Web Posted - Friday June 30, 2016
Trinidad Express Newspapers

The Mayor’s pan jazz experience

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Pan Jazz Experience Concert was presented by the office of the Mayor of Port of Spain at Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook, last Saturday.

The audience gathered under the stars to view performances by several top local jazz artistes and panists including Ray Holman, Mavis John, Ken “Professor” Philmore, Vaughnette Bigford, the Invaders and Desperadoes steel orchestras among other acts.

....Port of Spain Mayor, Keron Valentine and Deputy Mayor Asha Permanand were on hand to oversee the proceedings.

The audience was also graced with the presence of United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, John Estrada and his wife Cote; former Antigua and Barbuda prime minister Baldwin Spencer; House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George; former National Security minister Brigadier Carl Alfonso; former government minister Joan Yuille-Williams and others.
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Web Posted - Tuesday June 28, 2016
When Steel Talks

 Casablanca Steel Orchestra - Steelband History

by Doris Green

Global - The legendary names of Oscar “Bogart” Pyle, Ormond “Patsy” Haynes, Arthur “Art” De Coteau and Anthony Prospect will forever be linked to Casablanca Steel Orchestra. In December 1983 Casablanca journeyed to the USA and performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. When Steel Talks (WST) spotlights Casablanca's celebrated performance as we revisit a 1985 concert review with academic, journalist, historian, ethnomusicologist, choreographer, notator and cultural and music standout Doris Green.

“Steel Bands in Concert” (carols and classicals) was sponsored by the National Council of Steel Bands. The entire program centered mainly around the Casablanca Steel Orchestra.
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Web Posted - Sunday June 26, 2016
The Seattle Times

 Party on Wheels to celebrate, share Metro commuters’ stories

Seattle, USA - Radio station KBCS’ event Tuesday, June 28, will feature music and the chance to record your own mass-transit commuter story for the What’s the Flux? project, which is collecting personal experiences of Metro riders.

....The event at Crossroads Bellevue will feature live music courtesy of the Seattle Women’s Steel Pan Project, which performs Caribbean music on steel pan drums. KBCS will broadcast live at the Crossroads Bellevue Farmers Market.

....Oriana Estrada, administrative director of the Seattle Women’s Steel Pan Project, said she felt compelled to look into What’s the Flux? after the band was hired to perform.

“I do appreciate getting to hear little insights into people’s lives,” Estrada said. “I know myself that when I commute, that there’s always all kinds of interesting things that can happen as well.”
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Web Posted - Friday June 24, 2016
WNYC.org

 A School's Strategy to Improve Attendance Starts at 7 a.m.

New York, USA - At P.S. 156 Waverly in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Principal Beverly Logan started the year thinking about how to tackle a 40 percent chronic absentee rate. That means that well over a third of her students missed at least 18 days of school the year before.

So to improve absences and lateness, the school decided to offer students a chance to do things they loved. Specifically: taking part in either drum corps, the steel pan band, the dance team or basketball — all starting at 7 a.m.

“They have to feel success somewhere,” said Principal Beverly Logan. “So to me, the arts and sports is a start.”
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Web Posted - Thursday June 23, 2016
When Steel Talks

 Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus - History of Carnival

by Doris Green

Global - Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus is an intellect, scholar and gentleman whose name is synonymous with excellence and integrity. This charismatic figure and former UN Ambassador is also one of the great historians of the Caribbean. When Steel Talks (WST) spotlights Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus in his capacity of Carnival and Steelpan historian extraordinaire as we revisit a 1985 interview with academic, ethnomusicologist, journalist, and cultural and music standout Doris Green.
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Web Posted - Wednesday June 22, 2016
When Steel Talks

 NYC Premiere of Panomundo Part 1 on June 25^th - Steelpan Documentary

New York, USA - The New York City Premiere of Panomundo Part 1: The Evolution of the Steelpan will take place on Saturday June 25, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at ARTs East New York in Brooklyn. There will be a Q&A session with filmmaker Charysse Tia Harper following the 42-minute documentary. This event is in partnership with a Take Stock Inc. initiative called “Evolution of Steelpan” (EOS). 
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Web Posted - Tuesday June 21, 2016
When Steel Talks

 Orman “Patsy” Haynes - Professor Of Steel Band Music - Steelband History

by Doris Green

Global - Orman “Patsy” Haynes from Casablanca Steel Orchestra is simply one of the all-time greats of Pan. When Steel Talks (WST) spotlights Orman “Patsy” Haynes as we revisit his 1985 interview with academic, journalist, historian, and cultural and music standout Doris Green.
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Web Posted - Tuesday June 21, 2016
AXS.com

Leon “Foster” Thomas finds million uses for steel pan in next jazz release

Florida, USA - You wouldn’t think there’d be much use for a steel pan player in jazz other than light, spare accompaniment or a special effect in one encore. Leon Foster Thomas changes the game for all steel pan players few and far between on yet another nervy, yet highly musical album, Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3, 2016).

Originally from Trinidad Tobago, the Miami-based Foster Thomas isn’t alone in his steel pan jazz adventure. He goes on a fun tear on eight originals and one cover of Procol Harum’s 1967 rock classic, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” with the likes of trumpeter/EVI player John Daversa, percussionist Sammy Figueroa, tenor saxophonist/flutist David Palma, guitarist Fernando Ulibarri, bassist Kurt Hengstebeck, pianist Martin Bejerano, drummer Michael Piolet, and trumpeter Jean Caze.
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Web Posted - Monday June 20, 2016
Green Bay Press-Gazette

Percussion master showcased in San Bernardino library workshop

Wisconsin, USA - Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor opens its 2016 summer concert season with the start of its Percussion & Steel Band session June 23.

Birch Creek is a residential summer music academy where gifted students learn from music professionals from across the country during the day, then perform alongside them in concerts at night in the campus’ 500-seat century-old Dutton Concert Barn. Two-week sessions are held, with concerts, in Percussion & Steel Band, Symphony, and twice in Big Band Jazz.

....Other concerts in the Percussion session are “Island Hoppers: A Percussion Travelogue” on June 24; “Caribbean Cruise” June 25; “Percussive Jazz” with Moore, June 28; “Steel Panoramic” with steel pan master Liam Teague, June 30; “Percussion Pops” (the Dutton Memorial Concert), July 1; and “A Star-Spangled Percussion Spectacular,” July 2.
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Web Posted - Saturday June 18, 2016
The Sun

Percussion master showcased in San Bernardino library workshop

California, USA - ....His dad grew up on a farm and listened only to country music before [Joseph] Peck expanded his music appreciation to jazz, the steel drums or pans of Trinidad and Tobago, calypso, reggae and ultimately world music. Peck added Afro-Cuban music to his stylistic choices when he was 11 and the family moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Boca Raton, Florida.

....Peck’s firsthand information on the steel drum was pooled from the brains and musical hearts of mentor Ellie Mannette, considered the father of the modern steel drum and a cultural icon in Trinidad.

....Peck’s mentors also included Ken “Professor” Philmore, a respected pan player in Trinidad and former Duke Ellington Orchestra musician; Wichita State percussions professor J.C. Combs who encouraged Peck to complete a Bachelor of Music Education in percussion performance and music education and to perform his skills to such a high level he could perform with the 120-member steel-pan orchestra Potential Symphony, directed by Philmore for carnival in Trinidad. Master steel-pan jazz musician Andy Narell rounded out his musical mentoring.
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Web Posted - Friday June 17, 2016
When Steel Talks

 Herman Johnston - The Johnston Fantastic Symphony Steel Orchestra - Steelband History

by Doris Green

Global - He is one of the central figures in the history of the steelpan instrument and art form. He was a legendary performer, musician, innovator and leader in the Golden age of Pan. In addition, he is a founding member of the champion North Stars Steel Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago, BWIA Sun Jets / West Side Symphony, and the Johnston Fantastic Symphony Steel Orchestra of North America.

In a relatively short time, he experienced extraordinary success within the steelpan art form. When Steel Talks (WST) spotlights Herman Johnston as we revisit his 1985 interview with academic, journalist, historian, and cultural and music standout Doris Green.
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Web Posted - Friday June 17, 2016
The Franklin News Post

 Fathers’ Day steel drum concert set at 4-H center

Event benefits SML Good Neighbors

Virginia, USA - SML’s Parrot Pan and Toucan Pan steel drum bands will perform for Father’s Day on Sunday, June 19 at 3 p.m. in the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center’s covered pavilion.

“This will be the third Fathers’ Day concert to benefit SML Good Neighbors,” said Russ Baskett, SML Good Neighbors founder and executive director.

“Everyone has a great time greeting friends and neighbors to the sounds of island music played on steel pans,” he said. “The bands have grown and so has their repertoire. This promises to be a fun-filled afternoon of celebrating to the happy sounds of steel drum music.”
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Web Posted - Thursday June 16, 2016
When Steel Talks

 A Win for Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts, Community and Pan - East Flatbush Community Pushback stops City land-grab and immoral intentions...

Global - Recently it was announced in the New York Daily News that the city of New York under the auspices of the DOE (Department of Education) has withdrawn its own proposal to place students from an Uncommon Kings Collegiate Charter elementary school into the prestigious I.S. 285 Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts’ building in East Flatbush after a major pushback from the community.

The DOE suffered a resounding defeat and embarrassment in the exposure of its ill-conceived and duplicitous plans for the charter ‘co-location’ at Meyer Levin.
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Web Posted - Monday June 13, 2016
When Steel Talks

 Hueloy - Cultural Promoter - Steelband History

by Doris Green

Global - He is a steelpan music icon, respected, award-wining, and a global ambassador of the steelpan art form. In addition, he is a founding member of the champion Harmonites Steel Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago. When Steel Talks (WST) spotlights Vincent “Hueloy” Lila Yip Young as we revisit a 1985 interview with academic, journalist, and cultural and music standout Doris Green. 
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Web Posted - Saturday June 11, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Mayor saves St James pan festival

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - As late as 8 p.m. on Thursday, when it seemed that tonight’s 16^th annual steelband parade along Western Main Road, St James, would be cancelled due to a lack of funding, Port-of-Spain Mayor Kerron Valentine came through and saved the day.

As he presented an award to Sharon Ramjohn, on behalf of 2016 WeBeat St James Live honoree the Kanhai family, the mayor announced that monies would be drawn down from the Mayor’s Fund to finance the parade, to be staged by the St James Community Improvement Committee (St James CIC) this evening at 7 p.m.

....A number of steel orchestras had earlier assured the St James CIC that, with or without funding, they would perform tonight thereby not disappointing the thousands who throng to the western suburb of the nation’s capital annually for this event. These steelbands included Republic Bank Exodus, NHL Starlift, bpTT Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra, St James Tripolians, Brimblers, Old Tech and La Creole Pan Groove.
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Web Posted - Monday June 6, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

People studying pan in America

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Pan Trinbago President Keith Diaz has renewed calls for a local masters degree programme in steelpan as people are learning Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument in other countries.

....He said that it takes 10 years to become a master pan tuner and there needs to have pan tuning in programmes with accreditation locally “before somebody in the US, Canada or England do that”.

He reported that he has been speaking to the MIC board about a degree in pan tuning. He suggested that they should start in schools and pan tuning is getting “bigger and bigger” and there is money in the skill. He reported that in the United States there are 500 schools with pan programmes and six schools in the United Kingdom.

“We cannot afford to continue with road we going,” he stressed.

....He pointed out that the University of Chicago has had a pan programme for more than 10 years now and people from Caribbean countries go there to study it and do not come to Trinidad “because there is none in Trinidad and Tobago. But this is the land of the steelpan.”
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Web Posted - Friday June 3, 2016
When Steel Talks

 San City Steel Symphony Sings Sad Song - Wall falling on steelpan instruments latest in tale of woe

San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Usually, San City Steel Symphony housed on Carib Street in the city of San Fernando, south Trinidad is in the business of making sweet music. And that skill set saw the band coming in second in the country’s 2009 national Panorama competition, small conventional orchestra category. The past couple of days however, theirs has been a song of woe as the well-known steel orchestra finds itself presently not being able to practice in what has been their rehearsal space for more than twenty-five years. The latest obstacle? A wall falling, during practice, damaging some of their instruments in the process; fortunately none of the players were injured. 
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When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - All rounds - all categories at a glance... Large, Medium, Small, Junior and Single Pan Band.

Complete info and results for Trinidad and Tobago's Steelband Panorama 2016.  Check out the background story on some of your favorite steel orchestras and their arrangers, what selections they played, and more.
check results

Listen to a playlist of Trinidad and Tobago 2016 Soca tunes for Carnival.
listen to list

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