Web Posted - Saturday September 28, 2024
When Steel Talks

D’Radoes Steel Orchestra - “Inventor” - (‘Tempo’ version - VIDEO)

Carlton “Zanda” Alexander - Arranger

Musicians of D’Radoes Steel Orchestra after their recording session
Musicians of D’Radoes Steel Orchestra after their recording session, August 29, 2024

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Winning Trinidad & Tobago large band champion arranger Carlton “Zanda” Alexander brought the popular tune “Inventor” by Olatunji to the forefront with his 2024 D’Radoes Steel Orchestra musical collaboration. “Zanda,” a master at orchestration, with his unique brand of voicing across the family of steelpan instruments, was riveting.
see video


Web Posted - Monday September 23, 2024
When Steel Talks

Invaders Steel Orchestra J’Ouvert - Republic Day 2024 - Radicle Tube - Live Stream

September 24 - 4:00 a.m.

Invaders Steel Orchestra J’Ouvert- Pirate’s Invasion - Republic Day 2024

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Tuesday September 24, 2024, features a J‘Ouvert celebration of steelbands ‘On the Road’ for Republic Day in Trinidad & Tobago. As the organizers—music organization Invaders Steel Orchestra—celebrate the tenth edition of this event, the theme is the “Pirate Invasion.”

....In addition to sweet pan, expect ole mas and traditional characters, just as in the traditional J’Ouvert celebrations at Carnival time.

Event is organized annually by Invaders Steel Orchestra.
see live stream


Web Posted - Monday September 23, 2024
When Steel Talks

Philadelphia Pan Stars - “Inventor” - (‘Tempo’ version - VIDEO)

Roger Greenidge - Arranger

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during its recording session on ‘The Drag,’ August 31, 2024
Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during its recording session on ‘The Drag,’ August 31, 2024

Brooklyn, New York, USA - After four previous entries into the New York Panorama contest, Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra recorded a third-place finish in the 2024 steelband music showcase. Veteran arranger Roger Greenidge uses a deliberate and melodious approach to the popular soca tune “Inventor.” 
see video


Web Posted - Friday September 20, 2024
When Steel Talks

Compromise, Growth, Optimism - Veteran Panist & Despers USA Steel Orchestra Captain Kernel Simon Forges Ahead

Kernel Simon, Captain of Despers USA Steel Orchestra in New York
Kernel Simon, Captain of Despers USA Steel Orchestra in New York

Brooklyn, New York,  USA - Ace veteran panist Kernel Simon shares the trials and tribulations he experienced as captain of top-ranking Despers USA Steel Orchestra in New York City in 2024. Following an extremely trying season, Simon takes us through the difficulty of steering the steel orchestra in its panyard in yet another transient location, after more than thirty-five years in a place in Brooklyn (Despers Pan Loft) once called ‘home.’ 
see interview


Web Posted - Tuesday September 17, 2024
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

UTT awards 5 honorary degrees

Leon “Smooth” Edwards and Bertram “Birch” Kelman among recipients

Leon “Smooth” Edwards and Bertram “Birch” Kelman
Leon “Smooth” Edwards and Bertram “Birch” Kelman

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Entrepreneur Sieunarine Persad Coosal and politician and educator Orville London are among the five local luminaries who will be awarded honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) on October 28 and 29 at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain.

....Trinidad All Stars arranger Leon “Smooth” Edwards will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contribution in the fields of steelpan music, composition and arrangement.

....Golden Hands Steel Ensemble pan tuner and patron Bertram “Birch” Kelman will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts for his contribution in the fields of steelpan tuning and design.
see more


Web Posted - Saturday September 14, 2024
When Steel Talks

Despers USA Steel Orchestra - “DNA” - (‘Tempo’ version - VIDEO)

Odie Franklin - Arranger

Despers USA Steel Orchestra at its panyard recording session on August 30, 2024
Despers USA Steel Orchestra at its panyard recording session on August 30, 2024

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Basement Recordings captures Despers USA Steel Orchestra as they prepare for the 2024 New York steelband Panorama competition, just one day before the event. Despers USA Steel Orchestra performed an Odie Franklin-arrangement of “DNA.” This is the ‘Tempo’ VIDEO version.
see video


Web Posted - Saturday September 7, 2024
When Steel Talks

Meet Rondell Pompey, founder of Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra

Founder of Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra
Rondell Pompey

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA -  Rondell Pompey was born and bred in John John, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on September 7th 1971. Most of the older folk in his family were members of Carib Tokyo Steel Orchestra, so it was no surprise when Pompey (as he is fondly called), became interested in steelpan. As a matter of fact, Pompey would cut school to be involved with steelpan music.
See more


Web Posted - Monday September 2, 2024
When Steel Talks

Brooklyn, New York J’Ouvert 2024 - Live Stream

J’Ouvert in Brooklyn, New York
J’Ouvert in Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York, USA -  New York J’Ouvert on Labor Day morning, Monday September 2. Steelbands, rhythm sections, Ole Mas, Jab Jab and much more can be experienced along Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn, starting at Flatbush Avenue.  
See live stream


Web Posted - Sunday September 1, 2024
When Steel Talks

New York 2024 Panorama Results - Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra and André White Take Championship

Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra and André White on stage for New York Panorama 2024
Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra and André White on stage for New York Panorama 2024

New York, USA - ....Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra founded by Wayne Bernard finally took home the championship title, trophy and prize purse. And for the band’s champion arranger André White, winning is certainly in his ‘DNA’ (the tune he arranged for Pan Evolution) - having been a champion arranger multiple times in the years past, including just one week ago at the 2024 UK Panorama with Mangrove Steelband. 
See full results


Web Posted - Saturday August 31, 2024
When Steel Talks

New York Panorama 2024 - Live Stream

Live stream for New York Panorama 2024

New York, USA - Eight steel orchestras compete for the 2024 New York Panorama championship. The grounds of the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway is the venue for this annual competition, where start time is advertised as 7:00 p.m. on  Saturday August 31.
See live stream



Web Posted
When Steel Talks

2024 Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband Panorama Info - Complete

WST Steelband Panorama 2024 logo

Global - PanOnTheNet/ WhenSteelTalks is Panorama Central! Complete information on the 2024 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



When Steel Talks

Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again

Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it wrong”

Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI (artificial intelligence).
see more


Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument via Google Doodle

Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas Huggins

Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site
Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site

Global - On Tuesday July 26, 2022 the steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured and celebrated on the site of technology giant “Google” via the famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’ is essentially an illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen by users all around the world who access Google’s homepage on that day, and is available thereafter in the doodle archives.

....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the creator of the illustrative artwork featured in the doodle, while Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music performed by the legendary steelpan icon Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
see more