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Web Posted - Saturday August 31, 2013
When Steel Talks

Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra Makes Musical Mark in New York for Panorama 2013

 

New York, USA - Canada’s Pan Fantasy Steel Orchestra landed in New York with a music splash as they pleased steelband music lovers who were fortunate enough to catch them as they ran through their tune of choice for the 2013 New York Panorama, Super Blue’s Fantastic Friday - also being played by three other bands in the competition. Under a beautiful summer evening sky on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, just around the corner from New York staple Despers USA Steel Orchestra, Pan Fantasy ran through their paces under the musical direction of drill master Ben Jackson, with arranger Al “Allos” Foster not far off.
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Web Posted - Friday August 30, 2013
News12 Brooklyn

CASYM tunes up for steel drum Panorama competition, Labor Day Parade

New York, USA - Members of the Caribbean American Sports and Culture Youth Movement (CASYM) are tuning up for their biggest weekend of the year.

The CASYM orchestra has been playing steel drum music in the Panorama Competition and the Labor Day Parade for the last 20 years, and this holiday weekend is no different.

Musicians as young as 6 years old have been glued to their drum sticks this month while rehearsing for the annual cultural events.
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Web Posted - Friday August 30, 2013
CompassCayman.com

Cayman pan players wow at Caribana fest

Toronto, Canada, Ontario - Twelve local high school students, playing alongside 15 musicians from two Cayman steel pan bands and pan players from four other countries -- the large group known as Afropan -- finished second out of 13 bands in one of the largest celebrations of Caribbean culture held outside the Caribbean.

The students, who are taught by noted local panist Earl La Pierre, participated in Toronto’s Caribana Festival, played alongside musicians from Cayman steel pan bands Panoramers and UCCI Pandemix. They took part in the festival’s Pan Alive steel pan competition, joining forces with players from Trinidad, Bermuda, the U.S. (North Carolina) and Canada (Toronto) under the band name Afropan.

Afropan, comprised of 67 musicians, is in its 40th year playing as a group, and proudly finished second, missing out on first place by just three points to last year’s winners, Pan Fantasy.
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Web Posted - Wednesday 28 August, 2013
When Steel Talks

New York Steel Orchestras Catching Hell Three Days Before Panorama 2013

New York, USA - So while at work I’ve decided to write down the experience from the steelpan musicians’ and management perspective.

....The bands themselves now face a new challenge of a more competitive nature - which is preparing a band for a fierce competition and dealing with their neighbors in their respective areas. Okay: so the time permitted for the bands to rehearse is up to 11:00 p.m. - but as we all know as the time draws near steel orchestras tend to burn the candle a bit, and push the time, with the last week being the exception to the rule. But for some strange reason, this year seems to be the worst yet - with police having already shut down bands such as CASYM, Sonatas, and my band, Pantonic.
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Web Posted - Wednesday August 28, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Skiffle shows diversity at PoS concert

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The hypnotic power and majesty of the steelband was clearly evidenced at Skiffle through the Years, a musical journey reliving the outstanding work performed by the San Fernando-based steel orchestra, staged at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, last week. The 21-item programme highlighted just how broad and colourful the steelband’s musical palette really is, as patrons heard high-class music, accurately and beautifully played by the young panists.

The playbill opened with the 34-member orchestra offering an inspired four-minute version of the hymn How Great Thou Art, which gained worldwide popularity during the crusades of American evangelist Billy Graham. It followed with How Can I Live Without You, in which the arranger had beautiful melodies and countermelodies constantly vying for attention.
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Web Posted - Tuesday 27 August, 2013
When Steel Talks

New York 2013 Panorama - The Bands, Tunes, Arrangers, Tuners, Captains

New York, USA - New York’s 2013 Steelband Panorama is only a few days away.  The town’s abuzz with the excitement as ten steel orchestras put the finishing touches on the music showpieces for the big night, Saturday August 31.

Meet the music arrangers and get to know them, and check out the tunes the bands are playing in the competition.  Also find out who the respective band captains are, along with the tuners working to bring out the best tones in each band’s music instruments.

At the same time, seize the opportunity to look back at the 2012 New York Panorama and relive the vibrancy and excitement through pictures and the review!
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Web Posted - Tuesday August 27, 2013
Tobago News

Evolution of the steelband

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The steelpan is an acoustic instrument that is synonymous with the progressive development of Trinidad and Tobago.

This evolution has witnessed the steelpan moving from the depressed panyards (where the African slaves in a fraught attempt after the end of slavery tried to forge their own identities after many years of living under duress), to the Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall, The Apollo and Lincoln Theatres in New York just to name a few of the prestigious places that have been graced with the pulsating sounds of the steelpan music.

The French bought carnival to the island since the 1800’s, as history dictates the abolition of slavery in the West Indies was in the year 1834.

The freed slaves in an attempt to participate in the carnival festivities used their ingenuity by using discarded oil drums to make percussion instruments, which later progressed into bands when the use of bamboo instruments were introduced to their escapades.
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Web Posted - Sunday August 25, 2013
When Steel Talks

Steelpan Parade Takes Pride of Place with Pan On D Avenue II

Woodbrook, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.  - Pan on D Avenue II in Woodbrook, Trinidad was a huge success; the crowds turned out and Trinidad’s best steel orchestras paraded from east to west—a reversal of last year’s direction—along Ariapita Avenue in North-west Trinidad on August 24. Getting off to a start about half hour later than the 6:30 p.m. schedule time, the event in its entirety was broadcast on Trinidad & Tobago’s TV 4 and streamed live online to viewers around the world. This year’s celebration of Pan on D Avenue was dedicated to two noted individuals. One was steelpan icon Anthony Williams, one of the country’s steelband legends, and who was scheduled to be present as the Grand Marshall, but due to his age was under the weather and unable to make an appearance. The late Ralph MacDonald was the second person honored and to whom the show was dedicated...
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Web Posted - Sunday August 25, 2013
When Steel Talks

Song for Panorama 2014

“Thoroughbred of Pan”

sung by “Crazy”
composed by George La Barrie

Global - With four months to go in 2013, composer George La Barrie is out of the gate with music for the 2014 Steelband Panorama season with his composition Thoroughbred of Pan.

Veteran calypsonian Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung brings La Barrie’s composition to life with his vocals.  La Barrie himself first played pan back in 1959 with ‘Mexicanos Steelband.’

The idea for this particular ‘pan tune’ - Thoroughbred of Pan - came about for La Barrie while in the Queen’s Park Savannah for Panorama, and as the bands were ‘going down the stretch,’ reminding La Barrie of a horse race.  Then and there a melody came to his head using the arrangers as the jockeys.

After finishing the tune during the 2013 panorama, one singer came to his mind for this melody. “Nobody else but Crazy” he said. “Hope you enjoy it come Panorama 2014.”
click to hear song

Web Posted - Saturday August 24, 2013
When Steel Talks

2013 UK Panorama Championship Results - Real Steel Retains Title for Second Year!!

Leroy Clarke repeats as Winning Arranger!

London, United Kingdom - Almost one year to the day (the 2012 Panorama was August 25) UK steel orchestra ‘Real Steel’ repeated their winning ways when they held on to their championship title for the second year in a row. As defending champs the band came out, taking no prisoners in this musical war. Even through the distortion of the online feed, the effectiveness of Leroy Clarke’s arrangement of their tune of choice Hammer Time and its execution by the orchestra, left little doubt that the Real Steel musicians were set on keeping their Panorama crown. The music pulled on ageless Afro-Caribbean musical idioms, connecting directly with the crowd, and ultimately the judges. Since rain was a weather factor umbrellas were up in the air, as the steelband lovers danced through it all. The 2013 steelband Panorama champions literally ‘played up a storm’ even as many present were drenched.
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Web Posted - Saturday August 24, 2013
Trinidad Express Newpapers

CAL Invaders performs at NAPA

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Caribbean Airlines Invaders Steel Orchestra displayed impressive “Versatility” in their concert that was titled such at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain on Thursday evening.

Along with several guests the band invaded the auditorium with their performances of classical, R&B, reggae, calypso, soca and gospel music. Invaders Steel Orchestra’s fan base is widespread and not comprised only of the family and friends of the very young players, but also of diehard fans who actually grew up supporting the band. Many senior citizens who were past players as well as fans were a part of the near capacity audience.

Invaders did not disappoint the patrons. Arddin Herbert served as conductor and arranger for this concert leading the band in the three-hour musical journey that though lengthy, proved quite entertaining throughout the night.
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Web Posted - Wednesday August 21, 2013
Palm Beach Steel Drums

Palm Beach Steel Drums and Pans – Featuring the Only-One-Of-Its-Kind 46" Pan

World’s Largest Steel Drum

Florida, USA - Reel Ting rolled out its version of the “Terminator,” a massive 46" Steel Drum that can be heard...! This impressive musical instrument has been submitted to the Guinness Book of World records as the World’s Largest Steel Drum.

George Pollis, owner of Palm Beach Pans & Manufacturing (steel drum musician) states, “This is the wave of the future in steel drum instrumentation, these giant pans produce the best tones in the industry that you can listen to all night long!”

Master pan builder Eric Ness, from Palm Beach Pans states, “....We never believed that we could create something this massive@ 46" diameter, and nicknamed it the “Terminator”...!”
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Web Posted - Tuesday August 20, 2013
Trinidad Express Newpapers

Pan Is Beautiful XII

TT $2m in prizes

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - More than $2 million [USD $310,684] are up for grabs in the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband Music Festival, Pan is Beautiful XII, which is scheduled to run from October 5 to November 16.

There are four categories—soloists, single pan, ensemble and orchestra—and the festival has attracted the largest turnout of participants since the 1980s.

This was revealed yesterday morning in the Festival Ballroom at Capital Plaza, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, at the official launch of Pan Is Beautiful XII by festival chairman Col Edison Isaac.

Thirty-one soloists, 14 ensemble and 14 orchestras have entered the competition.
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Web Posted - Tuesday August 20, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Pan and more pan

Invaders sets the stage for Versatility concert

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Perhaps it was the $50 admission charged but the turnout at last Friday’s Pan Night, at bpTT Renegades pan theatre, on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, was small. In stark contrast, the music played though was large. Hosted by Pan Trinbago as part of its Pan Month programme, pan lovers relished a varied menu of exquisite music served by Uni Stars, Supernovas, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille, NLCB Fonclaire and Witco Desperadoes. Uni Stars of Laventille, fielding several young musicians, opened proceedings, followed by Supernovas of Lopinot.

This eastern band performed a mesmerising repertoire of music, arranged by Amrit Samaroo, son of legendary pan musician Jit Samaroo. Each selection evoked frenzied response but it was the band’s interpretation of the late Lord Blakie’s Hold de Pussy that really energised the venue.
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Web Posted - Monday August 19, 2013
Trinidad Express Newpapers

Steelband possibilities

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Pan Trinbago is currently celebrating Pan Month throughout the country and at the inter-faith service to launch the celebration Fr Clyde Harvey remarked that “panyards are sacred ground and should be used to effectively address the crime situation plaguing this country and help rehabilitate youth”.

A timely reminder especially at a time when gang violence is wreaking havoc in east Port of Spain.

In delivering his speech, the popular Roman Catholic priest echoed a philosophy that was articulated almost ten years ago by the late Lloyd Best. In a series of articles entitled ‘School in Pan’ Best highlighted the need “to build community spirit and guide the transformation of young persons by giving them a means of creative expression through their involvement with the steelband”.
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Web Posted - Monday August 19, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

On the wings of birdsong

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Natural birdsong has therapeutic qualities; we may hear peripherally but still absorb some of those sweet improvisations and calls. Similarly, to judge by responses in the packed-out auditorium of Queen’s Hall, last Thursday night, the birdsong tenth annual vacation camp closing concert was a moving experience, for both performers and their multi-generational audience.

....But back to the concert, which curtain raised with compositions featuring junior pan, brass, guitar, percussion and woodwind performers, none of whom were fazed by appearing on the big stage.

....The Academy Steel pan side, led by director Terrance Sealey, did themselves proud with their crisp renditions of Wetting, Fog and Andy Narell’s composition Sea of Stories.
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Web Posted - Sunday August 18, 2013
Cincinnati.com

KRISTA: Thanks for the music and magic, Bruce Weil

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - Periodically, throughout his 25 years of teaching in Cincinnati Public Schools and starting the wildly popular Over-the-Rhine Steel Drum Band and Clark Montessori Steel Band, Bruce Weil would be interviewed by reporters.

They’d always ask, “Did the music completely change kids’ lives?” He’d always tell them, “No, it didn’t completely change kids’ lives.” They’d always write, “The music completely changed kids’ lives.”

Weil smiles and shakes his head at the thought.

“I’d like to say they did better in school because of it, they had better job opportunities,” he says. “But really, my greatest hope was that it enriched their lives and gave them a greater foundation to build on. And what that was, I couldn’t even hypothesize about.”

But those who danced in the aisles at steel band concerts, and watched Weil’s students from neighborhoods across the city take a bow in the spotlight, surely can.
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Web Posted - Saturday August 17, 2013
Stroud News & Journal

Pupils from The Croft School bring sound of the Caribbean to Painswick

Gloucestershire, England - Five 10-year-olds at The Croft School have started a steel pan band called Pantastic and they have already performed some calypso beats in public.

David Lynall, who has two daughters at the school, said: "Recently another dad and I acquired some Caribbean steel pans for the school and started a band with the children.
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Web Posted - Saturday August 17, 2013
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

WCA set for Pan on D Avenue II

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Despite the fact that businesses in the Woodbrook and St James communities that benefitted a great deal from the event last year but remain noncommittal with financial assistance, the Woodbrook Community Association (WCA) is steadfast in its mission to host the second Annual Pan on D Avenue, a street parade set for August 24, beginning at 6.30 pm, from Colville Street, heading in a westerly direction to Taylor Street, Woodbrook.

The event is being held in celebration of the Anniversary of Independence and in recognition of the national instrument, the steelband, will also be paying tribute to Ralph MacDonald, a multiple Grammy award winner born to Trinidadian calypsonian father, Macbeth the Great.
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Web Posted - Friday August 16, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Skiffle goes on a musical journey

...band establishes a ‘USA’ branch

San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Popular San Fernando steel orchestra Skiffle has forged a key linkage with US-based Sweet Briar College to establish a “Skiffle USA” branch.

This significant linkage comes as the Coffee Street-based orchestra prepares to host its premier concert “Skiffle through the years—a musical journey” tomorrow.

The concert, which features performances from Stalin, Nadia Madhoo and Eddie Cumberbatch, will be held at Queen’s Hall, Port-of-Spain, from 8 pm.

Orchestra leader Junia Regrello said he was thrilled to be hosting the concert against the backdrop of the band establishing its link with the college.
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Web Posted - Friday August 16, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Youths benefit from Diatonic vacation pan classes

Siparia, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Diatonic Pan Institute of Mary Street, Siparia, staged its first Vacation Pan Classes and held a graduation ceremony on August 10 after a month of training which began on July 9.

The classes were open to children six to 12 years old and was “an extremely enriching experience for all participants,” Diatonic said in a press release.

“Youth development is primary concern of the institute and the results of the pan classes were extremely rewarding,” the release said.
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Web Posted - Friday August 16, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Laventille blanks pan peace march

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - From Morvant to Port-of-Spain is considered short distance, but it is far by foot. I found this out last Saturday by participating in Pan Trinbago’s March for Peace 2013, from Morvant Junction to the steelband organisation’s headquarters on Park Street, opposite Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain.

....At most, for the entire walk the number of marchers never rose to more than 50, and many of those were members of the Defence Force and steelbands. In fact, I overheard one marcher quip: “Like it have more cars in the motorcade than marchers?” A worker at the Red House construction site on Abercromby Street, probably hearing the steelband playing a spiritual item, asked: “That is a church march?”
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Web Posted - Friday August 16, 2013
FT.com

Keep on moving

From calypso and steel pan to garage, dubstep and grime
 

UK - ....It is fascinating to read of the musicians who followed in Dunbar’s wake, both before and after the Windrush period, and of how quickly calypso took hold not just of London but the whole country. A young Trinidadian, Edric Connor, brought the first steel band to play in Britain as far back as 1951. He wrote one of the first official football records in 1956, imaginatively titled “Manchester United Calypso”. Tracing the advent of steel pan in the capital, Bradley notes the class-based animosity with which the “trifling” ghetto music of Port of Spain was regarded by many calypsonians.
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Web Posted - Friday August 16, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Veterans tell of badjohn pan days

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - A comprehensive and vivid dissertation on the birth and development of pan, and the formation of Pan Trinbago, was delivered last Wednesday night, at bpTT Renegades pan theatre on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.

Produced by Pan Trinbago, as part of Pan Month, a small gathering of pan enthusiasts was held captive throughout accounts by six steelband veterans, including former Pan Trinbago president Melville Bryan, Bill Trotman, Rudy Marshall, Rawle Dove, Hugh “Dasheen” Hackett and Kirton “Eddie Boom” Moore. Cameo snippets were also given by Pan Trinbago trustee and event host Allan “Pablo” Augustus and Renegades pan player Leiba Trotman.
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Web Posted - Thursday August 15, 2013
When Steel Talks

Pantonic Steel Orchestra 2013 Band Launch rounds out Pre-Panorama Music Salvos

New York, USA - It was the second weekend in August, and the final steel band music launch for the 2013 New York panorama season was underway. And it was finally the turn of Pantonic Steel Orchestra to host representations of several of the region’s finest steel bands as they continued to work their music magic on scores of steelband music lovers on hand, and who had all intentions of taking in first-hand, what was the final such production of several stage side steel orchestras conveniently in one locale.

In a new location for 2013 at Erasmus Street in Brooklyn, Pantonic Steel Orchestra had a small yard but it was certainly big on melodious merit for that Sunday evening.
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Web Posted - Thursday August 15, 2013
MLive.com

Loutit District Library's Jamaican Day kicks off with steel drum band

Michigan, USA - Steel drum music resonated through the Loutit District Library in Grand Haven on Thursday, Aug. 15, as a local band kicked off Jamaican Day.

Steel Doin’ It performed in the morning for a crowd of more than 50 people – many of them children. The band brought six of its members and played traditional songs from Trinidad as well as songs by Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys and The Beatles.

....The bands six members played 11 drums. Diane Veneklasen, of Grand Haven, has been with the band since it began in 2002 and played a set of six steel drums.
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Web Posted - Monday August 12, 2013
Tobago News

Pan Minors Graduation 2013

Tobago, W.I. - The 2013 graduation of the Republic Bank Pan Minors Programme took place recently at the Rovanel’s Resort in Bon Accord. Anthony Moore, Coordinator of the Tobago Pan Minors Programme since 2005 noted in this year’s programme there were more participants than last year. Fifty-one (51) persons registered and forty-nine (49) completed the programme as opposed to the forty-five (45) from 2012. The programme this year was held at the Bethel Credit Union’s branch in Mt. Marie, Scarborough over a three week period for two hours daily.

....The Pan Minors Programme is a music literacy programme which encompasses a theory element whereby the rudiments are learnt. There is also an oral component which focuses on listening and developing different kind of listening skills. As a musician, one is always exposed to the different listening areas.
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Web Posted - Monday August 12, 2013
The Sun Chronicle

A Caribbean beat

KP evokes islands with a steel drum band

Massachusetts, USA - The town might be thousands of miles away and landlocked, but the flavor, culture and sounds of the Caribbean are alive here.

It's all through a new group in the King Philip Regional School District's standout music program.

....The new group greeted cyclists in the recent Pan-Massachusetts Challenge as they made their way up Cherry Street in Wrentham, where residents each year put on a reception for the racers.

The ensemble was also featured at Norfolk Community Day in June to wide acclaim, and unlike most other KP music units, is open to area residents besides students.
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Web Posted - Sunday August 11, 2013
Trinidad Guardian

T&T pan in focus at Grenada Carnival

St. George’s, Grenada, W.I. - Grenada’s Spice Mas 2013 has been dedicated to T&T’s national instrument, the steelpan. The theme of this year’s festivities is Sweet Steelpan Music, The Sound and Rhythm of Spice Mas, Tourism and Culture Minister Alexandra Otway-Noel said yesterday.

“Pan is an important part of who we are. Some people say that it was a Grenadian that invent pan, but that’s another argument. We have a lot of talented pan groups and we wanted to highlight them this year as part of the music and who we are and where we come from,” she told the Sunday Guardian.

....On Friday, the Paria Bullet, one of the vessels operating on T&T’s Water Taxi Service sailed by charter from the Port of Port-of-Spain, to St George’s with 300 passengers on board. “All the flights are full from Trinidad to Grenada. We think we are going to have a wonderful Carnival. In fact flights from everywhere to Grenada are full. We are feeling very, very proud of the achievement and that people are taking notice of our little Spice Mas. It’s a wonderful event.” Otway-Noel said.
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Web Posted - Sunday August 11, 2013
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Great Borough Day celebrations

Arima, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The scintillating sounds of pan reverberated throughout the streets of the borough of Arima on Saturday as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations—a fitting culmination to the series of events that spanned a period of almost two months during the Arima Fest celebrations.

The Borough Day celebrations have been revived with inclusion once more of pan music that had previously been excluded. Jouvert showcased rhythm sections, tassa and pan on the move that accompanied eight bands originating in far-off areas as Paramin and Rio Claro.

Despite very heavy weather, both single pans and conventional bands drew large crowds of pan enthusiasts and supporters, who enjoyed the music of some of the popular bands from Arima, including Angel Harps, Melodians and T’dad Nostalgic. While Pan Elites performed exceptionally well, and Cordettes, Desperadoes and others really entertained the crowed, the night belonged to Renegades—a splendid performance.
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Web Posted - Sunday August 11, 2013
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Disappointing turnout for Pan Trinbago’s peace march

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Disappointing. This was how chairman of the northern region of Pan Trinbago, Gerard Mendez, described yesterday’s turnout for the peace march held by Pan Trinbago.

The organisation held a peace march from Morvant Junction, along the Eastern Main Road and finished at Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain. Only a handful of supporters turned out.

“I would have thought that with the number of steelbands in Trinidad and Tobago, I would have seen a better turnout. It is disappointing. There is so much crime in the different communities that are affecting the steelbands negatively, you would have thought that the affected bands would have turned out.
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Web Posted - Saturday August 10, 2013
rapidcityjournal.com

Steelpan band to perform at Newell

South Dakota, USA - When you hear the sounds of the clear tones of a steelpan instrument, you would expect to feel island breezes and see the sway of palm trees. On Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Newell City Hall the scene will be just a bit different.

The Newell Christian Fellowship Church will host the One Way Evangelistic Ministries Steelpan Team as they will be sharing their talents as part of an interactive program which they present in churches, schools, nursing homes, camps, Indian Reservations and community outreaches. It will be fun for the entire family, according to flyers that are being posted by the church.

....The couple’s children, Daniel, Bekah and Isaiah, are very much involved in the ministry as well and have joined their parents on mission trips to Guyana, South America and Trinidad, West Indies. Trinidad is the spot where the steelpan music originated.
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Web Posted - Friday August 9, 2013
When Steel Talks

Panist Rico Hunte expands musical horizons

New York, USA - This R&B/Hip Hop video  - TONIGHT ft. Venor - is the work of, and features R.I.C.O. – also known as Rico Hunte of New York’s CASYM Steel Orchestra, one of the veteran musicians of the music organization.  Rico has also been one of the instructors and arrangers for CASYM’s steelband program in New York schools, working with a class of young students this past Spring in preparation for CASYM’s annual Spring concert.  He recently performed this hit number at Despers USA’s R&B and Reggae showcase last month in New York.  Rico periodically appears with CASYM’s stage side, and ‘storms’ the stage as part of CASYM’s one-hundred-musician-strong steel orchestra for the annual New York Panorama.  Big Up!!!!!!!
click for video

Web Posted - Wednesday August 7, 2013
Trinidad & Tobago News

The Pope and the Pan: Challenging Caribbean Inferiority and Cultural Prostitution
 

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - There was a picture recently of Pope Francis playing the Steelpan next to T&T president Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona who presented it to him as a gift. This picture was published by the media, several Steelpan websites and has made its way around various social media platforms. One website exclaimed: "Truly a great day for our nation and our national instrument! The pope is a Trini now!" Another Steelpan website expressed, "Steelpan is the sweetest!! Just ask the Pope."

....It was considered a crime to play drums, and engage in certain forms of African-Trinidadian spirituality and it was this colonial repression that gave energy to the creation of a new medium of self-expression. And it was so that the energy, passion and emotions of Shango rituals and Shango drummers, community bad johns and other elements were channeled into the creation and evolution of the Steelpan.

....the Pan cannot be separated from its history and I doubt that President Carmona's Steelpan gift to the pope was accompanied by an explanation, whether oral or written, that the Pan emerged as part of resistance to brutalities of empire and colonialism of which the Church (and Christian European Nations) was a CENTRAL part. If leaders think that bringing up this historical context is undiplomatic then the people, unfettered by such diplomatic straitjackets must remind them.
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Web Posted - Tuesday August 6, 2013
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Parade starts Pan Month

Laventille, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Lovers of pan music flocked to the Eastern Main Road in Laventille to be a part of the 15th annual Emancipation Pan Parade put on by the Laventille Steelband Foundation on Sunday.

The actual flow of bands tested the patience of onlookers as the parade started off very slowly with several rhythm sections and Single Pan Bands making an appearance. Those appearing early were Sea Lots One Love, Harlem Syncopators, Blanca 47 and Trini Generation Rhythm Section.

The long delays between bands were filled with DJ music while several dancers from the audience put on a show to the excitement of the crowd.
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Web Posted - Tuesday August 6, 2013
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Dejean and Deja - These kids have got talent

Steelpan Duo takes 1st Prize

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Dejean and Deja Cain have emerged as the winners of MovieTowne Trinbago Kids Got Talent Summer Programme. The two young panists were crowned last Sunday at the All Star Finals of the six week programme, held at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

For their feat, the siblings walked off with the grand prize of two Return tickets to London courtesy British Airways, $6,000 cash, mobile phone courtesy bmobile, a tablet, movie tickets and Haagen-Dazs vouchers.
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Web Posted - Monday August 5, 2013
When Steel Talks

The Sound of the Steelpan Captures Brooklyn - Despers USA leads the way

Drummers tell the story...

New York, USA - Leave it to Despers USA Steel Orchestra to bring together one of the more engaging band launches of the 2013 Brooklyn, New York steelpan music season. The first weekend in August saw seven of New York’s finest steel orchestras in mid-season form - Sonatas, Steel Sensation, CrossFire, Pantonic, D’Radoes, Pan Sonatas and host Despers USA - come together at KC’s Hideaway for the musical shebang. On this August Sunday evening in the Big Apple - the people were there, the bands were there and the music was there. And oh yes, there was a lot of ‘red’ present; at the urging of Despers USA, as a symbol of unity and togetherness among the New York steelband franchises, everyone was asked to wear red. Red it was.
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Web Posted - Monday August 5, 2013
The Trinidad Guardian

Poor production but rich performances at female pan jazz concert

St. Joseph, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - A disappointingly poor production coupled with the embarrassingly small audience in attendance devalued the laudable concept of paying homage to female members of the steelband fraternity at Panwomen Is Boss, an all-female Pan Jazz concert, staged at the La Joya Auditorium in St Joseph, on July 28.

It was produced by Pan Atlanta Networks, Inc, the most recent initiative of Trinidad-born economist, bandleader and pan activist, Dr Ajamu Nyomba (Carl Thomas).

....Scheduled to begin at 6 pm, the programme got underway one hour later, before an audience of just over fifty patrons, prompting show host CG (Derek Silman) to ask, rhetorically, “why is it everything to do with culture always have a lot of problems?”
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Web Posted - Friday August 2, 2013
680News.com

Panists show off skills at Pan Alive

Toronto, Ontario, Canada - The biggest festival of Toronto’s summer is getting underway.

Now in its 46^th year, the Caribbean Carnival Toronto celebrates the culture of Trinidad, Jamaica and neighbouring islands.

The weekend-long party kicked off with Panorama – Pan Alive on Friday.

About 2,000 people braved the rain to take in the steel pans at Lamport Stadium.

Members of the Ontario Steelpan Association competed against each other in front of a panel of judges. The winner took home a $3,000 prize.
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Web Posted - Friday August 2, 2013
The Evening Sun

A Wedding ‘Steel’: Hanover Middle School steel drummers play for wedding

Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA - Instead of hearing wedding bells on their special day, Daren and Tiffany Getty had Hanover Middle School's Steel Drum players join them on July 8^th for their "I do's."

Tiffany Springstead (now Getty), of Gettysburg, asked Hanover music teacher Deb Smith if the steel drum group could play at her wedding. Tiffany said she knew that the drum group would add to the festive atmosphere that she wanted for her summer wedding.

And 11 students - 11 years old to 14 years old - played songs at a wedding ceremony for the first time, and only played at a few receptions before, Hanover music teacher Deb Smith said.

Tiffany and her husband Daren Getty, of Wellsboro, were surprised to see such young kids come play at their wedding at Links Golf Course in Gettysburg, mother-of-the-bride Marilyn Miller said.
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Web Posted - Friday August 2, 2013
When Steel Talks

Antigua & Barbuda Panorama Results 2013 - Three-in-a-Row for Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra

Winning arranger Khan Cordice leads band to 2013 Steelband Panorama Championship Glory

St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - It was a sea of “cricket white” - topped off with red caps, and several cricket bats thrusting skyward in victory - as Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra musicians literally bounded on stage to celebrate their 2013 steelband Panorama championship, when their win was officially announced shortly after 1:00 a.m. on August 2.

The reigning steelband panorama champs retained their title, trophy and bragging rights for a third consecutive year, trouncing five challengers. Yes, indeed the orchestra had hit a “6” - straight out of the [musical] ball park, when they rendered ace arranger Khan Cordice’s arrangement of King Short Shirt’s classic Vivian Richards, penned in tribute to the Antigua/Barbuda cricket legend.
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Web Posted - Thursday August 1, 2013
The Daily Jeffersonian

John Glenn High School in New Concord forms steel drum band

Cambridge, Ohio, USA - Those who chance to hear sounds of the Caribbean wafting around the village, Cambridge or Zanesville should not be too surprised ....There's a new band in town and it's bringing the music of the tropics to southeastern Ohio.

Credit the East Muskingum Local School District....Now, welcome PanJGea and give your ears a treat.

"I was blown away by them," said Jeffersonian photographer, Michael Neilson. "I've been on Caribbean cruises and I've never heard a band as good as this one."

...."It's been something I have wanted to do since I chose to be a music educator," Kelsey said....I was in the inaugural steel band at Dover High School, so it was always something I had in the back of my mind."

...."I thought [the steel drum band] would be a great fit for it and had plans to eventually talk to the Boosters about looking at a five-year plan to make it happen," Kelsey said.

But the administrator had taken Kelsey's "joke" seriously.

"It was less than a week later that he came back to me and said he had found a way to start it now. Our booster organization jumped on the idea."
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Web Posted - Thursday August 1, 2013
Bangor Metro

Music is alive and well in the Bangor Metro area....

Community Music

Bangor, Maine, USA - ....Read about three community music groups that have people playing, dancing, and singing, all summer long.

....Flash! in the Pans

When you listen to the music of a steel drum band you’re probably imagining yourself sitting on a beautiful sand beach overlooking the Atlantic. That beach is probably in the Caribbean somewhere, right? For some, steel drum music has them overlooking the Atlantic from the Blue Hill Peninsula. That’s right—steel drum music is alive and well in the Blue Hill area, which has one of the largest community steel drum bands in the nation.

Coastal Maine and steel drum band music may seem like an odd pairing, but the 35 members of Flash! in the Pans steel drum band and their fans don’t think so. Pan music, as it’s called, began on the peninsula with Carl Chase, who started Flash 22 years ago.
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Upcoming

Global  - Upcoming Steelpan music events from all over the world
click to calendar

Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Complete RESULTS for the Trinidad & Tobago 2013 Panorama

Global - Full results for the Trinidad and Tobago 2013 Panorama are in. Steel Orchestras competed in the medium and large categories at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad last evening.  Both 2012 defending champions were dethroned.
click for full results

Web Posted
When Steel Talks - Special

Champion Panorama Tunes of Trinidad and Tobago

Global - A critical component to winning any panorama competition is the song the orchestras choose to use as the basis of their panorama arrangements. Over the years these songs have inspired classic panorama arrangements. When Steel Talks invites you to take a look at and listen to, these famed tunes which have played more than just a cursory part in the history of Pan, and the lives of the players and fans.
click to hear and/or view