De Fosto CD would
be complete without compositions for the pan,
and they are in abundance on this CD.
click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 8, 2010 Metal Miner
Sentimental Journey with
Steel Pans
Global - For her new fourth album
“Normal as Blueberry Pie,” Nellie Mckay pays
tribute to singer and actress Doris Day. One
of Day’s most endearing songs remains “Sentimental
Journey.” The singer-actress released the hit
in 1945—an important time that saw the end of
World War II. The song soon became a special,
associative part of American life as veterans
made their returns back home.
Mckay’s take on Day’s popular-turned-ubiquitous
song incorporates new layers of instruments
like saxophone, oboe and bass. Another sound
particularly woven into the new version’s flow
is the percussion of the steel pan. Surprised?
I was. And it was refreshing to hear a classic
piece of music imbued with a musical quality
having both a distinct form and sound.
click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 8, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Steelband Panorama Songwriting
Great Winston “DeFosto” Scarborough speaks on
the 2010 Season
Global
- His name is Winston
Scarborough - but to most of the world he is
known as “DeFosto” the steelband panorama music
songwriter master. The exact moniker preferred
by Scarborough is “The Original DeFosto Himself.”
For over
three decades, songwriter and performing artist
Winston Scarborough has been churning out steelband
music songs for the steel orchestras - songs
that not only fit the steelpan family of instrument
musically, but also tell the historical and
improbable journey of the instrument, its inventors
and practitioners. The name DeFosto is one of
the most respected among the steelband music
fraternity.
In an
exclusive with When Steel Talks (WST)
songwriter Winston Scarborough speaks on his
life’s dedication to the steelpan music art
form.
click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 8, 2010 South Florida
Times
Grant supports FMU steel
band program
Miami,
Florida - Steel pan
music, renown for taking center stage during
carnivals and other Caribbean music festivities,
will get an extra boost of attention at Florida
Memorial University, South Florida’s only historically
black institution of higher learning. The Knight
Foundation recently awarded $80,000 to the school’s
Steel Band program. The money will fund scholarships
for students who are pursuing a music degree
with a specialty in steel band playing.
The United
Negro College Fund applied for the grant on
the school’s behalf. UNCF is the nation’s oldest
and most successful minority higher education
assistance organization. Its mission is to increase
minority degree attainment by reducing financial
barriers to college.
At least
15 to 20 FMU students will receive scholarships.
The money will also be used to fund trips nationally
and internationally so the band can participate
in major festivals and music competitions, said
Dawn Batson, chair of the school’s Performing
& Visual Arts Program.
“This
grant will allow us to continue to explore the
cultures of the world and give our students
the ability to make use of their talents,’’
said Batson, who initiated the Steel Band program
ten years ago and also serves as the band’s
director.
click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 8, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
Yes we can
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI - It
seems so long that our griots (calypsonians)
have been singing the demise of our national
instrument. The portents have been there for
some time, as elucidated by the likes of Merchant
(Pan in Danger); Cro Cro (Wey Pan Reach) and
Manchild (Pan in Crisis). David Rudder gave
hope when he eloquently penned “out of a muddy
pond, ten thousand flowers bloom.” But, at the
end of the first decade of the millennium, the
global warming phenomenon seems to be seriously
threatening the pond, with its flowers now muddied,
gasping for some bit of air and space to bloom
again.
Yes, pan has given us too few blossoms, like
Liam Teague, Mia Gormandy, Yohan Chuckaree,
Keisha Codrington, BJ Brooks and PCS Silver
Stars drill master Donnell Thomas. Looking at
the larger picture, it paints a portrait of
despair for the future—in spite of the National
Steel Orchestra. As recently as last weekend,
in the Sunday Guardian’s Sound Off column, former
Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold was lamenting
the stagnancy of pan and its current sad plight.
He commented that after a decade of promises
by the State the national steelband movement
still doesn’t have a home.
The last political utterance from the powers
that be was that the steelband headquarters,
still an unfinished, rotting eye sore on the
Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, would have been
completed last year.
click for more
Web Posted-
Friday January 8, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
Chandler sticks to her
notes
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI - If
focus, sacrifice and determination are what
it takes to succeed, then 20-year-old Kerri-Ann
Chandler will continue to be a force to be reckoned
with in the music world. Just out of her teens,
the pannist has already completed a Bachelor
of Arts (BA) degree in music at the University
of the West Indies (UWI), is a full-time musician
with the National Steel Symphony Orchestra,
and teaches at Glen Worrel’s Music School in
Barataria. Chandler has also made her mark in
the pan world, playing with bands such as with
UWI Festival Steel Ensemble, Exodus Steel Orchestra,
Sforzata, Renegades and West Side Steel Orchestra
in Tobago. She is currently doing a stint with
Diego Martin-based West Stars. “I try to keep
a schedule and stick to it, or else things get
overwhelming,” Chandler said.
click for more
Web Posted
-Thursday January
7, 2010 by When Steel Talks
The Winds of Change -
New York Steelband Association set to Alter
Course
New
York - With only a
week into the 2010 season the winds of change
have propelled themselves into the consciousness
of the steelpan music world. When Steel Talks
News has been informed that on December 8th,
2009 a majority of the United States Steelband
Association (USSA) membership passed a vote
of no confidence on the Board of Director and
Executive Officers of USSA.
An interim
committee is presently in place and a date for
elections has been set for mid-January 2010,
to be followed by the installation of new officers.
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 7, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Destra Garcia as you
have never heard her before - her love for
the SteelPan instrument, the passion & pain
behind her songwriting
Global
- Destra Garcia of
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most successful
and popular SOCA music artists in the world.
Like Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Mary J and others,
Destra has cultivated and maintained a special
bond with her adoring young fans who make up
a large percentage of her following. In
addition to her steady stream of music hits
known throughout the Caribbean and abroad, Destra
is a major and regular contributor to the steelband
music as a songwriter of tunes that have been
routinely adapted for the steel orchestra.
In an exclusive, no-holds-barred interview with
When Steel Talks (WST), Soca Diva, songstress
and steelband music songwriter Destra Garcia
expounds on her special relationship and love
affair with the steelpan instrument, the music
and culture.
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 7, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Solo Harmonites Steel
Orchestra Breaks Bread -Reunification dinner
sets the stage
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI - While
adults can take claim for the eventual reunification
of the legendary Solo Harmonites Steel Orchestra,
youths are getting the credit for making it
work. The impact of their innocence binds the
band as was clearly represented at its first
ever reunification dinner held at its Morvant
Junction, Barataria panyard in east Trinidad
recently.
That’s
where panists once on opposite sides of the
divide now sat as a family, ate, raised toasts,
laughed and danced. It was the perfect setting
to illuminate signs of progress, and ultimately
hope, for a lasting togetherness.
click for more
Web Posted-
Thursday January 7, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Official Calendar of
Steelband Panorama Events for Carnival 2010
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,
WI - Pan Trinbago
Inc. has released the official calendar of Panorama
events for Carnival 2010.
Several changes have been made amongst which
are the return of the Medium Conventional Bands
and Large Conventional Bands to the National
Panorama Finals on Carnival Saturday night and
Champs in Concert on the Saturday after Carnival.
Both events are carded for the Queen’s Park
Savannah.
click to see
Web Posted-
Thursday January 7, 2010 Trinidad Express
Paying more for Panorama
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI - Diehard
pan followers who love to listen to pan on ‘de
track’ during Panorama competitions, will have
to pay $60 and $80 for the privilege at the
semi-finals and finals on January 24 and 31
respectively, at the Queen’s Park Savannah in
Port of Spain.
This charge
will be for a new competition in which the steelbands
fine tuning their Panorama tunes will be eligible,
and it is one of the changes announced yesterday
by Pan Trinbago for the Panorama 2010 competition.
The track leading up to the Savannah stage is
where the bands fine tune the songs before their
performance, by playing them over and over at
varying tempos.
Pan Trinbago
secretary Richard Forteau yesterday explained,
’This is generally regarded as the better part
of the music. This is where you hear it slow,
not so slow and uptempo. It’s like a concert
and we don’t think it is asking too much to
ask people to pay for this.’
click for more
Web Posted-
Wednesday January 6, 2010 Littlehampton
Gazette
Littlehampton Academy
Steel Band says ‘Thanks’
Littlehampton, West
Sussex, UK - It’s
a really big ‘thank you’ to everyone who kindly
supported Littlehampton Academy Steel Band.
Audiences have danced and clapped and made generous
donations, motivating and encouraging young
performers and helping to give various events
a truly special atmosphere.
Lee Nelson, leader of the band, and his students
were pleased to let it be known that at the
Arundel by Candlelight event in December, they
were able to raise a total of £156.
The money will be used in this instance to help
to buy more equipment for the band, as it grows
to meet the demands of the many young people
keen to join.
click for more
Web Posted-
Tuesday January 5, 2010 Kaieteur News
Steel band icon, Winston
Roberts, passes on
Guyana,
SA - The steel band
community was thrown into deep mourning following
the death of one of their own, Winston Roberts,
who departed this life on Saturday last. He
was 70.
Mr. Roberts
worked at the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd.
and would also be remembered for his sterling
contributions to the development of pan music
in Guyana. The quintessential Roberts was also
involved in activities in several other sectors
in Guyana. He served as an officer in the Guyana
Prison Service and subsequently, in 1980, performed
the functions of a Disciplinary Sergeant Major
(DSM) at the New Opportunity Corps, Onderneeming,
Essequibo Coast.
Roberts
was also very instrumental in the lives of youngsters
incarcerated at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC)
and tutored them in the finer arts of boxing.
....Maybe,
from among his many activities, Roberts would
most be credited with his contributions to steel
pan music. In 1987, he, along with Roy Geddes,
traveled to East Africa, to Tanzania and commissioned
three steel bands in that country.
click for more
Web Posted-
Tuesday January 5, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
Renegades sacks Samaroo
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI - Kenneth
Guppy Brown will replace Amrit Samaroo as arranger
for nine-time National Panorama champions bp
Renegades Steel Orchestra for Panorama 2010.
The surprise development follows the sacking
of Amrit Samaroo on the weekend by the Renegades
board of directors—ending an uninterrupted 40-year
Samaroo music dynasty with the Charlotte Street
powerhouse. Dr Jit Samaroo was the arranger
for the band for 38 years until his health failed.
His son, who took Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra
to a hat-trick of wins at the National Junior
Panorama level, was handed the baton to continue
shaping Renegades musical future in the adult
Panorama for 2008 and 2009 respectively.
....Lamenting
that communication between he and Renegades’
management had deteriorated, Samaroo said the
separation was mutual. “My heart is with the
band. I grew up watching my father work with
the band, but a disagreement on the musical
direction of the band led to this. “People still
see me as a little boy. I wanted respect, but
some people would have said it was money. Money
was not an issue for me. It’s ticklish for my
career,” Samaroo said. He made it clear he had
nothing personal with the players and that he
has always done it out of love. “We used to
operate as a family. I have a lot to offer,
but I’m sorry it won’t be with Renegades,” he
said.
click for more
Web Posted-
Tuesday January 5, 2010 Trinidad Guardian
Stalin’s daughter outwits
abductors Panist jumps out of moving
car
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,
WI - The daughter
of calypso icon Leroy “Black Stalin” Caliste
escaped kidnappers by jumping out of a moving
car in Pleasantville, off San Fernando, on Sunday
night. Keina Caliste, 32, was the first
person to be kidnapped for the new year. She
was grabbed around 10.40 pm as she arrived home
from steelpan practice at TCL Skiffle Bunch
panyard on Coffee Street, San Fernando. Yesterday,
her mother Patsy said Keina was very traumatised
and was resting at their Turton Street, Cross
Crossing, San Fernando, home. “We had to give
her tablets to calm down. She doesn’t even know
herself.”
click for more
Web Posted-
Sunday January 3, 2010 by When Steel Talks
Steelband music songwriter
Mark Loquan delves into the artform and craft
Global
- For over
a decade, songwriter Mark Loquan has been applying
the craft successfully to the steelband music
genre. In addition Mr. Loquan has been a champion
of music literacy and the documentation of the
music works of the steelbands of Trinidad and
Tobago.
Here,
in an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks
(WST) Mark Loquan talks about his past, his
present, the challenges of being a songwriter
for the steelpan music art form, and more.
click for more
Web Posted
-Sunday January 3,
2010 Trinidad & Tobago Express
Hearts on The Hill: heads
at Queen’s Park
Trinidad, W.I.
- ....Today’s story
reports that Desperadoes steelband is directly
and indirectly victimised by crime.
Desperadoes as victim. For steelband, for Laventille,
this is Life Today.
Desperadoes aren’t. There’s nothing anymore
in the name, which has earned its abbreviation
to ’Despers’, implying also a social, political,
and cultural devaluation.
We hope the crime situation will ease up. We
are not happy leaving Laventille. That is our
home, that is our base, but we have no choice.’
click for more
Web Posted
- Friday January 1,
2010 by When Steel Talks
Meet Steelband music
songwriter Miguel Reyes - the New Kid on the
Block
Global
- In virtually little
over a year, songwriter Miguel Reyes has gone
from unknown to one of the most promising members
of the upcoming new class of writers for the
steelband music genre. Indeed, 2009 was an outstanding
year for Miguel, with steel orchestras both
in New York's and Trinidad & Tobago's national
panorama competitions taking championship titles
with his music hit Bandoleros.
And 2010 is also looking up for Miguel.
In an
exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, Miguel
Reyes talks about his past, his present and
future career as a panorama music songwriter.
click for more
Web Posted- Friday January 1, 2010 by When Steel Talks
‘Pan In De Mas’ Steelband
Music Lead Sheet
Global
- Veteran songwriter
and steelband music arranger Pelham Goddard
once again has set the pace, leading by example
and has gone one step further. He has made publicly
available - even prior to Trinidad & Tobago's
2010 panorama competition - the lead sheet of
his composition “Pan in de Mas” for bands interested
in learning the music.
Cherishing
an association of many years with the steelpan,
the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago
- as arranger and musical director - Goddard
has won several steelband competitions with
music powerhouse, the world-renowned Exodus
Steel Orchestra, based in St. Augustine, east
Trinidad, and headed by manager Ainsworth Mohammed.
click for more
“CD Samples” Pan
in New York 2009
Global
-
Experience the
beauty of the steelpan instrument through the
two latest CD releases from Basement Recordings.
Three-minute samples from the Pan In New York
2009 CDs - of both regular and slow tempo performances
- are being featured. Content is being
added, so keep checking regularly.
Both “Pan In New York 2009,” and “Pan In New
York 2009 - The Cooldown Versions” are a continuation
of the Pan-4-Life series from Basement Recordings.
click for more
When Steel Talks
T-Shirts are Here!
Global
- When Steel Talks
(WST) T-Shirts are available! Show your
love for the Steelpan art form! For USD
$12.00 plus shipping and handling, make sure
you have your WST T-Shirt! Available are
colors (above): Black, Red, Blue and Hot Pink
- sizes Small (S) through X-large (XL).
For USD
$14.00, sizes XX-large (2X) and XXX-large (3X)
are also on hand. Supplies in red, blue
and pink are available on a limited basis.
click for more and to ORDER
Web Posted
- When Steel Talks
When Steel Talks Steelband
Music Message Board is Open
on the Ning Network
Some of the most important, controversial,
thought-provoking and enlightening discussions on
the steelpan instrument, music and culture worldwide,
have taken place over the years on the When Steel
Talks “Message board.” Considered by many
to be a lightening-rod for change in the steelpan
music community, the WST message board has
provided a means unlike any for steelpan enthusiasts
to share information and communicate ideas.
Windows MSN
Groups has informed us that they are shutting down
their groups service as of February 21, 2009.
You can now find the When Steel Talks Group at
http://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum
We look forward to you joining us.
When
Steel Talks has set up a group on Facebook where
we can post more steelpan pictures, videos and events.
We would like to add you as a fan so you can expand
your steelpan music experience. First, you need
to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create
your own profile.
Join Mailing
List:
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The
Bradley Years represent the definitive collection
of steelband music arrangements and performances
for a large steel orchestra. This collection
showcases seven classic arrangements from the
master arranger Clive Bradley. Bradley
is considered to be the best steelband music
arranger ever by many, including his peers.
In addition, the arrangements are performed
by one of the finest steelbands in the world,
New York’s Pantonic Steel Orchestra. Clive Bradley
had a very special relationship with Pantonic.
This orchestra clinched the title of panorama
champions five times in seven years - performing
Bradley’s musical works. The performances
were captured by Basement Recordings days before,
and in one instance, mere moments before they
took the stage for the prestigious annual steelband
music panorama competition.
The recordings
capture, reproduce and present an unrivalled
clarity with sonic realism, of a large steel
orchestra fielding between one hundred and one
hundred twenty musicians - unlike any other
steelband music recordings in its class.
Global
- 
Global 
Global 
Global 
Global 
New
York, USA 
Woodbrook,
Trinidad 
San
Fernando,
Trinidad 
Tobago,
W.I. 
Maine,
USA
Trinidad,
WI 
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI 
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI 
Global
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI 
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI 
Guyana,
SA 
Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, WI 
Global
