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Panorama 2008 Articles |

|
New York Steelbands - 2008 Panorama
and Beyond
- Grades A–Z
An in-depth analysis of one of the
greatest annual performances of tuned percussionists in North
America
. |
 |
2008
Panorama Champions ADLIB Steel Orchestra |
New York continues to be the largest and most vibrant steelband music
community outside of Trinidad and Tobago. It is unique in that it is the
only place in the United States where there is a huge musical and
cultural phenomenon built solidly around a single community.
However, this was indeed a very challenging season for the steelband franchises of New York.
These are extremely perilous times for
the steel orchestras of the area. Re-gentrification has hit the normal
neighborhoods of the steel orchestras like the second coming of
Christopher Columbus -with disastrous and lethal consequences and effects, on
what have been the cultural norms for about the last forty years, of these neighborhoods and
their people. The
wrecking ball and greed of the unscrupulous developers, treacherous and weak-hearted New York Caribbean politicians,
and the carnival event promoters - coupled
with visionless and inadequate steelband leadership and representation,
may have already driven the stake through the heart of the New York
steelband community. Is this a classic case of “dead men walking”?
Time will tell. For the moment, there is still a strong heartbeat.
However, the poisonous brew that allows this situation to degrade
further annually is the apathy, pettiness, incompetence, delusions that
“things will always work out,” delusions of “grandeur” and more, and the
“crabs in a barrel” syndrome - that continue to choke the steelband
community, alongside the mas bands, who are both integral components of
the New York performing arts community. And while this continues,
everybody from the local politicians, right up to the office of the
governor, are working for the benefit of land developers with their
future “visions” under the guise of re-gentrification to the detriment
of the community and its customs, and laughing all the way to the bank.
The Good
|
 |
Lisa Mayers, André
White and family celebrate historic feat |
As we’ve
said in the past there is nothing in North America that comes remotely
close to New York’s steelband panorama display of percussion instruments in
action. The youth involvement and development are strong and
successful. Indeed history was made when eighteen-year old
André White became the youngest arranger ever to win a major
steelband music panorama competition.
And just in case you are
unaware, André, arranging for his band ADLIB Steel Orchestra, won
from a field consisting of some legendary and guaranteed
‘hall of fame’ arrangers. No surprise here - we did tell you it was
just a matter of time in André’s case (check out our comments on ADLIB
in our 2007,
2006,
2005,
2004,
2003 and
2002 reviews).
Young arrangers like André White (ADLIB) and Khuent
Rose (Crossfire) are major music talents. The future is now - they
are realizing their potential and will be major forces in the steelband
music arena. Groups like Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation and Steel Sensation have
provided real nurturing and opportunity for their young musicians to
develop and showcase their skills. This investment in itself has
begun to pay off great dividends
for the steelpan community.
Indeed, groups like Women in Steel, Steel Sensation,
Utopia Pan Soul and Pan Ambassadors continue to show that there is much
more to pan in New York than a panorama competition.
New York remains the mecca for pan in North America.
The bands participating in panorama were smaller than previous years.
They averaged between 80 and 85 players. However, at least three
groups did hit the 100-musician limit.
As the performing New York Steelband population has
gotten younger by default, so has the natural acclamation to popular
technology by the steelband fraternity. This has instantaneously
brought the NY steelband community online, and on par with other
performing and artistic communities as they are now part of this millennium’s technology-based social
networks, websites and other
current communication/entertainment
media and relevant devices. It is no longer possible to simply ignore, forget or fudge the history
and existence of the New York steelband community through
ignorance, or design. Indeed it was just a few years ago a major
University percussion professor told us that he was totally unaware of the
existence of the steelbands of New York. Moreover he was astonished
at the musical caliber at which they operated.
As we said last year, most of the steelbands are
becoming internet savvy and are online through one means or another.
Some have become e-commerce active, and are finally learning to make
their music work for them. And, some have continued 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. Not so
necessarily the panorama event promoters. Amazingly, with
attendance dwindling as far as the panorama competition itself is
concerned, thousands of fans continue to come to
the event with virtually no marketing or promotion to expand the base.
Regardless of attendance, all the bands on panorama night looked great,
epitomizing professionalism for their audience and the artform. Their designs and
fashion all accented their chosen themes. Although, this is a
music competition, don’t ever let anyone tell you “looks don’t count!”
The Bad Yes, New York appears to be big, bad and in control
on the surface. But once you look “under the table” you will see an infrastructure that is out of step with
the
times in an increasingly hostile environment that is in direction competition for
time, finances, resources and the very
people the steelpan movement is
depending on.
The steelband leadership are in a state of denial
of the gravity of the situation, but facts
don’t lie. Just look at how many steel
orchestras have disappeared from the
panorama scene in the last decade,
falling victims to either bad management,
financial woes, loss of practice
areas, or any combination of these. Moreover,
once these steelband music franchises suspend operations or fold, the
likelihood of a return to prominence is very doubtful.
Moreover the majority of the participants and
players associated with these organizations retreat from the steelband
movement forever - they stop
playing and performing permanently, perpetuating the loss of valuable
people and some phenomenal
musical talent. In a nutshell - absolutely nothing we
said that was bad last year was solved. These issues became worse.
click to see last
year’s “Bad.”
|
Gone from
the Panorama scene since 2000
- Pan Rebels
- Metro
- Moods Pan Groove
- CYP
- Marsicans
- Tasso
- Harlem All stars
- Invaders
- NY Nutones
- Pan Phonic
|
|
Eleven orchestras took part in
the panorama competition in
2007. Twelve participated in
2006. Only nine orchestras participated in this year’s event.
This could easily have additionally been whittled down to six bands due
to the drama some went through to
secure practice spaces, with as little as two weeks to go before the panorama
competition.
It was only a few years ago when fifteen bands participated in the
2003 competition. From a financial and business sense, no steel
orchestra should participate in
the New York panorama. It is simply a losing
venture and horrific financial
drain. Even the winning panorama orchestra will come out on the
short end of the stick financially; factor in the ‘creative’ or
‘corrupt’ math employed - depending on the vantage point vocalized by the show’s promoters
-
where the bands who place 1st, 2nd and 3rd, forfeit their advertised
appearance fees/monies/awards as a result of their high placing. Why would anyone or any orchestra agree to such a
scenario?
Evidently the panorama organizers have a counting problem.
And this has been the case for several years now. This is
apparently not the case in the Trinidad and Tobago panorama. It
appears all orchestras competing receive their appearance fees - whether
they emerge the champions, or place second or third. And they get
their appearance fee before they participate - after all, the very name
of it - “appearance fee” - is actually meant to assist the bands
financially to participate, and to therefore make the show the annual
musical and cultural spectacle it is. You would think
that maybe New York’s hapless steelband association could have at least
renegotiated this incredible
point in NY steelbands’ favor. Oops - we had
better leave that for the “Ugly” section. Now we’re not
blaming the event promoter (who are also responsible for the entire week
of Labor Day activities), - WIADCA, (West Indian American Day Carnival
Association) for anything. Their job is to
maximize their profits and minimize their costs. That is what
promoters do. And anything they
can get away with - why not? It’s their show and furthermore it is
the New York steelband association or some other entity’s job to represent the
interests of steel
orchestras.
However, it might be wise to keep in mind,
the ongoing lessons of Wall Street, and to observe carefully
what could happen when matters are allowed to proceed
without oversight. Not only can you shoot yourself in the
foot, but you can kill the geese that lay you the golden
eggs. In this regard, it is time for the top New York
executives - the Mayor and Governor - to start answering
some tough questions about the legislative, financial,
cultural and economic past, present and future status of the
entire Labor Day franchise. Such as: where have the
billions made over the past 41 years gone? Our only question to the promoters, since it
was asked of us by a few patrons is: why were panorama attendees
not allowed to keep at least half of their ticket stub when
they came through the gates?
These folks were very piqued that they were unable to retain
some portion of the ticket
as a memento of their attending, for what was in two cases,
their first panorama. It is
things like this that can cause folks minds to wonder... but
we are sure the association has a firm grip on how many
people actually attended this year’s panorama.
Like we said
last year it
has been thirty-plus years and counting, and we still have not seen the presidents of Percussive Arts
Society, Paiste, Yamaha Drums, Pearl, Lugwig, Zildjian,
Sabian, Latin Percussion, Remo, Tama and Gator - just to name
a few - at the panorama. What gives? This level of
disrespect is appalling. If we have to mention this again you can
be sure that we will move this issue to the “Ugly” section with the
recommendation that the steelbands unite and manufacture their own lines
of percussion instruments - such
as the plethora in use within their Engine rooms.
The Ugly
With all the critical issues that are faced daily
impacting the survival of steelbands in New York, the steelband
association personnel have found themselves in a war over J’Ouvert. LOL... Ain’t got a pot to piss in - can’t name one significant accomplishment
in six years of existence and y’all... Borrowing a favorite quip from our illustrious
Queen Macoomeh:
“Steups!!”
|
Panorama 2008
and more...
An interesting year overall for pan in New York. The
non-panorama organization continue to move forward. Panorama 2008
was again fantastic in terms of the efforts and sacrifices the bands
made to pull it off.
Sound: -
Pass -

This is real funny as the sound at WIADCA’s
panorama has historically been a source of much horrors. Last year
sound was done by Basement
Recordings and by all accounts was excellent. This year WIADCA
brought back its regular crew who have been known to turn a panorama
into a hideous distorted rock concert. This year the sound engineer
actually attempted a sound check. LMAO... The thing is he only did
it for the first band. It didn’t matter anyhow - they got
massacred by the sound system. There were also occasions when
short bursts of low-pitched feedback emanated from the speakers, caused
by hilarious microphone placement. But overall, the sound really wasn’t as
bad as it has been in the past. However, what was coming through the
speakers bore little or no semblance to the awesome sounding orchestras who
only minutes before would have been warming up on the runway to the stage.
It is just a shame that these well-tuned and balanced orchestras are not
afforded the opportunity to present themselves properly on a panorama
night to the audience,
particularly after they have invested so much in presenting and creating the ultimate
steelband music sonic and aural experience. And it goes without saying that
it is of deep concern that every orchestra of the night does not have
their rightful opportunity, as competitors, to be properly heard and
interpreted by judges without coloration.
Adjudication: - NG -
.. |
 |
2008 Adjudicators at work |
hmmmmmmmmm... We haven’t seen the score
sheets yet... 2008 Judges & related
personnel
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 the orchestras’ behalf.
Arranging:
- Pass
-
We are becoming more and more concerned
the arrangers are letting judges legislate taste and
stifle their creativity through their desire to please
the judges at all costs. In this regard we are very
pleased with the two young arrangers who dared to take
chances and take us and pan to some place new. It
is also good to know that music lovers can bank on the
solid work of the likes of the veteran arrangers such as
Goddard, Popwell and others. Winning isn’t everything. Selling out your musical
soul for a win has never worked.
|
New York Steelband
Governing Bodies: - Fail -
It’s
a year later and what’s different? We won’t even give
them a ‘Z’ grade because that would be too high.
The Bands: -
B -
(overall) {Pan
in New York is like no other place in the
world...}
|
|
ADLIB CASYM
Crossfire Despers
USA
D’Radoes
Harmony
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 everything we
need to say about ADLIB in our summary. Of course
ADLIB going out and actually winning this year’s panorama doesn’t
hurt at all. In fact it makes us look like geniuses.
ADLIB is a self-contained, progressive operation that exemplifies
the modern urban steel orchestra. They have in-house pan
manufacturers, tuners, welders, pan stands builders, and arranger!
ADLIB brought it all to this year’s panorama.
ADLIB is blessed with a great management team, great players and
a great young arranger.
ADLIB is for real, and here to stay. ADLIB
is made up of quite talented and extremely humble people.
Their only challenge is to remember who they are, what it took to
get to the top, and continue to work hard. Always
attractively attired, this year was no different when the
musicians took the stage clad in snazzy white jackets, the
band’s name boldly emblazoned on the left majorly in red, with
white trousers. They were topped off - literally - by
red-ribbon trimmed white hats.
ADLIB’s tune of choice was “Heat”
by Amrit Samaroo. They took the stage with 85 players and
delivered the goods. A command performance indeed.
Clean, balanced, exciting and true to the storytelling
expectations of the song content. André’s transitions
through his musical passages were that of a seasoned veteran.
In fact only the truly great ones have been able to master that
skill set. He nailed his minor mode criterion without any
pretentious or canned moments. His harmonies were both
tasteful and meaningful. There were none of the ‘just
because I can’ moments that plague most panorama arrangers.
André White is very good and he is only going to get better.
The well-timed fireworks that coincided with a few bars of
Maestro’s “Fiery” definitely didn’t hurt the overall
presentation.
Congratulations ADLIB, you are truly champions.
Tune of choice:
Heat
Last
6 Panorama Placings
>> 1st
| 3rd | 10th |
10th | 10th | 7th
|
Press
Picture
For more on ADLIB
click here
Web:
www.adlibsteelorchestra.com;
www.ADLIB.panonthenet.com |
ADLIB on facebook
back to top
|
|
CASYM
CASYM
remains consistent and a prime candidate contender in its
panorama appearances. However, they have not found a way to
decisively separate themselves from their competition the last couple of years
- which they have proven in the past that they can. The
reality is that CASYM lost this year’s panorama by one point.
CASYM - although its members are young in age, is a veteran
crew which has been together for many years - been there, seen it,
done it - would appropriately apply to them.
CASYM put on a great performance from an
execution standpoint. But it was a bit underwhelming by CASYM
standards as it relates to the story of “Musical Vengeance,”
though more than sufficient to capture second place in the
judges’
opinions. Dressed all in black with white ties, finished
off with black hats trimmed with white ribbons and faces
partially adorned with silver musical notes, CASYM’s visual
presence on stage was outstanding. The ‘grim reaper’ flying
ominously in the wind definitely allowed the audience to get
into the spirit about what the song was about. Their
arrangement displayed moments of creative brilliance and deft
musicianship. In hindsight, their on stage performance was among
the most impressive for the evening. But the
arrangement contained disjointed segments that lack the transitions
you would expect to stitch everything together into a seamless
musical tale.
CASYM remains one of the premier steel
orchestras in North America. Its stage side is one of the most
sought-after steel orchestras year round. In spite of a difficult year
CASYM remains much more than a panorama organization. Its
educational programs are extremely successful. This year
CASYM celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Tune of choice:
Musical Vengeance
Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
2nd
| 2nd
| 1st | 4th | 2nd |
2nd
Press Picture
For more on CASYM click
here
Web:
www.CASYM.com |
www.Casym.panonthenet.com |
CASYM on facebook back to top |
|
CrossFire
Crossfire
experienced a very, very challenging panorama season. The
lack of a proper practicing space haunted the band almost to the
very end of the season. The mere presence of Crossfire in
this year’s panorama is a testimony to the commitment of their
management, core players and fans.
Just surmounting the
forces that were in their path for this year, in part caused Crossfire
to take the
stage with the smallest compliment for the night. Crossfire’s
2008 panorama performance of their arrangement is easily one of the
most musically intriguing moments of the year.
Unfortunately much of the performance was lost on the audience
because of the sound system. It was simply horrible during
Crossfire’s performance. Add the small size of the
band to the sound system issue - well, you get the point.
However, in spite of all this Crossfire presented some
revolutionary musical statements with regard to the expected musical
norms of panorama presentations. Obviously this approach
was not rewarded, well-received or processed well by the
panorama competition judges. Nevertheless it was truly
refreshing to watch one of the event’s younger arrangers, Khuent
Rose, and Crossfire’s young
crew break with tradition and attempt to take the music and
genre to a different and higher level. Remember the
Beatles never won a “Grammy” but that doesn’t lessen their
music’s impact on popular western music.
Crossfire secured the services of musical standout Khuent Rose as arranger this year.
Khuent Rose is a major talent who has his own
voice and will be a major player and influence in the
future of steelpan music. This was his first
opportunity at guiding an orchestra through a panorama
competition. Crossfire showed that there are many
other musical movements from the Caribbean experience
that can be easily inculcated within the panorama music
structure to tell a wider and detailed music story from
the diasporas. We look forward to
Crossfire’s next entry.
Tune of choice:
Musical Vengeance Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
9th
| 8th
| 8th | 7th | 5th |
13th
Press Picture
For more on CrossFire
click here
Web:
www.crossfire.panonthenet.com
back to top |
|
Despers USA
Like
for so many other New York orchestras 2008 was a difficult one
for Despers USA. They too were faced with ongoing
challenges of securing and maintaining their practice facilities
in New York’s “steel
orchestra housing [pan yard]” crunch.
After a few years of disappointing finishes Despers USA has
finally turned the ship around and
is now seemingly heading back in the direction of
their championship years. This year Despers turned the panorama
arranging reigns over to their long time in-house stage side arranger,
now-turned-panorama-arranger,
Wilfred Kieal. Under Wilfred’s lead Despers USA achieved
one of its highest panorama positions in years.
Despers USA made absolutely no bones about
their dissatisfaction
with their place and the judging in last year’s competition.
After three years with Eddie Quarless at the arranging helm, and
with less than acceptable results, the change
in arranger was made. Their tune of choice this year was
South Pan Champs by E. Brooks and
A. Daniell. While this song was not widely known by
the steelband music community, it did work well for Despers. A
more popular tune might have pushed them more toward championship
contention, and
would have also brought the audience response into the mix..
Wilfred Kieal is to be commended for moving the band six
positions upward from last year in such a competitive field.
As we’ve said before in previous summaries Despers USA possesses quality players
and veteran management who are no strangers to the
winner’s table. Look for Despers USA to continue to move
forward. Last 6 Panorama Placings >> 4th | 10th
| 5th | 5th | 8th | 6th
Tune of choice:
South Pan Champs
Press Picture For more on Despers USA
click here
Web:
www.despers.panonthenet.comback to top |
|
D’Radoes
For
the third time in as many years D’Radoes took the panorama stage
with a different arranger. From the band’s inception and up until
his passing in 2005, D’Radoes had known only one arranger,
master arranger Clive Bradley. Since then D’Radoes have
been trying to find a steady arranger, and moreover, regain their voice. D’Radoes aka
‘Radoes’ turned over the arranger’s duties to veteran
Eddie Quarless, who last year arranged for Despers USA. This
year’s tune of choice was “Oil & Music”
by
M. Montano & D. Rudder. That choice went over well with pan fans because of the
popularity of the song.
D’Radoes played first
and as is customary, was crucified by the sound system.
They suffered the worst of all the bands from the sound system
on this night.
Booming bass one minute, followed by severe dropouts. Yuk!
A steel orchestra’s nightmare! The sound engineer was
practicing on them. Nevertheless we have been told for years that
the ‘live sound’ has no effect on what the judges are hearing.
Please... If you believe that you will believe anything.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The judges’ table was
flanked by the two massive banks of speakers, which were almost
aligned with respect to the table, and at an approximate
distance of a mere fifteen or so feet.
Having said all this, D’Radoes’ approached this year’s panorama with
a non-conventional tempo. It was a deliberately slower tempo
- in
stark contrast to the expected fast-paced execution. All
the parts should have been distinctly audible - if the sound system had
not been the vying with and overwhelming the orchestra, thereby
most probably coloring the adjudication process. D’Radoes’ 8th place finish suggests that the judges either didn’t connect
with the tune, adjudicated the distortion the sound system
dispensed of the orchestra, or an unfortunate combination of
both. However they
pretty sure connected
with people on the road on
J’Ouvert morning with the same tune. D’Radoes owned
J’Ouvert. They were the life of J’Ouvert.
Last 6 Panorama Placings >> 8th
| 7th
| 4th | 2nd | 4th | 3rd
Tune of choice: Oil and Music
Press Picture
For more on D’Radoes
click here
Web:
www.radoes.panonthenet.com
back to top
|
|
Harmony
This
is the second year of Harmony’s association with veteran
arranger Ken “Professor” Philmore in their concerted
push to cop the championship title, which was clearly Harmony’s
goal this year. In choosing
Hooked
by
M. Loquan, K. Philmore
and D. Garcia, the band once more opted for a panorama selection
that was popular and resonated well among its enthusiastic and
mainly youthful membership.
After a good performance in 2007 Harmony
came into this season looking to close the gap between them and
the
‘big guns.’ And in this regard, based on their fourth place
showing, on the surface they appeared to have accomplished that feat.
However, last year Harmony came in seventh
place, but was only 9 points behind the
third-place finisher. This year, climbing up three spots
to fourth place, they were 19 points
behind. So in reality Harmony’s young upstarts did not
gain on the pack musically but actually fell further behind.
But to put this in proper perspective - only three of
five adjudication scores were actually used (the highest and lowest
were dropped). This was not the case last year, when
all five scores for each band counted. Nevertheless, Harmony showed much growth and excitement as the
group hit the 100-player limit for this panorama. The
sound system was less than complementary to Harmony as they came
across noisy and distorted with booming bass through the
speakers.
There is a concern that Harmony may have
grown too fast, and in the process lost its innocence and the
things that made it a special organization. When
Steel Talks’ own
personal experience in Harmony’s yard this year raises many concerns
for Harmony’s ability to control key factors that could impact
adversely on their progress.
Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
4th |
7th |
8th |
12th | 9th | 12th
Tune of choice:
Hooked
Press
Picture
For more on Harmony
click here
Web:
www.harmony.panonthenet.com back to top
|
|
Pantonic

The 2008
panorama season was filled with surprises and challenges for Pantonic
Steel Orchestra. They experienced extreme practice
issues. In fact up to two weeks before the panorama they
had not secured and settled into a new yard, and this is what
makes them the other band that could have been absent from the
competition this year - which
would have then seen only seven orchestras without Pantonic and
Crossfire, the other band with a critical panyard dilemma. For any group as large as Pantonic
this kind of situation at the last minute, would be major trauma. To their credit Pantonic
management and players pulled together and made a creditable
run.
Pantonic took the stage with only 85 players
- far less than the 100-plus juggernaut to which we have become
accustomed. However this served Pantonic well this year and the
band was much tighter and cleaner in its presentation.
Pantonic was awarded an uncharacteristic 7th place. While
the arrangement and performance may not have registered with
judges, the audience gave the group an ovation after their
performance, and sure made their displeasure with the judges’
decision known.
Keith Roberts is now in his third year at
the helm as arranger for Pantonic and has established his voice and
style. Pantonic’s history says that whenever they have not
placed in the top three - watch out for the next year. Look
for Pantonic to be back in the mix for 2009.
Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
7th | 3rd | 3rd | 1st
| 12th | 1st
Tune of choice:
Musical Vengeance
Recorded
Musical Vengeance
for Pan in New York 2008
Press Picture
For more on Pantonic
click here
Web:
www.Pantonic.com |
www.Pantonic.panonthenet.com
|
Pantonic on facebook back to top |
|
Sesame Flyers

2008
marks the second year for veteran and champion arranger Pelham
Goddard of the famed Exodus Steel Orchestra, at the helm of New
York’s Sesame Flyers.
The operating title or expression would be “the project
continues.” As we said last year Mr. Goddard is committed
to developing Sesame Flyers into champions. And similarly
there is no doubt that is also the goal of Sesame Flyers’
management.
The Sesame Flyers Steel Orchestra’s homegrown
musicians are becoming increasingly more comfortable with the
style and expectations of a Pelham Goddard arrangement.
There is no question that the group has improved
considerably. And in this regard, they have now put
themselves in position to turn the corner and challenge the
front runners. If Sesame Flyers puts the work in during
the off season, look for them to step-up into contention.
Sesame Flyers remains one of the
most progressive steelpan music organizations around. They have
an understanding of the need to properly document their
performances and events with the best that modern technology has to
offer. Sesame is one of the few steelband
organizations that has continually produced high
quality video and audio recordings of their music works.
As we’ve said before, Sesame Flyers Steel Orchestra is more than
a mere music organization.
At the panorama Sesame took a bold and calculated
risk and removed their canopies for their performance. It
is WST’s opinion that this move actually hurt Sesame on a
number of fronts - lighting, sound and video.
First, from a
visual stand point under lighting, the decoration of the racks with shining
and glistening ornaments reflecting in the spotlights bring an
excitement to the band’s performance theatre. Indeed - the racks
bouncing, dancing and swaying in time with a band’s music is an
added visual advantage and connection with the crowd. The
racks and canopies serve as the traveling, housing and theater from which audience and judges will hear and view the
band’s performance. In other words, it is a traveling ‘home
court’ advantage. The removal of the canopies should have
allowed for a better view of players, but since the producer
of the show had no game plan to take advantage of this, it had no
relative impact.
From a sound stand point
- the band did not
project forward which now became a relevant factor with the
removal of the canopies, that served as a natural and cohesive
sound amplifier when they came together. The sound engineers could have
counteracted this as just part of everyday sound engineering
responsibilities, but from the looks of their poor mic placements they were
also not prepared to deal with, or take advantage of, the removal
the canopies. Video-wise, from the audience view of the
jumbotrons, there were no outstanding or distinguishing video
angles from those of the other canopied bands.
Maybe in the future Sesame, as the only band
without canopies, should sit down with the sound, video and
lighting teams as to identify ways in which they can function in the
band’s favor.
The recent opening ceremonies at the Olympics in
Beijing showed that viewers are not so interested in individuals,
as they are with the drama, story and statement they make when
they come together, with supporting visual elements.
Comparatively the coming together of the
racks as the overall backdrop for the entire musical and visual
performance influenced by the interactive movement of the
musicians, characteristically create a similar statement for the audience.
Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
6th | 5th
|
6th |
9th | 7th | 15th
Tune of choice:
Hooked
Recorded
Hooked
for Pan in New York 2008
Press Picture
For more on Sesame Flyers
click here
Web:
www.sesameflyers.org/steelpan.htm |
www.sesame.panonthenet.com |
Sesame Flyers on facebook
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Sonatas

Sonatas
came into this year’s panorama as the defending champion and the
favorite. And they again put on a great choreographed,
performance-filled arrangement that from the onset, captured the
attention and interest of the crowd. Now in their fifth
year with Yohan Powell at the arranging helm, Sonatas has
settled into a groove. Sonatas is never going to beat
themselves - they are too good. Anyone who wants to win the
championship will always have to go through Sonatas.
Sonatas’ tune of choice was the Ten
Commandments of Pan. They dressed and played the
part. The only thing left was for Moses to appear
and part the sea. Too bad a professional video
crew was not there to capture the performance. HD,
anybody?
The judges had an eight-point separation
between the winners and Sonatas. The judges have been
essentially the same every year so this is something to watch.
We have not seen any of the score sheets yet but that of Sonatas has got
to be one of the more interesting. Of course, that is
assuming the judges remembered to make noteworthy comments...
Special mention is once more in order for master tuner
Birch Kelman, as Sonatas again showcased the best sounding
instruments in New York - maybe North America.
Unfortunately, if you only heard Sonatas through the sound
system you were robbed. If you were some of the fortunate
people that caught Sonatas as they warmed up before taking the
stage, you heard pan instruments at their best, and how they were meant to be heard.
Last 6 Panorama Placings >>
3rd | 1st
| 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 4th
Tune of Choice -
Ten Commandments of PanRecorded
Ten Commandments of Pan for
Pan in New York 2008
Press Picture
For more on Sonatas
click here
Web:
www.sonatas.panonthenet.com back to top |
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Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation

Utopia Pan Soul: The
Next Generation continues to be that organization
which is “doing it.” Far beyond being a steelband of top
notch musicians, they are event producers, recording artists,
talented developers and educators. Man for man (player for
player) - no other
orchestra surpasses Utopia Pan Soul in sheer music talent and
steelpan performance ability. However, it is Utopia’s
vision and purpose that separate this maverick steel orchestra
from the other talented music organizations in New York city.
Like we said last year, while most other people are
‘talking,’
Utopia is doing it. That is not to say that
they are not continually faced with the challenges of
running a successful steelband in an urban setting like
New York, including practice space.
Look for Utopia Pan Soul’s musical
offerings on CD in the near future. They recorded
tracks for the project this summer. Musically there
is no other group with a musical voice such as that of Utopia Pan
Soul. Their colors and approach to voicings on
the steelpan family of instruments are unique.
Utopia is unafraid to challenge our sense of the
accepted norms in regard to steelpan music arrangements;
they deliver new, striking, and thought-provoking musical
passages that leave you wanting more, and challenge your
normal sensibilities.
Once again Utopia was strong and “on message” on J’Ouvert morning
with Zan’s popular 2008 ditty for the road “Out on de Road.”
Press
Picture
Recorded
Musical Vengeance
for Pan in New York 2008
For more on Utopia Pan
Soul
click here
Web:
www.utopia.panonthenet.com back to top |
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Steel
Sensation
Steel Sensation
continues to be one of the special, non-panorama organizations
whose focus is on musicianship and performing. They
continue to attract unique performance opportunities such as
those at New York’s Tavern on the Green, while maintaining
probably the most diverse repertoire of any New York steelband.
The band continues to maintain a strong J’Ouvert presence,
and were on the road once again for 2008.
Press
Picture
For more on Steel
Sensation
click here
Web:
www.steelsensationband.com back to top |
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Women In Steel
Women In Steel (WIS)
is a critical component of the New York steelpan music
landscape. The all-woman group continues to inspire and
blaze new trails and opportunities for female players.
Ironically, WIS may have to consider spearheading a program to get city
males back into the steel orchestras, where the overwhelming majority
of players is now female, a reversal of what was the case many
years ago.
Press Picture
For more on Women In Steel
click here
Web:
www.womeninsteel.panonthenet.com
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Pan Ambassadors

Pan Ambassadors, very quietly continues to do its thing.
Years ago they made the business decision to no longer get
caught up in the panorama “madness.” This has worked well
for them - as Pan Ambassadors has avoided many of the
destructive pitfalls of running a steel orchestra in this
competitive urban market. Indeed, there are several great
NY steel orchestras now defunct, that may still have been around
had they avoided the panorama crunch until they were amply
prepared for all the rigors competition requires. Pan
Ambassadors does provide an alternative working model.
Press
Picture
For more on Ambassadors
click here
Web:
www.Ambassadors.panonthenet.com
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Higher Levin
Higher Levin Steel
Orchestra is one of the special steel orchestras
that is developing out of the many steelpan music programs that
are now found throughout the NYC Board of Education school
system. In addition to their normal school
performances Higher Levin can now be seen participating in
other festivals throughout the region.
Press Picture
For more on Higher Levin
click here
Web: http://www.higherlevin.com
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Hearts of Steel
Hearts of Steel
-
hmmmmm, we don’t have all the details, and frankly, we
are not trying to find out. But after a great
rookie season (check out last year’s report)
Hearts of Steel seems to have fallen victim to
its own success. The group suffered splits,
break-ups and disharmony. Nevertheless, which
ever faction of Hearts of Steel was present for
New York’s 2008 J’Ouvert, remains close to
the people,
as their fans were out in full force.
Press Picture
For more on Hearts of Steel click
here Web:
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New York Panorama
- 2008
In Pictures - click
>>
New York Panorama 2008 In Pictures. |
| |
The Show:
- C -
Insufficient seating as always, no Event program,
listing participants, etc. - are we missing
something here?
|
Media Facilities -
While it eventually worked out due to extreme
persistence on the part of When Steel Talks, what is the relevance of
press passes given out by the event promoters, if their ‘larger than
life’ personnel determinedly erode press access? Fortunately,
WIADCA officials Michael Young Lau and Yolanda Lezama-Clark stepped in
and brought common sense to severe nonsense. Stage Size
- Same as Last Year
Prizes /
Appearance Fees -
Same as last year, but again, a non-issue -- once bands
sign on the dotted line --
Post-Production and Follow Up
We are looking forward to the HD versions with full 7.1 surround sound
of the soon-to-be-released DVD of the panorama - with supporting full
color magazine special. In addition, there will be downloadable panorama
ring-tones for your mobi devices - yea! And special panorama releases for
your PS2s! And there are going to be vivid giant color posters of all the
bands available. Sorry - not!!!! We are just joking!! As
far we know, there are no plans for a CD/DVD to be made available for
public purchasing.
Access (bands,
players, management, arrangers, fans): -
B+-
The NY Steelpan community has been ready for prime time for
quite a while now.
J’Ouvert: - B
- J’Ouvert was enjoyable as usual. But while the crowd was still quite
significant, it was reduced from that of 2007.
J’Ouvert 2008 -
in Pictures
- click
>>
J’Ouvert 2008 Pictures
- In Review
Audience: -
A -
The
New York audience remains knowledgeable, supportive and extremely
tolerant. The composition of the audience is again changing as it
parallels the diverse make up and backgrounds of the young
people in the New York steel orchestras. In the early 70’s
there were individual steelbands representing almost every island in the
Caribbean, peppered throughout the city. Now, New York steel
orchestras continue to reflect not only people from those islands,
but also include non-Caribbean Americans, all amalgamated within the
various orchestras, especially during the panorama season. And
by default, the audience mirrors that varied constitution of the
orchestras. |
Stage Sides: - B
- |
Special Mention: - When Steel Talks is thrilled to
recognize several brilliant and up-and-coming young steelpan musical
talents either beginning college, or continuing their musical
studies at renowned institutions, with a focus on the steelpan
instrument. This illustrious list (which will be updated)
includes, but is not limited to:
- Iman Pascall of Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation
- now at Berklee College of Music, continuing on from Florida
Memorial University
- André White of 2008 Panorama champions, ADLIB Steel
Orchestra - brand new freshman at Berklee College of Music
- Kareem Thompson of Jambalasi, who continues his
studies
- Sheldon Thwaites - drummer for ADLIB Steel Orchestra
this year, and who maintains connections with the New York
steelband community, continues on at Berklee College of Music
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Recordings |
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The famed recordings series continues... Basement Recordings again captures the
prominent steel orchestras of
New York City, the North American
Mecca of pan, in their panyards as
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2008
Pan In New York CD Available Soon
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educational, historical, cultural and artistic masterpiece that
showcases one of the most vibrant live music performance movements
in the United States today...
Pan yard recordings from 2002 through 2007 are
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