When Steel Talks

Quick Listen - Tunes for Panorama and Carnival 2014
You Tube Short Takes

Web Posted - Saturday May 31, 2014
Asheville Citizen-Times

North Carolina, USA - Mark Garner creates a handmade, one-of-a-kind product.

But he doesn’t consider his work to be art — rather to be an artist’s tool.

His handpan instruments are not the painting, but the paintbrush, he says. The handpan, a percussive metal vessel shaped like a UFO, isn’t complete until the musician strikes one of the tone fields hammered into the surface, Garner said.

Although the instrument requires hands to be activated, it’s extremely hard to get your hands on a handpan, which is essentially a variation on the steelpan tradition.

There’s only a handful of handpan producers in the world, and each have customer waiting lists thousands long.
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Web Posted - Saturday May 31, 2014
When Steel Talks

Nigeria - In meeting up with its corporate social responsibility, the Africa-Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan Development Company (ATTSDC) donated a complete set of steelpans for a fifteen-man band to the Nigerian Military School (NMS). In a presentation ceremony witnessed by very senior serving and retired Military officers including General GO Ogumudia (rtd), the CEO of ATTSDC—who is an Ex-Boy (former student) of the school—stated that the donation was to inculcate the steelpan culture in the boys (students) of the school.

According to the CEO, Chief Bowie S. Bowei, the steelpan art form which is currently spreading across Nigeria presents great opportunities for professionals, entertainers and entrepreneurs.
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Web Posted - Friday May 30, 2014
Institute of Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. - The Silver Birds Steel Orchestra will perform at the Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) Lunch Hour Concert on Thursday, June 5, 2014. The programme will start at 12:30 p.m. in the IOJ Lecture Hall.

With a repertoire spanning many genres of music – Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Soca, Pop, Gospel, Country, Latino and more – Jamaica’s Silver Birds performing team brings island charm and warmth to the stage through sweet steel band music, slick staging patterns, infectious stage persona and exciting dance routines.

....The Lunch Hour Concert is free to the public and is facilitated by the Programmes Coordination Division. For reservations contact Georgette Francis, Programmes Manager at 922 – 0620, ext: 284 or info@instituteofjamaica.org.jm.
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Web Posted - Thursday May 29, 2014
NIU Today

Illinois, USA - Liam Teague, head of steelpan studies and an associate professor in the NIU School of Music, was named the 2014 Laureate in Arts and Letters by the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards For Excellence.

Click below for the speech Teague gave May 10 at the Trinidad & Tobago National Academy of the Performing Arts.
read speech

Web Posted - Thursday May 29, 2014
Caribbean Life

Global - The steelpan – or pan, as it is more widely called – is the bedrock of Trinidad Carnival. It is also an instrument that is part and parcel of calypso and soca music. The instrument’s versatility easily lends itself to jazz, R&B, gospel, classical music.

The names Tony Williams, Bertie Marshall and Ellie Mannette go hand-in-hand with the instrument’s evolution. And apart from Trinidad and other areas of the Caribbean, its impact, since its inception some seventy years ago, the instrument continues to play a major role in the music of the Anglophone Caribbean diaspora.
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Web Posted - Wednesday May 28, 2014
Henley Standard

Shiplake, England - A Pub celebrated multicultural Britain with its own twist on a long-forgotten tradition.

The Plowden Arms in Reading Road, Shiplake, held its second annual Empire Day on Saturday with live music, entertainment and food and drink.

....The purpose was to remind children that they formed part of the British Empire and that its strength depended on them.

....The pub’s event was more about recognising multiculturalism and it invited the Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra, who performed last year, back again. Their repertoire included everything from Michael Jackson to Beethoven.
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Web Posted - Tuesday May 27, 2014
AllAfricah.com

Exodus Orchestra Steel Orchestra best overall & best International act
 

Zimbabwe - Caribbean Islanders, Trinidad and Tobago scored big at the recently held Harare International Carnival Street Party when they won two prestigious awards on Saturday night after the street parade. During a prize giving ceremony in the Africa Unity Square the country's Exodus Orchestra Steel Band was awarded the best overall act and best International act at the second edition of the carnival.

In the international category, the group emerged the best, beating Brazil's Momo King and Italy's Storci Sbandriratori delle Contrade di Cori.

While accepting the awards, the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism in Trinidad and Tobago, Douglas Lincoln, applauded the country for successfully pulling off an event of such great magnitude.
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Web Posted - Monday May 26, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global - Gerome Bhola of Marabella in Southern Trinidad shared a few images from an old collection, relative to the world-famous Tripoli Steel Band participating in carnival in pre-1958 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The pictures were taken by his father Neville Bhola, a carnival aficionado.

When Steel Talks is pleased to share the images, below, with the global steelpan community.
click for images

Web Posted - Saturday May 24, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global -  Len Church is a respected member of that extraordinarily talented group of musicians that ushered in the period commonly referred to as ‘the Golden Era of Caribbean Music.’ He performed and/or recorded with the likes of Winifred Atwell, Ed Watson, Clive Bradley, Felix Roach, Mavis John and many, many more greats from that era.

In this exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - musician, writer, composer and arranger Len Church shares his thoughts on the steelpan instrument and music of the Caribbean, then and now.
click for exclusive interview

Web Posted - Friday May 23, 2014
The Huffington Post

London, England - UKIP’s (UK Independence Party) Croydon carnival, which ended in carnage on Tuesday before Nigel Farage had even arrived, had a breakout star as the steel band that refused to play for the party got a gig on Newsnight.

The Endurance Steel Orchestra, which decided to pack up their instruments when they found out that they were playing at a Ukip event, starred on Newsnight on Thursday to play out the programme with Daft Punk's Get Lucky.
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Web Posted - Friday May 23, 2014
Cayman 27

Cayman Islands - There’s nothing quite like the sound of a steel pan band. Young pan-jammers from all over the island put their sticks into action for a steel pan competition.

Schools from all around showed their talents off Thursday night (22 May) at Mary Miller Hall playing the classics of course, but also adding some contemporary sounds to the mix.

“Just listen to the sound in the background. It’s so mellow. It’s so mild. Then, the beat gets greater and more intense and more intense as they put the various notes together and it is awesome. They bring the house down,” remarked Senior Education Officer James Watler.
click for video clip & results

Web Posted - Thursday May 22, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global -  Ayana Garcia’s love affair with the steel pan is one that transcends her relatively young age. From as early as three years old, Ayana was taught the rudiments of the steel pan by none other than her godfather, arranger and composer Robert Greenidge. She had to stand on a box to reach the pan but she persevered. This relationship played a significant role in her future career plans. Anyone who dared to make adverse comments about her treasured and beloved Robert Greenidge was immediately shown the door.
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Web Posted - Thursday May 22, 2014
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It is the first quarter since Carnival 2014 and at least five mas bands have already revealed the launch dates for their 2015 presentations. The question though is how prepared is the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and its special interest groups, namely Pan Trinbago, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA)?

....Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz said this week that his organisation is ready for Carnival 2015. “We have already submitted plans to the NCC, since the end of March. Pan Trinbago ain’t sticking. We are aware that funding for Carnival is dependent on the national budget to be read in the next few months, so we are not waiting,” he said.

“In fact, Pan Trinbago closed registration for Panorama 2015 on March 20, so no bands can come after this and wish to be in the competition.”

The Pan Trinbago “wish list” includes an increase in prize money and enhanced programming of its productions. Diaz said the Grand Stand and The Greens would be retained as these facilities are very popular amongst pan lovers.
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Web Posted - Tuesday May 20, 2014
DailyMail.co.uk

Croydon, UK - Nigel Farage's latest attempt to prove UKIP (UK Independence Party) is not racist descended into farce today when a steel band refused to play at a bizarre 'Carnival' in Croydon.

....The Endurance Steel band, which included black members, told reporters they were 'embarrassed' to be there because they did not think that people should vote for UKIP.

....The party hoped it would be a 'bold and vibrant' event to dismiss criticism that the party is racist, after a torrid week which has seen Mr Farage accused of making offensive comments about Romanians.

But as protesters clashed with party members and Mr Farage failed to turn up, musicians booked to play complained they did not know it involved Ukip - and packed up and left.
read more

Web Posted - Sunday May 18, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global -  This young man is serious, driven, witty and focused. Kendall Williams’ journey with the steelpan instrument began at the age of four as he mimicked the steelpan performances of his parents. He is that singular combination of talent, intellect and wisdom beyond his years. He is currently the Van Lier Emerging Composer Fellow for the American Composers Orchestra (ACO). In addition Kendall is the arranger for Brooklyn’s CrossFire Steel Orchestra.

A graduate from Florida Memorial University (BA Music) and with a M.M. in Music Theory & Composition from NYU Steinhardt, Kendall will begin his Ph.D. pursuit at Princeton University beginning this Fall 2014.
click for exclusive interview

Web Posted - Saturday May 17, 2014
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The musical collaboration between legendary South African trumpeter, composer and singer, Hugh Masekela, and the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra has been described as a melding of musical forms that is destined to propel this nation’s musical genre further onto the world’s musical stage.

....That was the general consensus following a free concert titled “From Siparia to Soweto” at the Ellis Knight panyard, Railway road...

....The album, which was co-arranged by Deltones’ Carlton “Zanda” Alexander features 12 songs comprising classics from Lord Kitchener, the Mighty Sparrow, Baron (Timothy Watkins), the Mighty Shadow (Winston Bailey) and Daisy Voisin together with two songs composed by Alexander. Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa and began singing and playing piano as a child.
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Web Posted - Friday May 16, 2014
When Steel Talks

Global -  Quiet but passionate, unassuming but already musically an aficionado, Andy Akiho’s journey with the steelpan instrument began seventeen years ago at the University of South Carolina – and there’s just so much more to come. It is evident that not only his audiences but also the music world globally has sat up and taken note of this young man on his extraordinary evolutionary path. His most recent award (as at the time of this interview) is the Luciano Berio Rome Prize from The American Academy in Rome as one of the thirty-odd winners of the 118th annual Rome Prize Competition – in Akiho’s case, with a focus on Musical Composition - New Works for Orchestra, and interrelated with his work as a Ph.D. Candidate in Music Composition at Princeton.
click for exclusive interview

Web Posted - Friday May 16, 2014
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Laventille Steelband Festival Foundation (LSFF) will be once again bringing eight of the country’s top steelbands together at a concert titled “8 of Hearts” this weekend at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain.

The event that takes place tonight starting at 7 pm and tomorrow at 6.30 pm, will see performances by reigning National Panorama champions, Phase II Pan Groove, as well as ten-time National Panorama winners Witco Desperadoes, bp Renegades with nine National titles, eight-time national champs N&M Trinidad All Stars, Sagicor Exodus the four-time national winners, thrice title holders PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, CAL Invaders and multiple south champs Skiffle.

The “8 of Hearts” concert was introduced as part of the Carifesta of 2006 and proved to be a great success encouraging the LSFF to make the concert a biennial affair.
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Web Posted - Thursday May 15, 2014
Tahlequah Daily Press

Oklahoma, USA - Next Christmas, attendees of the Tahlequah High School Orange Express Concert Band concert will hear a little tropical flair in their seasonal favorites.

Thanks to a donation from Randy Gibson, the THS band has added a full set of steel drums to its concert band lineup. Gibson provided half the funding for two lead pans, a set of “double seconds,” and a full set of six bas pans.

Gibson, who played in the band at the University of Oklahoma, has a personal connection to steel drums.

....Gibson said percussionists entering the university from large metro high schools often had an advantage, as those schools had steel drums in their inventories.
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Web Posted - Tuesday May 13, 2014
Petoskey News-Review

Michigan, USA - Petoskey's middle school and high school jazz bands and all steel drum band will perform "Steel & Jazz — Band Aid 2014" from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at North Central Michigan College's Community Resource Center.

Too, the event includes food and refreshments, door prizes and a silent auction, said Barry Bennett, instrumental music teacher at Petoskey High School.
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Web Posted - Tuesday May 13, 2014
When Steel Talks

A tribute to my assistant producer

by Dalton Narine
 

Global -  Truth be told, the history of roycrosse very well authenticates the audacity of death.

On his infantry march through life, the renaissance artist left humanity behind on February 20, 2014, shrugging off cancer that ransacked his body for eight years.

That roycrosse took with him the word that made him free is not incidental - no more than the vicissitudes of living is incidental to the struggle.

The Trinidadian-born Baltimorean had rediscovered truth in the arts: drawing, painting, writing, photographing, composing and playing.
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Web Posted - Monday May 12, 2014
When Steel Talks

New York, USA - There is very little that When Steel Talks can say about NYU Steel that we haven’t already said over the years since its inception in 2007 - except maybe, mission accomplished.

Born out of the vision of NYU percussion department chairman Professor Jonathan Haas and realized under the directorship of Josh Quillen, NYU Steel has begun to achieve its full potential. After all, steelpan music performance studies is mandatory for all New York University percussion majors at the respected Music and Performing Arts Professions Program in Percussion Studies. Couple that with the fact that NYU is located in the backyard of some of the largest and best steel orchestras outside of Trinidad and Tobago, the originator of the steelpan family of instruments.
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Web Posted - Monday May 12, 2014
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Professor Liam Teague said T&T has only scratched the surface in discovering the potential of the national instrument the steelband. Teague, one of the three recipients of the 2014 Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, said it was miraculous that pan pioneers had been able to work against the odds to make the pan a legitimate instrument. He said he was committed to taking the instrument to higher levels in whatever way he can.

The T&T panist received the award for his work doe in the field of arts and letter. The other recipients were Karen de Souza from Guyana for public and civic contributions and director of the UWI’s Seismic Research Unit at St Augustine, Dr Richard Robertson, of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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Web Posted - Saturday May 10, 2014
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation

Zimbabwe - A musical orchestra group from Trinidad and Tobago, Exodus Orchestra Steel, has arrived in Zimbabwe as part of the Harare International Carnival.

The group members, who were received at the Harare International Airport by officials from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, are part of the advance team.

The group is expected to perform during the Miss Carnival Queen to be held on the 16^th of May and at the street party on the 24^th of the month.
read more

Web Posted - Friday May 9, 2014
When Steel Talks

Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. - Rocked by the recent assassination of Dana Seetahal, a prominent lawyer and former independent senator in Trinidad and Tobago, twenty-seven of the country's leading artists have come together to produce the recording "Stop the Crime" under the banner - Artist United Against Crime.

Ms. Dana Seetahal was one of the two women who took the flag of Birdsong Steel Orchestra on stage for Panorama in 1975.

The lyrics and music were composed by recording and performing artist Edwin Ayoung, better known by his stage name, "Crazy".
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Web Posted - Monday May 5, 2014
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Music of the diaspora marked the contribution of the UWI Intermediate Steel and Indian Classical Ensembles to the current series of musical recitals produced by the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA).

Music directors Satnarine Baboolal, Mikhel Carter and Deryck Nurse combined to produce an interesting musical potpourri often combining oriental and western instruments and sounds while showcasing the steelpan in a variety of musical genres.

....Nobody, though, is going to forget pan player Adrian Jaikaran. His contribution to the evening’s entertainment came at the end when the Steel Ensemble took the stage.
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Web Posted - Friday May 2, 2014
The Intelligencer

Illinois, USA - For a student to learn the music of another culture is always intriguing, but to perform it in the very country where that music was born is something really special. And that is precisely what happened when a group of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) students traveled to Trinidad to perform in a steel band.

I had the opportunity to speak with some of the students, along with their instructor, Dan Smithiger, of the department of music at SIUE. They were: Sophie Browning and Alyssa Cowan, both majors in music education, and with Merrick Haji-Sheikh and Ryan Helenthal, both majors in music performance. During the last Christmas break they visited Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, a small country off the coast of eastern Venezuela.
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Web Posted - Friday May 2, 2014
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - All roads lead to Point Fortin as Mayor Clyde Paul and his staff of councillors mark the 34th anniversary of the Borough.

This event, which is described as a mini-carnival, attracts more than 30,000 people for various street parties and other activities in the southern community. Tomorrow the fete begins as early as 4 am with J’ouvert taking place through the streets of Point Fortin.

....Pan-On-The-Move begins at 5pm and steelbands from in and out of the area would move through Point Fortin giving spectators and participants a taste of sweet pan.

....Mayor Paul explained steelpan plays a great role in making the Point Fortin Borough celebrations attractive to thousands. Bands to be featured in this celebration include The Panorama 2014 top ten: Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars, BP Renegades, WITCO Desperadoes, Republic Bank Exodus, PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, Skiffle, Caribbean Airlines Invaders, NLCB Fonclaire, TTEC Tropical Angel Harps and NGC La Brea Nightingales.
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When Steel Talks

RESULTS for the Trinidad & Tobago 2014 Panorama
 

Global - Final results and those from the qualifying rounds, of respective categories in competition in the 2014 Trinidad and Tobago Panorama are all in! Get the stats from the preliminaries, semifinals and finals for all the conventional steel orchestras of Trinidad & Tobago which competed in the 2014 Panorama season. 
click for full results

When Steel Talks

Get your headphones - and Just Listen!!

Panorama 2013 Panyard Recordings
by Basement Recordings

New York, USA - For this year 2013, Basement Recordings captured six of Brooklyn’s finest steel orchestras franchises as part of their annual panyard panorama music recording series. All the orchestras operated at very high level this year and were indeed deserving of having their musical performance captured and preserved for the historical, cultural and community archives.

....The steel orchestras recorded this year are Despers USA; Pantonic; CrossFire; D’Radoes; Sonatas and CASYM, the eventual 2013 Panorama champion.
click for more

When Steel Talks

Results - 2013 New York Panorama


 

New York, USA - Full results for the 2013 New York Panorama which took place at the back of the Brooklyn Museum are here.  CASYM Steel Orchestra, celebrating their 30^th anniversary this year, have also added the title of Panorama champions to their list of accomplishments. Pan Sonatas which placed fourth last year moved up two to second place, while D’Radoes  Steel Orchestra placed third for the third year running.  Pan Fantasy from Canada went away with fourth place.
click for full results & breakdown

Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Upcoming

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

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