Web Posted - Saturday
October 31, 2020
When Steel Talks
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, W.I. - Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves named panist Rodney Small among Four Vincentian Musicians on Tuesday (Oct. 27) to received the honour of becoming Cultural Ambassadors for St. Vincent and the Grenadines with immediate effect.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
October 30, 2020
When Steel Talks
Global - “...Time has come that the drums or barrels be standardized so that the texture and thickness of the metal along with the other materials used to make the drums are all one thing. I believe that this will help with creating a uniformed sound.” –– Veron Henry
Tuner, arranger and panist Veron Henry shares his steelpan
history as he exposes his deep passion for manufacturing and
tuning instruments of Pan in an exclusive interview
see interview
Web Posted - Friday
October 30, 2020
When Steel Talks
Global - Sometime in the late 1930s, the government in another of its persistent and futile attempts to suppress African cultural survivals, decided that the colony would more easily be governable if drums and other traditional musical instruments were outlawed. The colonials must have sensed, and correctly, the importance of music in the cultural independence and political resistance of the African masses. I would, of course, encounter this phenomenon again in the American South. But at least the George Wallaces and Ross Barnetts
of that world never tried to outlaw our spirituals and freedom
songs. Though I’m sure they must have often wished they could
have.
read more
Web Posted - Thursday
October 29, 2020
When Steel Talks
London, United Kingdom - Sterling Betancourt MBE talks about his experience of performing
at the 1951 Festival of Britain with Trinidad All Steel
Percussion Orchestra (TASPO). This clip shows rare, live footage
of TASPO’s performance.
see documentary
Web Posted - Wednesday
October 28, 2020
When Steel Talks
When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist, champion arranger and performing artist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
Web Posted - Wednesday
October 28, 2020
When Steel Talks
Brooklyn, New York, USA - This
is a special recording by Basement Recordings of the legendary
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s arrangement as played by Moods Pan Groove
in 1995. Over ninety musicians assembled a couple of days on a
Brooklyn Street in East New York to deliver this command
performance - as they prepared for New York Panorama 1995. The
performance was captured with a 24bit digital recorder, one of
the very few in the world at that time.
hear performance
Web Posted - Tuesday
October 27, 2020
When Steel Talks
Steel bands in Britain: their history and future
London, United Kingdom - This
film is being shared for free as part of LFSFF - the London Film School Film Festival
- a monthly collection of memorable films from our archive, all
created by our MA Filmmaking students in termly exercises or at
the culmination of their studies in the form of Grad Films. Each
edition of LFSFF is curated through the lens of a different
theme.
see
film
Web Posted - Monday
October 26, 2020
When Steel Talks
Global - Listen to the late iconic steelpan pioneer, tuner and panist Mikey Enoch in his own voice. This seminar was captured at a When Steel Talks/Basement Recordings pan class in the early 1990s.
Tuner Mikey Enoch was unequivocally one of the pillars of the
New York steelband music movement. If you learned to play pan in
New York your first pan could have been made by Mikey Enoch - a
key figure in the development of NY pan.
listen
here
Web Posted - Sunday
October 25, 2020
When Steel Talks
Canada - “Time to say
goodbye. Trinidad is not interested so I donated my entire
collection of calypso, steelpan, combo, chutney, big band, rapso,
Christmas, parang, Caribbean soul... music from 1912 to 1989.
Over 5,000 records to a foreign institution that promised to
preserve, document, and digitize the music. This is the first
set of boxes ready to be shipped.....Records formats are LPs,
EPs, 10, picture sleeves, and 78s. The next shipment is set to
go next week. 50 more boxes to packaged.” –– George Maharaj
read more
Web Posted - Friday
October 23, 2020
When Steel Talks
Canada - “If I do have a blueprint, it is embedded in my head. The younger tuners today have a more systematic approach with actual measurements. Older tuners still eyeball a lot of the steps. In today’s world, we have a lot of specialization where we have people specializing in the building which encompasses sinking, grooving and preparation. Then there are people who prepare and break in (first tune) and then there are the tuners who finish the process. To be an accomplished tuner, one must go through all the steps to arrive at the ultimate.” –– Earle Wong
Performing artist, educator, arranger and panist Earle Wong shares his steelpan
history
as he exposes his deep passion for Pan in an exclusive interview
with Ms. Aisha Joseph
read more
Web Posted - Friday
October 23, 2020
When Steel Talks
An examination of Steelpan Production - Archives of Ontario
Ontario, Canada - This
documentary by Claire Prieto and Roger McTair examines steel
drum production, education, performance and cultural influence
in Ontario in the 1970s and 1980s. It follows the stories of men
and women who work with steel drums in various capacities,
including a steel drum tuner, university and primary school
students performing on steel drums, as well as two steel band
orchestras.
see documentary
Web Posted - Thursday
October 22, 2020
Antigua Observer
Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - After being forced to remain closed for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Panache Pan Academy will be reopening its doors at the end of the month.
The pan academy, an initiative of Panache Steel Orchestra, was launched in 2011. Over the years, it has been instrumental in teaching well over 200 persons, of all ages, the fundamentals of music and steelpan playing.
Previously, classes of up to 28 students were held from September to June, but because of COVID-19, they will now be limited to a maximum of 10 per class in keeping with social distancing protocols.
“We are hoping to put on four classes with fewer people so that we can have
the social distancing. We are hoping to have four facilitators, one for each of
the classes,” explained
Robin Margetson, one of the facilitators of the
programme.
read more
Web Posted - Wednesday
October 21, 2020
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - ....We
talk ad nauseum about a future built on innovation but keep
missing the dirty tricks that history has played in bequeathing
us the legacy of an economy where it is possible to become a
multi-millionaire by importing cheap plastic goods from abroad
while our most creative, innovative minds are devalued and
languish in poverty. It is no accident that while we invented
and developed the Steelpan its wealth potential is being
developed by others with the benefit of systems that value
individual enterprise and entrepreneurship. Go back to the story
of pan and ask yourself whether the explosion and excitement of
invention that enraptured teenagers throughout Laventille,
Woodbrook and other areas was not our version of Silicon Valley.
Then contrast the US celebration of ingenuity and invention with
our response of ostracism that endures to this day in the policy
attitude towards our creatives as one of welfare and not
investment.
read more
Web Posted - Friday
October 16, 2020
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Ancil Dennis said the popular American TV show The Amazing Race, which featured Trinidad and several historical areas in Tobago, has boosted the spirits and pride of all Tobagonians.
The Amazing Race is an adventure, reality game show in which teams of two compete against each other around the world.
Episode 32 was shot in T&T.... – before COVID-19 restrictions – and was aired on Wednesday night on CBS TV.
The 40-minute episode featured Carnival in Trinidad in the first ten minutes.
The race also started in Trinidad and ended with goat racing in Tobago. The
episode featured Tobago’s Pigeon Point Heritage Park and jetty, along with the Buccoo Recreational Facility, the Nylon Pool and pan.
read more
Web Posted - Thursday
October 15, 2020
When Steel Talks
It ain’t that easy - playing a Pan, that is
Global - So who knew that the Tenor voice of the steelpan family of instruments, would prove to apparently be the most difficult challenge for some team members on the CBS Amazing Race’s latest season premiere, which started off in Trinidad and mainly, Tobago? Indeed, the eleven pairs of competitors who participated in the first leg of Season 32, had no idea what lay in store for them on an instrument which many music lovers around the world have deemed among the easiest to get the hang of.
....But the only thing that might be termed ‘easy’ on this
group, regarding getting past what Amazing Race organizers
dubbed the ‘Road Block’ - was the beautiful beach in Tobago that
was the site for this activity. Teams had to learn to play a
part of a song. As host Phil Keoghan put it: “If they can hit
the right notes and stay ‘in time,’ they’ll end this ‘Road
Block’ on a high note, with a clue.” That, so the teams could
move on to the final first-leg test, the famously fun Tobago
Goat Race.
read more
Web Posted - Tuesday
October 13, 2020
When Steel Talks
Global - Live
performance of ‘Columbus Lie’ - sung by calypsonian Mighty
Shadow. “Tribute to Shadow” was held at the Toronto
Convention Center in Toronto, Canada in 1994. The song was
originally released in 1989.
see
performance
Web Posted - Tuesday
October 13, 2020
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. Former Tourism Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine said she is excited for the premiere of ‘The Amazing Race’ on October 14 on CBS as the first leg of season 32, which was filmed in Trinidad and Tobago.
The majority of the filming took place in Tobago.
The Amazing Race is an Emmy award-winning reality show.
....People like the show’s local locations manager LaToya Williams said it was “a proud moment” for her.
....She also said participants and crew visited the Nylon Pool, took part in goat racing in Buccoo, and played steel pan with Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra.
Lorraine O’Connor, Local Facilitator, said she was happy the show’s promoter chose Trinidad and Tobago to kick off season 32. She said she was also excited they hired local talent.
....The Government was also involved in facilitating production
through FilmTT when shooting took place in 2018.
read more
Web Posted - Tuesday
October 13, 2020
The Bucks Herald
October is Black History Month, an annual commemoration of the history, achievements and contributions of black people in the UK
Aylesbury, England - To help celebrate Black History Month, Buckinghamshire libraries have worked with local Arts and Heritage community organisation St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2nd Generation (SV2G) to give residents a chance to view some fascinating Black History Month exhibitions at five local libraries.
....A Steelpan Town explored the rich diverse history of steelpan music, the musicians and the instrument itself in High Wycombe. The project captured the main steel bands that were formed in High Wycombe. Many steelpan musicians from St. Vincent and the Grenadines settled into High Wycombe from the late 1950s. The New Sound Crusaders Steel Band became famous when in 1971 they won the national TV programme ‘Opportunity Knocks’ for six consecutive weeks. A modern-day equivalent programme of Opportunity Knocks would be Britain’s Got Talent.
This exhibition is showing at Aylesbury, Buckingham and High Wycombe libraries.
....Visit
http://bit.ly/BHMlib for more details of the Black History
Month exhibitions
read more
Web Posted - Monday October
12, 2020
News Americas Now
Global - A Caribbean country will be in the spotlight Wednesday [October 14] at 9 p.m. EST, as Season 32 of Emmy-winning The Amazing Race premiers on CBS television.
The Amazing Race is a reality show that sees teams of two competing all over the world for a grand prize of US$1 million and is hosted by Phil Keoghan.
....Trinidad and Tobago will be featured on the show, which was filmed before the pandemic, back in 2018. The Emmy-award winning reality show was filmed in various locations around T&T including Exodus Panyard, Nylon Pool, Pigeon Point and the Buccoo Racing Facility, and spotlights on several of the cultural aspects of the twin-island Republic including its steelpan, Carnival costumes and goat racing.
....Keoghan revealed that he was really excited about “getting to the Caribbean” since he grew up in Antigua for eight years as a kid.
“I just love the Caribbean culture. I love steel drums, cricket, the beaches, the people, the food. Particularly, like in Trinidad, the food has such a mix of culture, of Indian, South American and African influence, so it’s really a wonderful melting pot,” he told TVline.com.
read more
Web Posted - Saturday October
10, 2020
The Nation
Nigeria - The Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to Nigeria Wendell De Landro has said
his country plans using its steel band music to boost cultural exchange between
his country and Nigeria. He made this comment during a recent food festival in
Abuja: Taste of the Caribbean. He said the high commission plans to introduce
steel music in Nigerian schools. He said: “I thought it is best to highlight our
Carnival by exhibiting two of our mas costumes which were used for the recent
festivities in February 2019 and 2020. They are displayed here together with our
steel pan (tenor pan) which is being played by a talented Nigerian. He will be
playing calypso music (which is similar to high life music) and also
contemporary Nigerian music. Plans are already in place to introduce the
steelpan in schools and churches, in fact, the Nigerian National Orchestra is
currently using the tenor pan with other African instruments to expand is
repertoire.”
read more
Web Posted - Friday October
9, 2020
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Chairman of the Pan Trinbago Tobago Region Salisha James is supporting a separate Tobago Carnival.
....Speaking with Newsday last Thursday, James voiced her
support.
“We are in support of a separate Tobago Carnival in the year, as
long as it is safe to do so.”
In a press release, she said the pan fraternity is saddened by
the announcement but understands it is necessary, given the rate
of community spread of COVID-19.
....The dynamic for steelbands and the nature of the
performances, she said, is different from that of other interest
groups.
Pan players gathered in large numbers “definitely numbers above
five for performances and competitions.” Some members of the
public and even those within governmental institutions believe
that Panorama and other pan activities can take place virtually,
she said, but while it is possible to record bands or stream
their performances live, practice for a 120-piece band, large
bands, a 35-piece band or single pan bands cannot take place
virtually.
read more
Web Posted - Wednesday
October 7, 2020
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “I truly believe that work shouldn’t feel like work. If steelpan is your passion, work hard at your craft and you will succeed. Be courageous.” –– Lauren Pierre
She is a straight-up game changer. Highly intelligent, skilled and yet she remains humble, caring and true to her belief system. You have seen her work and felt her passion, as this greatly-talented problem-solver walks point in the transformation of the steelband association of Trinidad and Tobago known as Pan Trinbago.
The artform of the steelband is her life and passion. In
addition she is immensely in tune with the cultural impact of
technology on culture. In a When Steel Talks exclusive -
administrator, planner and panist Lauren Pierre shares her zeal
for Pan and her vision for the way forward.
read more
Web Posted - Tuesday
October 6, 2020
When Steel Talks
Global - Salmon Cupid: “The GREAT Wynton Marsalis on Trumpet playing in the key of “Bb” let’s see if I can keep up playing in the key of “F”... We all have the ability to slow it down and learn it.
I am using the Steelpan App PRO. It’s educational, fun, AND very
interactive. Practicing and learning virtually and on the run is
as easy as 1-2-3. Download the Steelpan App PRO and join me!
see
video
Web Posted - Monday
October 5, 2020
Valdosta State University News
Valdosta State University Steel Band and more perform
Valdosta, Georgia, USA - The Department of Music at Valdosta State University will host Pops in the Park at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the College of the Arts Outdoor Amphitheater. Admission is free of charge and open to the public.
Pops in the Park will feature entertaining performances by VSU’s Steel Band, Wind Ensemble, and Spotlighters.
“The Steel Band will provide some fun and light pre-concert music,” shared Dr. Ryan Smith, assistant professor of percussion at VSU. “Our music is selected from traditional island tunes, rock and popular tunes, and newer original tunes for steel drum ensemble. Musically, we try to provide a diverse musical experience for the students and a fun and engaging experience for audiences of all ages.”
The 12-member Steel Band’s set list includes “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, and “Jump in the Line (Shake Senora)” by Harry Belafonte.
....Pops in the Park attendees are welcome to bring their chairs, pillows, and
blankets and enjoy an evening of musical performances in the fall fresh air.
read more
Web Posted - Saturday
October 3, 2020
Trinidad Express Newspapers
Industry already counting losses after Carnival 2021 cancelled over COVID fears...
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Revenues for Pan Trinbago, the governing body for pan players, could fall by at least $5 million due to the cancellation of Carnival 2021.
While Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s confirmation—that next year’s Carnival was not on in light of the COVID-19 pandemic—was met with agreement from cultural stakeholders, several entities associated with the greatest show on earth are already counting their losses.
Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said while a virtual Carnival presentation remains an option for next year, the economic impact of the loss of the real thing cannot be ignored.
....“What we also know is that there will be no virtual Panorama competition because this will be extremely difficult to stage,” Ramsey-Moore told the Sunday Express in an interview on Thursday.
“The bands and our organisation are going to be impacted. The
majority of our revenue is raised during the Carnival period,
and at this time, we have been putting our figures together
because we now have to review our financial position going
forward.
read more
Web Posted - Saturday
October 3, 2020
The Antigua Observer
Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - The reigning Panorama champions will make history by becoming the first steelband in Antigua and Barbuda to receive a national honour.
The Cabinet, during its meeting on Thursday, decided that the Caribbean Union Bank Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, the oldest steelband in the world, will be honoured during this year’s Independence celebrations in November.
The band, which hails from the Point community, was founded in 1945, and is celebrating its 75th year of existence. It “is deserving” of a national honour, the post-Cabinet notes read.
In addition to the national honour, Cabinet has decided to grant the non-profit steelband a long-term lease or ownership of the parcel of land at Dredge Bay where its instruments are stored and where the band practices.
Veron Henry, son of one of the founding members, Eustace “Manning” Henry, shared his elation on hearing the good news.
“I am very honoured and proud that the government would have seen it fit to bestow such an award on the Hells Gate Steel for being not only the oldest band in the region, but the ‘winningest’ in Antigua as well, in the world even, because I don’t think any other band would have the amount of championships that Hell’s Gate has; so I am very honoured,” Henry said.
read more
Web Posted - Saturday
October 3, 2020
Notting Hill Carnival
The Virtual Edition
London, U.K. - Notting Hill
Carnival 2020 - The Virtual Edition. NHC Online - Panology. Featuring performances
from Mas bands, Steelbands & Brazilian bands. Justin Russell
filmed at The Tabernacle; Delphina James filmed at The
Tabernacle; Ebony, Endurance, Mangrove & Metronomes Filmed at
The Royal Albert Hall.
see performances
Web Posted - Friday
October 2, 2020
When Steel Talks
A Moment In Pan - LIVE in Brooklyn, New York - panyard recording - 2005
Global - In the Summer
of 2005 When Steel Talks had the honor of watching New Dimension
Steel Orchestra from Grenada as they prepared for the World
Steelband Music Festival (WSMF), held that year at Madison
Square Garden in New York. The orchestra performed Poet
and Peasant Overture (Franz Von Suppe ) as conducted by Mrs.
Regan Mendes. That preparatory performance of New
Dimension was captured by Basement Recordings, Inc.
see
performance
Web Posted - Friday
October 2, 2020
LoopTT.com
United Kingdom - With a virtual Carnival celebration among the options under consideration for 2021, the recently-concluded virtual celebration of Notting Hill’s Carnival may provide the blueprint.
....Filming of the different shows and packages took place over six weeks at the famous Abbey Road Studios, The Royal Albert Hall, Malcolm Ryan Studios, Kennington Studios and Royal Theatre Haymarket.
Apart from the NHC’s website, productions were broadcasted on four YouTube channels—Culture, Parade, Main Stage and Sound Stage—and on Carnival Monday, three channels broadcasted simultaneously, a first for YouTube said Matthew Phillip, Executive Director of the Notting Hill Carnival committee.
Key to pulling off what he described as a virtual celebration of
Carnival were the partnerships his committee created with
digital service providers like YouTube, Spotify, Facebook and
Google Arts and Culture.
read/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 - February
2020
When Steel Talks
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - At a glance and on a single page, access the comprehensive summary of results for the Small, Medium and Large conventional steel orchestras that participated in their respective categories in the 2020 Panorama.
Follow the musical journey of respective bands through all three
phases - compare side-by-side preliminaries, semi-finals and finals through data on
band info, scores, tunes of choice and arrangers - on one page.
access full summary