New York Steelbands - 2007 Panorama and Beyond

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New York Steelbands - 2007 Panorama and Beyond
- Grades A-Z
An in depth analysis of one the greatest annual performances of tuned percussionists in North America

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2007 Panorama Champions Sonatas Steel Orchestra

Wow! Another New York steelband season has passed. All in all it was a very good season depending on your perspective. Most of the New York steelbands made it out for the Summer season. And as we all know that is no small feat. Every year it is becoming increasingly difficult for steelbands to survive in the Big Apple. Indeed, every year bands seem to have different zip codes for their pan yards. Real estate is currently at a premium in the New York area. The challenges facing any steelpan performance organization in this city is tremendous and constantly in a state of flux. Yet in spite of this the bands came out in force. The steelband movement is very strong in New York in spite of environmentally unfriendly confines. Most of the bands with a few exceptions actually got larger this season. Nearly all of the bands with one exception fell between the 70 to 100 players range. Some of the bands could easily go past the 100 player limit if there were no restriction. The management of New York steel orchestras have to be congratulated for their untold sacrifices to make this happen. Most of the bands participated in the band launches, J'Ouvert and/or Panorama.

The Good

New York's steelband panorama is still the greatest display of tuned percussion instruments in North America. Some great music was created and performed by the New York steel orchestras. The bands operated on a high musical level. From top to bottom if you are not on your 'A' game and clicking on all cylinders, you can get you feelings hurt real bad. New York Panorama and non-panorama bands brought a diverse and potent musical repertoire to the table. Just check out Steel Sensation and Utopia Pan Soul in the latter category, for example. Pan in New York is clearly much more than panorama.

Wyclef Jean with Pantonic Steel Orchestra

This year, the pan yards became alive again - particularly in the last week before panorama. The crowds are beginning to return - in contrast with last year's showing. Even Hip Hop superstar Wyclef Jean made it to the panyard. Buses ferrying folk from out of town to visit the pan yards were seen on a few occasions. Although there seems to be a concerted and usually effective effort on the part of some in authority, to stifle much of the traditional pre-labor day activities, this year the pan yards were left alone for much of this season. The bands were able to practice without much interruption by the city authorities. People visiting the pan yards are a critical part of the existence of the orchestras.

Young people continue to exhibit a strong attraction to the steelpan instrument. Close to one thousand players took to the stage on panorama night. A significant amount of the players are between Junior high School, High School and College age. In fact a sizeable amount of the players literally went from panorama to NY metropolitan airports in order to be present on their college campuses Monday morning. The growth of steelpan in the New York schools is expanding exponentially.

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Trevor Stubbs & the Utopia Pan Soul Quartet |
A Utopia Pan Soul Production

Most of the steelbands are internet savvy and are online through one means or another. Some have even become e-commerce active and are finally learning to make their music work for them. Moreover, some have began to recognize the financial freedom and power that emerging technologies will have on every aspect of their lives. Some of the bands are beginning to understand how to market themselves to a global audience. And even more importantly bands are realizing that they are in the entertainment business. Furthermore, they are now cognizant that there is real competition for people's time, entertainment dollars and sponsors; not simply their fellow steel orchestras 'down the block,' but organizations like the New York Yankees or Mets, or Sony's new play station.

Indeed the steelband organizations are being to develop an entrepreneurial agenda and spirit. The smaller and non-panorama organizations have taken the lead in this arena as they are more apt to look to create situations that are financially advantageous to them. Many steelband organizations have taken up the role as producers and promoters in addition to being artists of their own shows. The following are all steelband produced events. CASYM (Carols & Classics at the Brooklyn Museum), Pantonic, Women In Steel (Pan in the Park), Utopia (Carnival of Instruments, III) and Sesame Flyers (Steelpan Extravaganza).

Great promise lies in the fact that many of the bands now realize that they do have a product that is marketable, and valued - that being their music and performances. Finally, groups are showing signs of understanding that their music must and can work for them. Many have diligently professionally digitally recorded their music at the highest quality available for a few years now. Many of them have sufficient years archived to now release greatest hits compilations of their panorama masterpieces. Groups like Sesame Flyers and Utopia Pan Soul have already moved into the DVD productions of their shows.

The Bad

In spite of the continued increase in the popularity of the steelpan instrument, and by extension, the steel orchestra - steelband music organizations continue to face many of the same critical problems that threaten their continued existence within the city for decades, with no help in sight. Many of the attitudes and people who are detrimental to the steelband music movement in New York are unfortunately still in place. Inadequate, ineffective, incompetent and non-existent representation continue to remove steelband organizations in general (through non-representation), from participating in any serious discussions about matters that directly affect their future in New York city. In spite of all obvious contributions the steelbands bring to the financial, educational, social and cultural fabric of the city, they (the steelbands), and their supporters continued to be marginalized by inept representation within the political circles and in the private sector.

The housing boom of the last few years has removed almost all of the traditional potential panyards. Furthermore, re-districting, re-zoning and re-gentrification are all seriously threatening existing panyards. Couple this with the fact that no one has championed to put the panyards as part of the New York city's permanent charter, they have no real right to exist. Every steel orchestra in New York, regardless of history and age, is literally one second from being homeless. After 50 years of pan in the city, this is very sad. In New York a band can go from experiencing the exhilarating joy of winning a panorama championship, to the agony and destitution of being homeless, in literally a moment's notice. In 2006, panorama champions CASYM found themselves in that situation; so too did 2003 champions Pantonic steel orchestra. And why, again, do the bands let those smiling politicians into their yards and onto the panorama stage on competition night?

Economically speaking panorama is still not financially viable. The prize monies are grossly inadequate and insulting.

The steel orchestras still haven't begun to take advantage of the Big Apple. This is the financial, media and cultural center of the world.

How come the presidents of Percussive Arts Society, Paiste, Yamaha Drums, Pearl, Lugwig, Zildjian, Sabian, Latin Percussion, Remo, Tama and Gator - just to name a few - are not routinely present at the panorama? Are New York steelbands not percussionists too? Is this an anti-New York pan thing? We saw a 36-inch timpani, a large concert drum and a huge gong on Pantonic Steel Orchestra's float. So what gives? Don't New York iron men count as percussionists too? Do we have to turn in our drums, cymbals and cowbells at the door? Feel free to contact us at whensteeltalks@hotmail.com to discuss this thirty-year plus oversight of some of the greatest drummers and percussionists in the world...

The Ugly

The inability of the steelpan fraternity to put differences amongst themselves on hold, continues to thwart any real forward progress or exhibition of power. Moreover a leadership body with any significant success as it relates to representing the New York steelbands on a global, national or even local level, has yet to emerge.

Much of the talent, brain power and skills needed to propel the steelband movement forward are in abundance within the bands and steelband community but go relatively unrecognized, untapped and unused.

For better or for worst depending your point of view, the New York panorama has been associated with the West Indian American Carnival Day Association (WIADCA). In the latest WIADCA 2007 catalog the director of marketing and public relations, Jane Alexander, says "With non-existent government funding and corporate support down by over 50% - the future is bleak for New York's treasured West Indian Carnival". One would have expected that after a forty-year monopoly on running the biggest street parade in North America and annual cash cow for the city of New York like no other, WIADCA would be the biggest sponsor of all things related to carnival as opposed to looking for sponsors. New York steel orchestras beware - it might be intelligent for you each to get your own raft and life jacket to suit...

Panorama 2007 and more...

Panorama continues to be one of the major driving forces in New York pan. However there are many more bands that exist, that are highly regarded and do not participate in panorama. This year's New York panorama was very good. Great music and performances by all the bands.

Sound: - Pass -

Ha Ha. That old devil sound engineer got blanked this year. Somehow the pan community was able to force a change. Basement Recordings was brought in to take care of the sound. We should have known it was too good to be true. That old devil left his accomplices behind. In spite of their unprofessional behavior which prevented us, the panorama audience, from experiencing the ultimate sound for a panorama, Basement's handling of the sound allowed the panorama discussion among the audience, fans and players, to focus on the bands' performances and their music, and not on how atrocious the sound was, as in past years.

We got to hear every band clearly - a 'first' at a WIADCA panorama for us. Indeed, the presence of Basement at this year's panorama was a moral and obvious sonic victory for the steelband community. However, based on the difficulties Basement experienced with the WIADCA personnel, it is safe to assume that Basement will not be back. There is absolutely no incentive or reason for them to return if they can't deliver their best work. So guess who will be back in 2008 doing sound for the panorama?

Adjudication: - Fail -

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2007 Adjudicators at work

Judging a panorama is not an easy task. Moreover, you are not going to make any friends. However, this year's judging turned into a fiasco as there were serious mistakes and omissions in the tallying of the scores which came to light days after the competition. Embarrassing! And there were additional questions about the system used to tabulate the final scores. Unlike his fellow judges, one did not sign his score sheets, raising ugly results validity concerns among bands. Most of the bands continue to complain about the lack of comments on score sheets. How can they understand how the judges came to their decisions, and to improve for the next year, if there are no comments?

All six judges for this year's competition, were also part of the 2006 adjudication panel.

2007 Judges, alternate judge & related personnel

Judith de Four-Howard
Franklyn Grant
Ezra Joseph
Wade Robinson
Ronald Joseph
Jennifer Blackman

As we said last year - the judges' decisions are final and thus are not subject to question. However, it would have been intelligent if the pan association had someone to monitor the process on their behalf.

Arranging: - Pass -

The arrangers did very good work this year. Everyone did put some interesting music out there. Our only complaint, or better yet, request, is that more of the arrangers use the musical latitude that the New York's broadminded panorama attitude affords you. Push the envelope and continue to challenge the norm. Don't sit in the pocket. Judges cannot adjudicate the next great thing. It is only through this boldness you, the art form and the music will continue to grow.

New York Steelband Governing Bodies: - Fail -
It's a year later and what's different?

The Bands: - B - (overall) {Pan in New York is like no other place in the world...}

ADLIB CASYM Crossfire Despers USA D'Radoes Harmony NY Marsicans Pantonic Sesame Flyers Sonatas
Utopia Pan Soul; the Next Generation Steel Sensation Women In Steel Pan Ambassadors Higher Levin Hearts of Steel

ADLIB Long Island's Finest.
When Steel Talks said last year that then-sixteen-year old André White was going to be the arranger of the future for ADLIB. We were very impressed then with his panorama arrangement for ADLIB. Unfortunately, ADLIB played first last year and was tortured severely by the sound system. This year the world got a hearing of what this extremely talented young man and orchestra have to offer. In many ways ADLIB was the story of the 2007 panorama. The young arranger and the Long Island steelband have finally received the recognition they so justly deserve. The kids of ADLIB have grown up. They are now teenagers and young adults surrounded by the guidance of committed adults. ADLIB's management is to be commended for having the foresight and patience to invest their time and resources in these young people. ADLIB will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come because they are young and remain focused, humble and hungry.

Their tune of choice this year was Amrit Samaroo's Band From Space. It was an excellent choice for the band.

Look for ADLIB to threaten the virtual lock - and deservingly so - that the Big Three (CASYM, Sonatas and Pantonic) have had on the top positions since 2000.

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