Web Posted - Monday November 2, 2026
When Steel Talks

Single Pan Bands - Preliminaries, Eastern Region - 2027 - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Eastern Region is the fourth and final area in the spotlight for three evenings, when the Single pan bands go through their preliminary performances in Pan Trinbago’s annual National Panorama Single Pan competition. The judges expect to see nineteen bands in play from Tuesday November 10 through Thursday November 12, 2026, in their respective panyards/communities.
see schedule

Web Posted - Monday November 2, 2026
When Steel Talks

Single Pan Bands - Preliminaries, Northern Region - 2027 - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Single pan bands in the Northern region have their turn in the preliminary rounds for three evenings, in Pan Trinbago’s annual National Panorama Single Pan competition. Judges visit the competing bands and take in competitive performances in the respective panyards/communities.

The Northern region bands are in the spotlight from Saturday November 7 through Monday November 9, 2026.
see schedule

Web Posted - Monday November 2, 2026
When Steel Talks

Single Pan Bands - Preliminaries, Tobago Region - 2027 - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Three competitors in Pan Trinbago’s annual National Panorama Single Pan competition perform in the preliminary round in the Tobago region. The bands will perform for judges in their respective communities/panyards on Friday November 6, 2026, with an expected start time of 8:00 p.m. local time.
see schedule

Web Posted - Monday November 2, 2026
When Steel Talks

Single Pan Bands - Preliminaries, South/Central Region - 2027 - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Eight competitors in Pan Trinbago’s annual National Panorama Single Pan competition perform in the preliminary round in the South/Central region. Five will be seen by judges in their respective communities/panyards on Wednesday November 4, 2026, with an expected start time of 7:00 p.m. local time.
see schedule

Web Posted - Saturday October 31, 2026
When Steel Talks

Steel Sensation - “Wedding Band (Ms. Walker)” - (‘Cool Down’ version - Video)

Tristan Japsi - Arranger

Steel Sensation during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - ....This is an emotional delivery drawing in listeners as they join in the yearning expressed throughout Tristan Japsi’s arrangement of “Wedding Band (Ms. Walker)” and Steel Sensation’s performance of the piece. Steelpan instruments were tuned by Augustus “Gussy” Peters and Desmond “Mappo” Richardson.

This is the orchestra’s ‘Cool Down’ version captured on Friday September 4 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama on Saturday September 5, 2026.
see video

Web Posted - Saturday October 31, 2026
When Steel Talks

Metro Steel Orchestra - “Sweet Soca Man” - (‘Tempo’ version - VIDEO)

Vanessa Headley-Brewster - Arranger

Metro Steel Orchestra during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Champion arranger Vanessa Headley-Brewster unleashed a bold arrangement of “Sweet Soca Man” with much audacity and sauciness, the hallmark of the classic track itself. Playful, witty but unmistakably letting listeners know she is in charge musically.

....Basement Recordings captured Metro Steel Orchestra, performing this, the ‘Tempo’ version of the track - on Thursday September 3 as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama on Saturday September 5, 2026
see video

Web Posted - Saturday October 31, 2026
When Steel Talks

Pan in Motion - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 (‘Cool Down’ version - Video)

Dr. Kendall K. Williams - Arranger

Pan in Motion during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Pan in Motion with arranger Dr. Kendall K. Williams is one of five steel orchestras to perform “Cyah Behave” for New York’s 2026 Panorama.

....2026 was a particularly difficult season for Pan in Motion as the orchestra’s rehearsals attracted its own determined version of ‘Karen.’ This individual waged a personal vendetta to have Pan in Motion shut down...The arrangement of Kendall and the musicians’ performance of the piece were a triumph for the entire 2026 season, and a tribute to the nights of rehearsals put in despite the odds.

On instruments tuned by Jason Holder, this is Pan in Motion’s ‘Cool Down’ version captured in the very early morning hours of Saturday September 5 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama later that night.
see video

Web Posted - Monday October 12, 2026
When Steel Talks

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 - (‘Cool Down’ version - Video)

Roger Greenidge - Arranger

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during their recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - On a very breezy and slightly cloudy Saturday Brooklyn evening after 5:00 p.m., Basement Recordings/When Steel Talks (WST) captured Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra—also known as Philly Pan Stars—as they practiced the finishing touches to their New York Panorama presentation on Union Street in Brooklyn on September 5, as the band got ready to take the stage hours later for the New York Panorama competition. This is the Cool Down version of “Cyah Behave.”

....Roger Greenidge is the arranger for Philadelphia Pan Stars for the third consecutive year, and his deliberate, structured and commanding arrangement was void of unnecessary gymnastic musical movements. Music for immersive audio was being executed. He—Roger—was creating new listening experiences. He and the producers (Basement/WST), both had to think in three-dimensional terms - the former, during his arranging/writing process, and the latter, for capturing and mixing.
see video

Web Posted - Wednesday October 7, 2026
When Steel Talks

Pan in Motion - “Cyah Behave” - 2026 (‘Tempo’ version - Video)

Dr. Kendall K. Williams - Arranger

Pan in Motion during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Pan in Motion is one of five steel orchestras to perform “Cyah Behave” for New York’s 2026 Panorama. Their arranger is Dr. Kendall K. Williams - a member of the arranging squad - “the Three Amigos.”

....On instruments tuned by Jason Holder, this is Pan in Motion’s ‘Tempo’ version captured in the very early morning hours of Saturday September 5 by Basement Recordings as the band prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama later that night.
see video

Web Posted - Thursday October 1, 2026
When Steel Talks

Steel Sensation - “Wedding Band (Ms. Walker)” - (‘Tempo’ version - Video)

Tristan Japsi - Arranger

Steel Sensation during its recording session

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Steel Sensation courted music lovers attending the show and the judges with “Wedding Band” by “Coutain” & “Tano.”

....The band released a musical volley of technical brilliance. Under the direction of Tristan Japsi, who uses a large thematic overall approach to his arrangement, the group delivers a well-thought-out music story as their future ‘wedding plans’ are delivered personally to ‘Ms. Walker’ for her daughter’s hand in marriage. It is storytelling at its highest.

.... Basement Recordings captured the band on September 4 as they prepared in their Brooklyn, New York panyard before going to Panorama.
see video