When Steel Talks
Global
- Trinidad and Tobago Panorama and Carnival
Schedule of Events. Info on the activities
for the 2020 steelband music season.
see more
Global
- PanOnTheNet/ WhenSteelTalks is Panorama
Central! Complete information on the 2020 season of the
Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama, and competitions:
Schedules, Orders of Appearance for preliminary,
semi-final and final phases for large, medium and small
conventional steel orchestras, and single pan bands;
arrangers’ bios, bios of steel orchestras; full results,
panyard addresses, history of previous Panoramas, and
much more!
see complete information
index
Web Posted - Tuesday
December 31, 2019
When Steel Talks
Global - When Steel Talks
wishes you Peace, Pan and Much Success in 2020 and beyond.
comment here
Web Posted - Monday
December 30, 2019
When Steel Talks
Marc Brooks - Arranger
Brooklyn, New York, USA - Basement Recordings captures ADLIB Steel Orchestra as they prepare for the 2019 New York steelband Panorama competition just days before the event. ADLIB Steel Orchestra performed a Marc Brooks-arrangement of “Iron Love.” This is the ‘tempo’ VIDEO version. The annual New York Panorama is a major highlight of and precursor to the West Indian American Carnival Day Parade. ADLIB took the stage with over 80 players.
ADLIB would eventually go on to place second in the competition.
see video
Web Posted - Thursday
December 26,
2019
When Steel Talks
Brooklyn, New York, USA - They received a standing ovation as they closed the show. At the 2019 “We Three Kings” concert CrossFire Steel Orchestra delivered a beautiful medley rendition of the holiday classics - from ‘Silent Night,’ ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ to ‘Jingle Bells’ and more.
Damany James is the arranger of this orchestra and one of the
featured arrangers of the event.
see
video
Web Posted - Thursday
December 26,
2019
When Steel Talks
Brooklyn, New York, USA - They left the audience mesmerized and applauding. At the annual “We Three Kings” concert Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra (PESO) delivered a rousing rendition of the holiday classic “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” The orchestra is made up of a group of exceptionally talented musicians from the New York City area.
Brandon Waldrop is the arranger of this song and one the
featured arrangers of the event. Dressed in white and
black, highlighted with red bowties in some cases, “I’ll Be
Home For Christmas” was just one of the tracks in the
twenty-five-minute set which delighted concert attendees.
see
video
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 25,
2019
When Steel Talks
A CrossFire Steel Orchestra Production
Brooklyn, New York, USA -
There has always been a very special relationship between the
Brooklyn steel orchestras, New York, sweet pan music and
Christmas. And this past Saturday CrossFire, with the aid of a
few friends (Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, The Meyer Levin
Advanced Steel Band, the multi-talented Khuent Rose & André
White, and others) demonstrated that the bond is as strong,
critical and as vibrant as ever in the community.
see
video
Web Posted - Sunday
December 22,
2019
When Steel Talks
A Steelpan Music Wonderland - No Place for the Grinch
Brooklyn, New York, USA - “Nah it’s cold out there - can’t go” -- were words that were never entertained or spoken by the full-house crowd that turned up for the CrossFire Steel Orchestra ‘We Three Kings’ 2019 Christmas Show.
Others in the Big Apple may have been hanging with the Rockettes uptown
at Radio City Hall, or at Lincoln Center with Tchaikovsky’s Christmas
ballet “The Nutcracker,” or a Christmas musical on Broadway. But
Brooklyn natives were privy to their equally valued form of high culture
and grand entertainment - a steel orchestra Christmas musical.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
December 20,
2019
When Steel Talks
Faculty Recital Kendall K. Williams, Pan in Motion
Brooklyn, New York, USA - Kendall Williams is an unadulterated triple threat - composer, arranger and performing artist. And of course you can throw educator in there if you like.
Quiet and unassuming - his abilities are masked by his
easy-going demeanor - but not on this night, as his name and
music were front and center in the big lights on stage - live in
concert at Brooklyn College on October 22. The audience got an
up-close and personal look and hearing of the man and his music.
Introspective, at times deeply personal, human, sharing and
caring. Indeed, as Kendall said in his opening remarks “I want
my music to tell stories.”
see
more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 19,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The thirty-one small steel orchestras which qualified for the semi-finals after panyard judging, have drawn their playing positions for that next stage of competition on Saturday January 11, 2020 beginning 4:00 p.m. Forty bands had eventually faced the panel of judges in preliminary competition from the four regions: Northern, Eastern, South/Central and Tobago. The panel - Ezra Joseph, Joanna Shortt, Kenrick Noel and Vorbin Cordice - travelled to the individual panyards on a daily basis.
One of the bands from the Eastern region, Perfect Cadence,
playing Ken “Professor” Philmore’s classic Pan By Storm as arranged
by Mark Holder, will lead off this phase at the venue, Victoria
Square, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. When Steel Talks’ Pan Tune of The
Decade, ‘Trouble In The Morning’ is currently the front-runner as
tune of choice by the steel orchestras in this category, at this
point of competition, with nine performing the track as their
Panorama tune of choice.
see order of appearance
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 18,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The sound of the steelpan will ring out on Friday December 20, 2019 at the St. James Amphitheatre & Park, Western Main Road, St. James, Trinidad, when the St. James CIC presents a Christmas gift of music titled ‘Holiday Sounds on Steel – Christmas In De Park,’ from 7:00 p.m.
Taking centre stage will be Oval Teens and Sapophonics Steel
Orchestras, and St. James’ own DJ Jeffrey who will be spinning
seasonal favourites, inclusive of traditional carols, parang and
parang/soca.
read more
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 18,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With the preliminaries now completed, the 2019 defending champion in the small category, T&T Defence Force Steel Orchestra, has considerable ground to make up for a serious defence of its title, in the 2020 edition of the annual Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama. Out in front in a tie for first place going into the semi-finals are Fascinators Pan Symphony, Golden Hands and New East Side Dimension. Arrangers are Yohan Popwell, Vanessa Headley and Kersh Ramsey, respectively.
It’s been a unique year, definitely for the steelband
communities in the home of Pan, Trinidad and Tobago. That
experience? The recently-concluded Single Pan Band competition -
two held in 2019, and now, the small steel orchestras. They, too
have now competed in not one, but two, preliminary competitions
in 2019. Running from December 9–17, they have been the first
"conventional" steel orchestras up in Panorama 2020. The overall
traditional Panorama format of competition held within the
Carnival season has been overhauled by event organizers Pan
Trinbago as the organization strives to highlight Pan throughout
the year, not just mainly within the country’s annual Carnival.
read more, click for full results
Web Posted -- Monday
December 16,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Small Steel Orchestras - Northern Region Preliminaries, some
videos from the 2020 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama,
captured by Pan Unity Centre. The adjudication panel travelled
to the bands’ respective pan yards where they were judged.
see videos
Web Posted - Friday
December 13,
2019
When Steel Talks
Global - Before the last decade ended, When Steel Talks completely agreed with steelband enthusiast Glenroy Joseph when he called “Band From Space” by Amrit Samaroo and Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung “the best pan tune of the last decade.” And this declaration was done in 2007 with still time to spare before the decade officially ended. From a lyrical, spiritual, musical, story-telling and cultural level they simply nailed it. The song captured the imagination of the community and genre.
As this decade comes to an end with 2019’s “Trouble in the Morning” by “V’ghn” (pictured above) - it is When Steel Talks’ tune of the decade for pan.
To date, no less than eleven conventional steel orchestras in
the upcoming 2020 Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama have
committed to this song as their tune of choice.
read more
Web Posted - Friday
December 13,
2019
When Steel Talks
Panorama starts the Carnival celebrations...
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - I finally gave up on the battle with myself, trying to keep out of what I carelessly term the people's business; trying to believe that this Steelpan organization business is no longer my business, just for peace sake.
But the warrior spirit in me, keeps tugging at my conscience and better judgment and I can no longer stay silent in light of the road that my organization, our organization, Pan Trinbago is now heading.
Mind you, I am in no way expressing an interest in holding
executive position again, given the mass of young, intelligent
and energetic Panists out there.
read more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 12,
2019
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Duvone elated with Medal of Honour (gold)
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Ace pan arranger Duvone Stewart is calling for the national instrument to be mandatory in the school curriculum.
Stewart was awarded this year's Medal of Honour (gold) for distinguished and outstanding service in the sphere of culture at the annual Tobago House of Assembly Tobago Day awards last Thursday.
....Born on September 17, 1976 to Curtis and Virginia Percival, who were both musicians, Stewart went to school in Tobago, doing his last two school years at Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive School.
Today, his wish remains “to see this instrument in all the schools as a compulsory instrument for students to learn music.”
“Funny enough, I have been a student at the Scarborough RC
School… no pan, Scarborough Junior Secondary School…no pan,
Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive School…little pan, because the
musical director at that time was Mr. Frank Stanisclaus and he
was also the arranger for
Our Boys Steel Orchestra, and we had a
little steelband."
read more
Web Posted - Monday
December 9,
2019
When Steel Talks
Global - This song was
written through the belief, encouragement and bit of nag…LOL,
from band mate Ron Metivier who always saw the potential in me
to compose lyrically and never accepted the excuse, “I can’t
write because I don’t play any instruments to guide me along!”
The day of this inspiration occurred from one of those phone
calls which started as a casual conversation about songs to
prepare for a rehearsal that turned into an argument about
believing in one’s self.
hear track, read more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 5,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The final eight steel orchestras participating in the small conventional category of the 2020 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama hail from the sister isle of Tobago.
New East Side Dimension, Tobago Pan-Thers, Steel Sensation, C&B
Crown Cordaans, West Side Symphony, Uptown Fascinators, Alpha
Pan Pioneers and Our Boys all face the panel of judges on one
date: Tuesday December 17, 2019.
read more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 5,
2019
When Steel Talks
A Look Back
Brooklyn, New York, USA - A
look back at the Christmas Concert performances at Reflections
In Steel. ADLIB, Demstars, Despers USA, Pan Rebels, Pantonic and
Sonatas steel orchestras all took the stage at Brooklyn College,
in December 2001. Garvin Blake and Friends including Frankie
McIntosh, also appeared at the sold-out event.
see
performances
Web Posted - Thursday
December 5,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Twelve South/Central Region steel orchestras will show off their musical chops, as they strive to make the semi-finals in the small conventional steel orchestra category of the 2020 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama.
On Sunday December 15, 2019, the first six: Music Makers Steel
Symphony, Motown, Swavic, Panosonic Connection, Morne Diablo
Philadelphians Funk-a-Delic and Starland - will perform in their
respective panyards beginning at 4:00 in the afternoon before
judges.
read more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 5,
2019
When Steel Talks
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA - Five Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is proud to announce the selection of percussionist Jonah Payne as the LSO Young Artist Competition Winner for the 2019–20 season.
Payne, a junior percussion performance major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studies percussion with Dr. Dave Hall and steelpan with Louis Raymond-Kolker. Payne will perform Liam Teague’s ‘The Visit’ for tenor steelpan, arranged for orchestra by Jamie Wind Whitmarsh, with Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“The judges were very impressed with the overall level of
playing at this year’s competition. All of the students
displayed great skill, and Jonah Payne in particular blew us
away with his technique, musicianship, and mastery of the
instrument,” says Edward Polochick, Music Director of Lincoln’s
Symphony Orchestra. “We look forward to featuring Jonah on our
holiday concerts.”
see
more
Web Posted - Thursday
December 5,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - While seeing to the Christmas ham, pastelles, parang, and like preparations, some Trinidadians and Tobagonians are also having another key focus: Pan. This, as the preliminaries in the small conventional steel orchestra category of the 2020 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama competition are underway this week.
Following the Northern Region, the Eastern Region orchestras run
from Thursday December 12. B Minor, Sound of Music, Northolus
and Genesis Steel Orchestra steel orchestras compete on night
one.
read more
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 4,
2019
When Steel Talks
England, United Kingdom - Born in 1977, with an ear that appreciated decades of music from all genres, way beyond her years. The original compositions of this Pan Woman reflected her gifts and were the outlet for a talent she shared. Vanya Reid played piano, guitar, violin and pan. She owned each and spent quality time composing. This was a gift displayed over her life as a musician, arranger, mentor, friend and woman of steel.
A true pan woman who is credited for her versatility, Vanya had
the ability to play well and learn almost anything with pure
passion and drive. She did this naturally and it gave her a
pleasure that only pan can give. A proud lover of steelpan music
who was respected by many as she contributed her skills in many
bands both national and international.
see
more
Web Posted - Tuesday
December 3,
2019
When Steel Talks
Northern Region Preliminaries First Up
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Five small conventional steel orchestras in the Northern Region i.e. West Stars, Merry Tones, Hummingbirds Pan Groove, Harvard Harps and Flabej Now Ensemble will start the National Panorama Small Conventional Preliminaries 2020 on Monday December 9, 2019 from 7:00 p.m.ards.
Continuing on Tuesday December 10 will be six in that region. Those being judged Tuesday are Blue Diamonds, Belmont 5th
Dimension, St. Margaret Super Stars, Crescendos Musicale, Road
Block and Defence Force steel orchestras.
read more,
see first line-up
Web Posted - Monday
December 2,
2019
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Panorama season 2020 has begun in the twin-island Caribbean
nation. Get to know the participating bands in the
preliminary phase of the Panorama competition for Small
conventional steel orchestras. Where available, selections and
arrangers are shown, with data subject to update. Fifty-four
bands are scheduled for this round.
see the bands, arrangers
Web Posted - Monday
December 2,
2019
The Mercer Island Reporter
Steel Magic Northwest to perform holiday music Dec. 8
Washington, USA - It all began with a steel saucer sled.
Kansas native Gary Gibson was 12 years old when his father took him to a parade with the U.S. Navy steel band.
“I just fell in love with the sound,” he said.
Once he came home, he picked up his old steel saucer sled, took his father’s hammer and molded the sled. He was able to make four discernible notes. It was the beginning of his life-long career in steelpan music.
Since then, Gibson obtained a real steelpan drum and continued
playing and studying the instrument. He received his master’s
degree in music performance, but also studied composition and
orchestration at Cornish College.
read more
