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

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. This is the Cool Down version. “Cyah Behave” would be heard for the fifth and final time in the competition later that evening. The steel orchestra was going to close the show, having selected playing position number nine earlier in the week. The group, ably led by steelband veteran and founder Rondell Pompey, was clearly in take-no-prisoners mode as the players filed in from multiple states such as Philadelphia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington and New York.

This year’s Panorama tune and its performance were dedicated to the late legendary Robert Greenidge. In fact, Robert gave a full stamp of approval for the song as the band’s tune of choice before his passing. His brother 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. Engaging in straight-up storytelling at its best, Roger’s seamless transitions were nothing short of magnificent. There were elements in his arrangement that brought up emotional, mental and soul memories, inducing a feeling of déjà vu through a historical musical narrative; it was yet another dimension to register within the listener. Roger’s use of the main theme from ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ was one such.

The Philly Pan Stars recording session was indeed an immersive experience on all levels, both technical and practical. From a practical perspective the ninety-seven members were much more than just performing musicians. They delivered a tactical, breathing, living and touching urgency to the listeners on hand. It was an undoubtedly competent execution by the orchestra, of the music lines dictated by their arranger. The band took the Panorama night setup to another level by allowing listeners a different sonic perspective according to where they chose to take in the orchestra’s performance. This specific environment - factoring in the windy conditions, the sun moving in and out of clouds, and the intense flowery smells of The Brooklyn Botanical Garden less than a block away - made this a multidimensional encounter that goes way beyond the traditional panyard liming, viewing and listening experience.

The steel orchestra instruments were very well tuned by William “Billy” Sheeder.

Basement Recordings captured Philadelphia (Philly) Pan Stars Steel Orchestra performing its Cool Down version of “Cyah Behave,” on Union Street in Brooklyn on Saturday September 5, as the band got ready to take the stage hours later for the New York Panorama competition.

Field Technicians -- Lee Bennett & C. Phillips

Equipment Used:
Sony cameras
Zoom H6
Zoom Q2
Zoom Q2n
PreSonus 1818VSL
AKG family of mics
Sennheiser family of mics
Audio-Technica family of mics
CAD family of mics
KAM MC3
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2026 New York Panorama - get RESULTS

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra during their recording session, September 5

Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra after their recording session on Union Street, September 5, 2026

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