When Steel Talks

Schedule of Panorama and Carnival
 Events 2015 -
Trinidad and Tobago

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Web Posted - Tuesday December 30, 2014
When Steel Talks

London, UK - Trinidadian-born Frank Rollock grew up in East Trinidad, Tunapuna to be exact. From a tender age he was sent to piano lessons to enhance his musical skills. His interest in music was part of a family tradition. It was only when his mother approached his music teacher to pay his tuition fees it was revealed that he was not attending piano lessons but frequenting the panyard. After acknowledging his love for the steelpan instrument, his mother allowed him to continue. At the age of 10-11 years, Frank was being taught by Clive Foster and playing in Sullivan’s Steel Orchestra. In 1956 at the age of seventeen, Frank and his brother Roy (coincidentally, Frank’s uncle who was also called Roy had his own orchestra in the USA) founded their own orchestra called Modernaires. Frank compiled a book of arrangements for Modernaires through the inspiration of the famous Trinidad All Stars whom Roy played with.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 28, 2014
When Steel Talks

Switzerland - Born in San Fernando, in the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 1966, Junior began playing the steelpan at the very early age of eight (8). Coming from a very musical family Junior was very eager to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Theo Stephens, a member of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra – TASPO who visited the UK on the 26th July 1961 to play at the Festival of Britain and his mother, Jeanette Edwards, a talented and accomplished tenor player.
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Web Posted - Friday December 26, 2014
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With profits at Scotiabank T&T staying healthy, the steelband movement can look forward to bank re-investing in their cultural efforts, its managing director Anya Schnoor said.

The Scotiabank Foundation recently distributed $250,000 in grants to 60 unsponsored steelbands in preparation for the National Panorama Competition and Carnival 2015.

Officials of Pan Trinbago joined the Scotiabank team at financial institution’s hospitality suite at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, for the presentations to single pan bands, as well as conventional orchestras in different categories.

....Gisele del V Marfleet, chairman of the Foundation, underscored the commitment of the steelband community in pursuit of their craft. She said the idea of the engaged community was one the Foundation viewed as having a great deal of relevance and value in society.
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Web Posted - Thursday December 25, 2014
When Steel Talks

Brooklyn, NY - There was indeed a Grinch sighting - armed and ready he was to steal Christmas. And, yes, he entered the arena all huffy, puffy and yucky, but he never saw what hit him. Sitting up in the balcony by himself - from the first note of New York Pan Stars he was in trouble. As they dropped “Ah Feelin’” his feet started to dance in time without his consent. And by end of ADLIB’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Mr. Grinch was actually clapping hands and giving an awkward wave. CASYM then dropped a musical smart bomb on him that went straight to his heart. Yep, old Mr. Grinch, although be it slightly out of key - that grumpy old voice - began singing along with their version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Poor Mr. Grinch, by the time CrossFire laid down “This Christmas,” the visibly emotionally wretched character was done and now engaged in a full wine and jump-up.
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Web Posted - Monday December 22, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - For this first time in her long-standing musical career, Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon has released her first-ever ‘Pan Song’ for the 2015 Carnival Season. The song entitled Jam Dem Hard and featured here is also the first pan song from composer and panist Johann Chuckaree with lyrics by Nigel Rojas and produced by Dante Pantin of Next Level Productions. 
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Web Posted - Saturday December 20, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - The Ken “Professor” Philmore/Mark Loquan team is back for 2015 to mark a significant milestone for Fonclaire Steel Orchestra’s history, celebrating 50 years of wonderful music by this south band in Trinidad and Tobago. Ken and Mark were looking for something special, something different from their previous collaborations, to mark the milestone with a “funky” sound and “live” feel, while aiming to capture the sweetness of music and festive soul of the band.
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Web Posted - Saturday December 20, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Bajan soca artists “Saddis” and “Lead Pipe” (the latter is also known as Osvaldo Reid) have been creating music together for many years, and are also known as “Murda” and “Porgie” from a hit Bajan (from Barbados) comedy web series. The twosome are also talented songwriters in their own right, having penned works for multiple other high-profile acts such as Patrice Roberts and Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon, to name but two.

....The duo had Barbados Crop Over 2014 hot with ‘Ah Feeling’ and are touring internationally performing the hot soca. It is now also extending its ‘lease of life’ into the steelband art form, with both Tamana Pioneers Steel Orchestra and Kalomo Kings Steel Orchestra both going with the song as their Pan Tune for the 2015 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama competition.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 17, 2014
When Steel Talks

Brooklyn, NY - There is nothing like the CASYM (Caribbean American Sports and Cultural Youth Movement, Inc.) annual holiday show to remind you that it’s getting close to Christmas. And the tradition continues. For years now the CASYM Christmas show show been the event that showcases the talent and progress of their music education program. Proud parents, excited youth as young as five making their debut performances, add a 6-foot four-plus ill-mannered ‘Cat in the Hat’ filling in for Santa - and you’re good to go.
 
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 16, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - PAN IN D GALAXY is the 2015 Pan Tune, composed, arranged and sung by the vibrant Vanessa Alexandra Headley. Golden Hands will perform her arrangement of this beautiful track in the upcoming Panorama season. In this her debut vocal recording, Vanessa charts a new course that takes the steelpan instrument to new frontiers. She has employed word-painting through her choice of musical elements, especially the sparkling melody, which she has combined with lyrics that transport you on a fantastic galactic adventure.
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 16, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Winston Scarborough is considered by many to be one of the all-time great composers of steelband ‘panorama tunes.’

A performer artist himself, 2015 will mark the 37^th year that Trinidad & Tobago’s Winston Scarborough (The Original DeFosto Himself - as he loves to be called) has been singing calypsos.

For the 2015 steelband Panorama season “DeFosto” is back with ‘Pan On De Road’ and ‘The Matrix-Man Says:- 'Is Games!’ featured here.
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Web Posted - Monday December 15, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Peter and Miguel have come together for the carnival/ pan selection once more. In 2010 the duo's collaboration came together on De Last Band which was played at that year's New York Panorama competition by six-time champion steel orchestra Despers USA. For the 2015 season they are back with Blazing.
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Web Posted - Monday December 15, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - “Sir Skarz” has branded himself to be one of the best in the business and with his diverse lyrical skills and pumped energy, he’s ready for the world. With this new 2015 release of “PUM PUM” he took it back with the melody and mastered his craft doing so. He was able to work alongside two of the best producers and arrangers Mr. Freddy Harris, III and Mr. Gordon “Commissioner” Williams on this project.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 10, 2014
When Steel Talks

Brooklyn, NY - But before they completely disappear into the midnight it is essential to take a look at the history, mistakes, policies and architects of this death march. Journalist Peter Noel has granted When Steel Talks (WST) permission to republish his critical document on the clash between the steelpan community and the city of New York at a pivotal moment in its existence.  

George Santayana's quote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” no doubt applies here. A must read. - WST
 
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 9, 2014
When Steel Talks

London, UK- On a chilly winter evening, the British Association of Steelbands (BAS) hosted their 16th annual awards at the Holiday Inn, in Bloomsbury, London on Saturday 6th December 2014. The warm Caribbean culture that this event generates certainly brought the festive cheer alive on the night.
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 9, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - “Lani K” (born Jalani Kojo) grew up in the Belmont section of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.  As the son of two-time Calypso Queen Twiggy (Ann-marie Parks-Kojo), “Lani K” definitely was birthed into the tradition of Calypso & Soca music.

He has made ‘My Melody’ penned by Miguel Reyes his own soundtrack for the 2015 Panorama season.
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 9, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - In 2013 Nicole Greaves was at the forefront on Hammer Time and My Sweet Tenor Man. and in 2014 she was on Pan Scandal She’s back for the Panorama 2015 season with the track featured here, ‘Doh Leh Meh Go.’
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Web Posted - Monday December 8, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - In 2014 Roslyn composed and recorded her first Calypso 'Mesmerized by Steel,’ telling of the day she fell in love with the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. This Calypso made her the reigning Windward Calypso Monarch of Tobago 2014.  This is another music work sung by Roslyn, ‘J’Ouvert Jam.’
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Web Posted - Monday December 8, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - In 2014 Roslyn composed and recorded her first Calypso 'Mesmerized by Steel,’ telling of the day she fell in love with the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. This Calypso made her the reigning Windward Calypso Monarch of Tobago 2014.
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Web Posted - Monday December 8, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - In 1987 Jimmy teamed up with pals Jimmy Helms, George Chandler and Willy M and co-founded Londonbeat. Jimmy wrote the song “I’ve Been Thinking About You” which Londonbeat recorded. The song became a massive hit getting to #1 in 27 countries! Londonbeat still gigs regularly all over the world.

For the 2015 Panorama season, he takes vocal charge of ‘Pan Majesty,’ the track featured here.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 7, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Given the historical and recent friction between NYPD and the steelbands of Brooklyn for simply gathering for band practice and playing music over the years, the latest outcome from the Eric Garner case is very, very troubling.
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Web Posted - Friday December 5, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - “And Great Showers of Tears Came Down,” a short film produced and directed by award-winning “MasMan” filmmaker Dalton Narine, was selected by Creative Arts Film Festival, an online platform that is currently showcasing films of merit throughout the month of December.

Available without password on the Internet, the film may pique WST (When Steel Talks) readers’ interest for its creative soundtrack - marrying a steel pan score with the story of a black Marine who went to war a hawk and returned as a dove carrying an olive branch.
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Web Posted - Thursday December 4, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Since 1984, “Keet Styla” formerly known as “Designer” has been working with renowned panists and pan composers/arrangers such as Ken “Professor” Philmore, Ray Holman, Robert Greenidge and Earl Brooks - as well as well-known musicians.

For the 2015 Panorama season, he takes vocal charge of ‘Celebration,’ the track featured here.
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 2, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Simeon Superville has been a composer from 2009 to the present.

In 2013 and 2014 Superville put forward several music pieces for the Panorama season.  For the 2015 season he is back with ‘Fully Loaded,’ the track featured here.
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Web Posted - Monday December 1, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Roger George has dedicated his entire life spreading this message with his dynamic voice and enchanting style of entertainment all over the world.

He sings and performs music ranging from Caribbean, Latin, R&B and Gospel music both individually and with various groups. For the 2015 Panorama season, George vocalizes ‘Donna (Rebecca Daughter)’ written by Miguel Reyes.
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Web Posted - Monday December 1, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - ‘Enjoy Yourself’ is sung by Joseph Williams for the 2015 Panorama season.  The track is co-written by Felix Jones and Alvin Daniell.
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Web Posted - Monday December 1, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Vocalist Nyol Manswell is enrolled at the Berklee School of Music, and leads a band called Orange Mango. When in Trinidad, he is a tutor at the birdsong Academy - the institution which has played a major role in his musical journey to date.

For the 2015 Panorama season, Manswell has written and sung the track featured here, ‘Pan Magic.’  It is the tune of choice for birdsong Steel Orchestra in the 2015 steelband Panorama competition and will be arranged by Andy Narell.
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When Steel Talks

Results - 2014 New York Panorama

New York, USA - Full results for the 2014 New York Panorama which took place at the back of the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday August 30 are here.  Eleven steel orchestras participated including Pan Fantasy hailing from Canada.  D’Radoes Steel Orchestra were judged Panorama champs, while ADLIB and CASYM steel orchestras tied for second place.
click for full results & breakdown

Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Upcoming

Global  - Upcoming Steelpan music events from all over the world
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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