ANDY NARELL
AND RELATOR
BRING JAZZ AND VINTAGE CALYPSO TOGETHER
"University of Calypso"
Featuring Dario Eskenazi, Pedro Martinez,
Gregory Jones, Mark Walker,
and Special Guest Paquito D’Rivera
With
Andy Narell—who’s been playing calypso music from Trinidad
since he was barely tall enough to reach the pan—it’s always
been about expanding the role of the steelpan in jazz. Now,
with the June 23, 2009 release of University of Calypso
(HUCD3168) on Heads Up International, a division of Concord
Music Group, Narell joins forces with calypso legend Relator
to explore the role of jazz in vintage calypso. Together,
they perform 15 classic compositions by Lord Kitchener, Lord
Melody, Mighty Terror, Roaring Lion, Spider, and Relator,
supported by a group of world-class Latin-jazz cats who can
swing the calypso and blow le jazz hot.
It’s been over 50 years since a major calypsonian went into
the studio with a bunch of jazz players. This CD is cause
for serious celebration! (from Heads Up International)
-
: Click for Exclusive WST Interview
The Bradley Years
Pantonic
Steel Orchestra Releases Epic Steelband Music CD
The
Bradley Years represent the definitive collection of
steelband music arrangements and performances for a large
steel orchestra. This collection showcases seven classic
arrangements from the master arranger Clive Bradley.
Bradley is considered to be the best steelband music
arranger ever by many, including his peers. In addition,
the arrangements are performed by one of the finest
steelbands in the world, New York's Pantonic Steel
Orchestra. Clive Bradley had a very special relationship
with Pantonic. This orchestra captured the title of
panorama champions five times in seven years - performing
Bradley's musical works. The performances were captured by
Basement Recordings days before, and in one instance, mere
moments before they took the stage for the prestigious
annual steelband music panorama competition. The recordings
capture, reproduce and present a clarity and the realism of
a large steel orchestra fielding between one hundred and
hundred twenty musicians - unlike any other steelband music
recordings in its class.
Many can talk the talk - but few can walk the walk.
Panist Jonathan Scales without a doubt is ‘walking
the walk.’ On his sophomore release called Plot/Scheme, Scales takes
the listener not only into unexpected territory, but clearly uncharted
real-estate. The fact
that he takes us there with the steelpan instrument navigating the
journey - is all the more fascinating.
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
no other in the world...
Andy
Narell has been on a fascinating musical journey with the steelpan
instrument for more than 4 decades. In a recent interview exclusive with
When Steel
Talks,
Andy shares his thoughts on his latest musical offering named "tatoom"
on the Heads Up International label. The
latest from the Andy Narell.
click for full
interview and story.
Pan In New York 2006
Life after Clive Bradley
With the passing of Clive Bradley - New York's
steelband scene becomes even more competitive as the bands jockey for the
leader of the next era...
click to hear
samples
Pan In New York 2005
Master arranger Clive Bradley captures 1st place and 2nd in this historic
panorama
the series continues...
click to hear samples
New York - Steelband music recordings specialist
Basement Recordings has released the long-awaited NY Panyards 2005
DVD. The 2-Disc set is part of a series of high level multimedia performance
products designed to deliver an authentic big band, steel orchestra sonic
and visual experience into the home of the audience. Basement
Recordings has a long history of capturing and producing unparalleled
steelband music productions that showcase the beauty and power of the
steelband music instrument family.
This 2005 addition to the series is truly special
as it offers a two-disc package containing the two final classic music
arrangements of the Caribbean-born music genius Clive Bradley. The arrangements as preformed by two of the
bands featured on the DVD (Pantonic Steel Orchestra and D'Radoes Steel
Orchestra) would go on to make music history by capturing the
championship title and second place honors respectively in the renowned New York Panorama competition. The late great master
steelband music arranger passed three months later in November of 2005.
Also included on this DVD are arrangements by noted musicians/arrangers
Pelham Goddard, Yohan Popwell,
Arddin Herbert,
Brian "Bean" Griffith and Freddie Harris, III & Andy Akiho. The arrangements are masterly performed by
Pantonic,
D'Radoes,
Sonatas,
CASYM,
Marsicans,
Crossfire
and
Sesame Flyers.
The 2-disc DVD set would be of particular interest to educators and performing
musicians involved in the steelband music artform, in addition to
steelband enthusiasts, ethnomusicologists and musical historians.
The DVD will be available primarily online and directly from participating
performing steel orchestras.
Recorded open air - live
at Boston's MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and their
East 49th Street Brooklyn Digs, Pantonic Steel Orchestra's "Tonic
Gems" is the much anticipated follow-up to the famed "Tonic
for the Soul CD."
The
New York music powerhouse offers another treasure that captures the
unique urban attitude, style, intensity and musical talent of the
New York steelpan players and music scene. Harsh realties of
city life, coupled with brilliant determination and melodic
genius fuel their rise, and find expression in their
Caribbean-tinged music with a brutally honest and unapologetic edge
- in an environment where the sound path of the future, is treaded
in the present - by Pantonic Steel
Orchestra. From the haunting "Earth a Run Red" reggae
by Richie Spice, to Shania Twain's "You're Still The One"
Pantonic takes you on a multi-cultural musical experience that
is germane to the New York landscape.
Hear
and see what makes New York Pan so special on this fabulous DVD direct
from the panyards of the Big Apple. Once again, Basement Recordings
Inc. takes you on an audio visual experience unlike any other. For 2004,
Basement takes you to five of New York's most exciting panyards.
2004 NY Panorama champions, Sonatas, along with CASYM,
Marsicans, D'Radoes and Pantonic.
Exhilarating arrangements
by the likes of Yohan Popwell, Arddin Herbert, Pelham Goddard and Clive
Bradley. The NY Panyards 2004 DVD takes you into the panyards like
only Basement Recordings can, using their exclusive "Box and One" audio
capturing technique.
On June 5th, 2004, Sesame
Flyers International staged their first "Steel Pan Extravaganza."
The show featured the composing, arranging and playing skills of young
talents such as Freddy Harris, III and Andy Akiho, among others. Remember
these names - you're going to be hearing them a lot in the near future.
Indeed, this event showcased the next generation of pan composers,
players and arrangers. And the future of pan is in good hands.
Simply put
- Sakésho'sWe want You To Say - the follow-up CD to the group's initial
musical venture, is great. When you add great production, great
material, great musicianship plus great chemistry, you expect a special
CD. Sakésho does not disappoint. We Want You To
Say is a group effort that should be view and listened to in that
context. The group skillfully powers, explores, and navigates
through a seamlessly woven tapestry of personal experiences.
And so taking the listeners through musical episodes of musical
treats from the African Caribbean Diaspora with a wicked sense of
rhythm, drama and humor. Elements of ska, zouk, jazz, funk, calypso
and big drum to name a few, are all present in a big way.
These musicians bring a spirituality, freedom and freshness that is
rarely captured in a studio setting.
[Read Full Review]
Let's
make a long story real short. Simply put, this CD is one of Trinidad and
Tobago's best efforts at capturing and reproducing it's great steelband
music panorama competition.
Without question Trinidad and Tobago have some of the greatest steel
orchestras in the world. This CD finally presents a closer
semblance/audio representation of the power, beauty, talent, genius and
skills of the Trinidad and Tobago steelpan musicians, arrangers,
instrument tuners and manufacturers
An
educational, historical, cultural and artistic masterpiece that
showcases one of the most vibrant live music performance
movements in the United States today...
[hear sample]
Six of this year’s top New York steelbands are featured in
the Basement Recordings' annual recording of steelbands,
on the
Pan in New York 2004! CD.
It features panyard recordings of the bands in the final
days of their panorama preparations which in itself is a
unique experience.
The wait is over! CASYM Steel
Orchestra's CD "D'Blueprint"is now available.
Check out www.CASYM.com
to get your copy!
"COLOURS"
Billy Cobham
-
Colours:
Renowned jazz drummer Billy Cobham
started his illustrious career playing with legendary acts like
Miles Davis, Dreams, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He has worked
with a wide variety of artists, from Sonny Rollins to James Brown.
After leaving the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1973, Cobham released the
solo record SPECTRUM, which went on to sell more than
one million
copies and bowled critics over.
Billy Cobham is one of the greatest drummers on the planet and needs no
introduction or validation.
He is one of the
true masters and pioneers of jazz fusion. His group
Culturemix
continues that legacy
without compromise or disappointment.
The result is an artistic masterpiece of authentic JAZZ Fusion -- with a realistic taste of the
Afro-Caribbean experience always right around the corner when
desired.
The
Passage All of Narell's talents come together in The
Passage, a recording featuring Narell, the steelband
Calypsociation, and three of the greatest soloists in jazz - Michael
Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera and Hugh Masekela. The Passage
was recorded and mixed using cutting-edge technology to capture all
the excitement of the steelband sound, and is being released in two
formats: a great-sounding CD, and a 5.1 surround-sound SACD that
will put listeners right in the middle of the band!
Pantonic
Live!!!
Four-time New York Panorama champions show why
they are the best in the North America... Easily one of the
best steelband recordings ever made..
Simply the best recordings of the music works master
arranger Clive Bradley...
Evolution
The widely anticipated compilation CD from seven New York
Steelbands who participated in the extremely popular 2003 Vibrations
in Steel concerts is now available. Titled 'Evolution' the
CD features two selections from each of the participating New York
bands. This is the first time that the New York Steelbands have
come together to create such a product. Moreover, the CD provides
the listener with a unique opportunity to hear New York steelpan
performers outside of the annual panorama competition...
From
The Heart The new CD release by Robert Greenidge...
Home
Grown The latest CD from Ralph MacDonald is "Home Grown", a smooth
jazz album that brings MacDonald back to his Caribbean roots.
Featuring breezy instrumentals and smoky ballads (as well as "Meet Me
In Margaritaville", a song Ralph wrote for Jimmy Buffett) "Home Grown"
may go down as MacDonald's best album yet.
Home Grown
Featuring: Dennis Collins. Nadira Shakoor. Robert Greenidge, Anthony
Jackson, Tom Scott, Will Lee, Chris Parker, Milt Grayson, Jeffrey
Mirnov, Clifford Carter, Rob Mounsey, Lou Marini
Tonic for
the Soul a treasure full of musical works by New
York powerhouse Pantonic Steel Orchestra...
In Touch - the latest by one the most respected steelpan musicians -
Ray Holman composer, steelband arranger and performer