Having to understand music therapy in a broad sense

Transcription

p
Pe
Robbie
Jose
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rF an
e
Eve
y
rsle
M il l s
er Message
from the Board
Our founding fathers laid a solid foundation and over the last six decades the steel pan
has integrated itself into the fabric of British society. The Notting Hill Carnival, founded
on a local street procession led by legendary pannist Russell Henderson MBE, now generates millions of pounds annually for the UK’s economy and will act as a support to
celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games. The ground-breaking work done by bands
in supporting and promoting community cohesion and local regeneration has long been
celebrated. This year Jamal Glynn completed a BA (Hons) in Music Therapy using the
steel pan - the first person ever to achieve this distinction.
De
bi G
ardn
When the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) performed at the Festival
of Britain on 26 July 1951, they had no idea they were spearheading a phenomenon
that would sweep across Europe, and indeed the world. Ten years later Dixieland Steel
Orchestra toured Europe ensuring steel pan was here to stay.
Despite the innovative work being done by bands and individuals, we are witnessing an
ongoing struggle to progress the pan and its future in the UK as local, national, private
funding and moral support from key cultural partners has become near impossible to
secure.
The core business of a steel band is not carnival or Panorama, but the work that is done throughout the year. The
classes we provide for those who would otherwise not be able to play and create music. The self-discipline, confidence,
respect and citizenship skills they learn from being a part of a band. The pride they gain by belonging to a positive
organization and in having access to a culture and identity they can expose to the wider and now established multicultural Britain. We help to build future leaders and actively support their musicianship. Not many other learning environments can provide a young person with such diverse and transferable skills.
Today a pannist can perform for the Queen of England and the very next day be working with a young child with learning difficulties. Not many sectors can claim to create such opportunities. Almost every month BAS hears of another band
folding because they are unable to pay for their rehearsal space and get their instruments tuned. Unless we are able to
halt and reverse the current trend Band Managers will face some difficult decisions with wide reaching repercussions.
The Steel pan started in Trinidad and was initially an outlawed instrument played by hooligans and ‘BadJohns’. It is now
the national instrument of the country and has reached parts of the world that could never have been conceived by
its founding fathers.
For us to continue and be able to encourage the growth of the instrument within multi cultural Britain, Help, Support and
Assistance is needed from all areas. As long as we continue to have the steel pan and its progression at the epicenter
of our efforts there is nothing we cannot achieve by working together as a fraternity to adapt and overcome the issues
currently present.
The Board Of The British Association Of Steelbands.
FROM THE EDITOR
The 60th Anniversary
of the steel pan’s arrival in Britain is truly
a milestone for the instrument and everyone involved in its continued growth
and development in the UK and Europe. 2011 sees Pan Podium continue
its quest to expose and educate audiences that are still not familiar with
the mystical musical prowess of the magical steelpan. We will continue to
actively promote the recognition of steel pan music until you are able to
walk into music shops in the likes of Chappell’s and purchase a steelpan
instrument and visit HMV to purchase a steelpan CD. Well done to Amazon
for promoting and selling steelband music. Sustained promotion of the steel
pan art form will guarantee another cog in the wheel of its progress and
acceptance for this wonderful 20th century acoustic instrument, gaining the
respect it deserves and attaining its rightful podium on the World Music platform.
The ‘Sunshine’ instrument has continued to bring that overwhelming Caribbean flavour to the UK and it now a
permanent ingredient in the fabric of multicultural Britain. Music is universal and connects across all language
barriers.The steelband culture is an effective tool in developing team work and effectively promotes positive
social cohesion. It has also proven to be a valuable instrument for music therapy promoting socialization and
development of communication, self expression, physical, social and interpersonal development, cognitive abilities and motor skills. There are many different approaches to music therapy, including creating music, listening to
music, and talking about music, it may also help improve quality of life for people coping with physical health
conditions. The steelpan is such a valuable source!
Its great to reminisce but reality tells us that the past is for reference and not residence. Since Pythagoras calculated the formula for the musical cycle of fourths and fifths, steel pans are the only instruments made to follow this
configuration. The steel pan is classed as a mallet-struck tuned percussion idiophone musical instrument which
creates sound primarily by way of the instrument’s vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes. However,
we must evolve with the times and the steelpan culture is certainly doing so. This computerised era has brought
forth many innovative ideas and will continue to do so to keep abreast of technological development whilst
maintaining the unique sounds of the steelpan. The J‘umbie’ continues to mesmerise pan aficionados with its
captivating musical embrace.
BAS has organised a number of events to celebrate this momentous anniversary. So check our website for full
details. Pan Podium continues to spread the Pan gospel worldwide with the support of its global media
partners.
Pan 4 Life!
Robbie J - Editor
Pan Podium • Spring 2011
Table of Contents - Pan Podium Summer 2011 - Issue 23
Celebrating 60 years of steel pan in the United Kingdom
Center Stage with - TLA Steelband 6
One to Watch - Christophe De-Gallerie - Cox 8
Center Stage with - Panash Steel Orchestra 10
Pan Podium Events in Tune - Pan Clash 2011 12
Center Stage with - Bobila Steelband 14
Center Stage with - Stavanger Steelband 16
Pan Podium Events in Tune - The 2nd Dutch Steelband Festival 18
Pan Podium Special Feature - Pan Podium Memoirs 20
Pan Podium Special Feature - When Steel Talks 22
Pan Podium Special Feature - Pepe Francis MBE 26
Center Stage with - Endurance Steelband 30
Center Stage with - PanMasters Steel Orchestra 32
Pan Podium Events in Tune - Pan Greats honoured in London 34
Pan Podium Artiste Spotlight - Elizabeth Caesar 36
Pan Podium Events in Tune - UK Women of Steel 38
Center Stage with - Diamond Vale Government Primary Steel Ensemble 40
Pan Podium Artiste Spotlight - Jamal Glynn 42
Pan Podium Special Feature - Admiral Daniel Gallery 44
Pan Podium Events in Tune - Montreal Steelband Festival 46
Pan Podium Artiste Spotlight - Jenny Gilberg 48
LP’s in review/CD/Book Reviews 50
Editor: Robbie Joseph • Contributors: Lee Nelson, Christine De Gallerie, Chris Cox, Jason Butcher, Shareen Gray, Ingeborg Løseth, Digna - Steelbandshop Holland, Sterling Betancourt, When Steel Talks , Pepe Francis, T&T High Commission, Marlon Hibbert , Delphina ’ Panness’ James, Steve
Reid, Elizabeth Caesar, Yolande Joseph , Jamal Glynn, , Dr Andrew Martin, Salah Wilson , Jenny Gilberg, Tito Busquets & Carme Garrigó.
Photography: Response Photography | Cover Design and Art Direction - Jean-Pierre Potéon - www.poteon.com
Published by: British Association of Steelbands - The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AV. • Telephone: 020 7565 7813
Fax: 020 7565 7810 • Email: [email protected] / [email protected] • Website: www.panpodium.com
The views published in Pan Podium are not necessarily the views of the editor or publisher. All material contained in this publication are the copyright of Pan Podium. No
material written or photographic should be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. No liability will be accepted for any errors which may
occur within the magazine.
Pan Podium • Summer 2011 • Celebrating 60 Years of Pan in the UK
TLA STEELBW
The Littlehampton Academy Steelband
by Jane Ascott
'Steelpan has had an enormous effect on the music department
with 60 students now playing in three TLA steelbands'
Lee Nelson (band leader) was fortunate to attend rehearsals for the North Stars Steel
Orchestra whilst studying for a music degree at Huddersfield University as part of a
community music project. This experience was a real inspiration that led to setting up
a school steelband.
He remembers (rather cheekily) saying to the then head teacher at The Littlehampton Community School (now The
Littlehampton Academy) that he would take up the Head of Music post on the condition they purchased a set of pans.
Luckily the head teacher agreed and the first set arrived in October 2005. Some of these have since been donated
to a school in Ethiopia. The academy and new head teacher remain supportive and recently agreed to fund a new
set of pans.
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Steelpan has had an enormous effect on the music department with 60 students now playing in three TLA steelbands.
Students who’ve not had access to, or taken traditional roots of learning an instrument access GCSE and A Level
music courses with steel pan as their main instrument. This has increased the number of students opting for music
courses, added kudos to the department and helped diversify music making at the academy.
They have a core of highly talented players with 4 - 6 years experience. Ex-TLA students are able to continue
performing and are encouraged to select and arrange repertoire and help out with junior bands. Lee teaches pan at
a local junior school and Year 9 Arts Award students run pan workshops at local primary schools. This ensures they
have experienced and keen players coming up to the academy and joining TLA bands.
Parents and the local community have also been supportive. Jane Acott, the bands secretary (and parent) does an
amazing job. Jane has organised performance tours to Germany, Switzerland, North Tyneside Steelband Festival
and Paris and her detailed planning and preparation whilst on tour has become legendary amongst band members.
The Littlehampton Lion’s Club provides them with a truck and drivers free of charge. This has enabled them to give
more public performances than most school bands and help’s to create a good reputation in and around Sussex. This
summer will be their busiest yet.
Running a steelband with no previous experience has been a learning curve. Advice and discussions from people
involved in the pan community, particularly Rachel Hayward, Dave Edwards (NTSB), Brent Holder (CSI) and Aubrey
Bryan (UK Pan Tuners Guild) have been a great help and support.
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Christophe
De-Gallerie-Cox
by Christine De-Gallerie and Chris Cox
“On the day as he began his rendition you could see the confidence grow within him,
his performance drew rapturous applause, chants and cheers.”
Born on the 24th December 1997, to the proud Parents of Chris
Cox and Christine De-Gallerie, the then Manager and Captain of
Glissando Steel Orchestra.
When CJ was still a growing foetus and heard the sound of Pan he
would push his hands and feet in every direction, that you’d swear he
was about to break out of his mothers belly. At about six months old,
CJ was introduced to the panyard. At four years old his father took
him on holiday to Trinidad. Apart from meeting his extended family,
he also had the opportunity to enjoy the wider world of Pan and Mas
in the Carnival celebrations.
A year later during Glissando’s last night of practice before the National Steel Bands Panorama Competition, a player had left her pan
case by the side which had the notes imprinted on the outside, CJ
picked up a pair of sticks and started beating the case as if he could
hear the sound of the notes, upon seeing this Rudy ’Two Lef’ Smith
stated that within two years, he wanted to see CJ playing
pan.
CJ began rehearsing in the children’s class
at the age of six. One night during the
‘After Panorama Lime’ at the panyard, Alexander the Great,
had begun to sing one of
his tunes of a forthcoming CD, without any provocation
CJ
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rushed in and started beating the tumba drums, keeping perfect timing. At the age of seven, CJ played the tenor
bass in his first UK Panorama appearance. By the time he was eight he was playing the tenor pan throughout the
year and double seconds for Panorama, switching back to tenor to play on his first Junior Panorama Competition
and Carnival Sunday, as he enjoyed playing alongside his Uncle Robert.
On the odd occasion, during Panorama practice, Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith, the musical arranger for Glissando would
stop the band and ask CJ to play a part by himself which he did flawlessly. Over the following few years CJ continued to play the tenor throughout the year, but either tenor or double seconds for Panorama. In 2006, CJ’s father,
Chris Cox, took him to Stardust Steel Orchestra’s panyard. Their then musical arranger, Brent ‘Antics’ Holder, noted
his talent and would periodically check that CJ had learn all the parts and was able to play the tune proficiently.
Brent wanted to showcase one of the best youngest players in the band and CJ was chosen. He was given a focal
position in the middle of the front row for Panorama.
The following year at the age of 10, Chris took CJ to CSI Steelband Trust. He was the youngest player to attend
classes. In 2008, he played with CSI in their first Pan Explosion competition, at the BAS/GLA Trafalgar Square Steelband Jamboree as well as the Junior and National Panorama competitions. In 2009, his first foreign performance
with CSI Steel band Trust was at the 5th Afrique-Carib Festival in Almere, Netherlands. Even though CJ attends
the advanced class, Brent encouraged him to help support those in the children’s class and to explore other pan
instruments, as such CJ added the four pan cello and double tenor to his knowledge base. In 2010, CJ played in
the mixed young adults/children’s group to be the first Steel band to win the First Dutch Junior Panorama Knockout
competition and the UK Junior Panorama competition.
With just a month in between the Panorama competitions and BAS Pan Explosion competition, Brent challenged CJ
to compose his own solo to play in the Pan Explosion competition; the only help given was on his technique and to
prepare him to perform in front of judges and a room full of people, by himself. Whenever there was a spare moment, CJ would take his tenor pan to another room and practice his piece. On the day as he began his rendition you
could see the confidence grow within him, his performance drew rapturous applause, chants and cheers. When he
was announced the winner of the soloist competition, his cool and calm demeanour was forthcoming when he had
to take his photo and collect his prizes.
Darren Francis was the first pan tutor in CJ’s Primary School, who pushed him to keep up the good work, as he was
the inspiration to others who had never played before. Samuel Dubois took over the classes and encouraged CJ to
learn tunes on other pans, including the bass. Samuel also began working 1 to 1 with CJ to push his musical knowledge further. Since his birth into the Pan fraternity, CJ has not only surprised, impressed and captured the attention
of those who have watched him and who have played alongside him from: Melodians, Calypsociation, Birdsong,
Panash, Glissando, Stardust, North Tyneside and CSI steel orchestras.
One can only hope that this young man’s persistence and fortitude to do better, coupled with his outstanding performances is an inspiration to many more young people. Giving them the inspiration to pick up some pan sticks and
also make a mark in history for another great and positive achievement by the youth of today.
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Panash Steel
Orchestra
by Jason Butcher and Varina Kellman
Panash Steel Orchestra was formed in 1983 at Mount View High School in Harrow. The school
was closed but their successful and popular steel band continued with its new name, an alternative spelling for the French word ‘panache’.
Under the direction of the school’s former head of Music-David Griffiths, the band performed around the UK, gaining
a reputation as a versatile and talented group. Noted appearances include performances on TV-AM and Saturday
Superstore. They also gained second place in a national talent competition and recorded an album. Their success
continued until the band’s break in 1988.
In 1990, the current Leader/Arranger, Jason Butcher, was teaching Pans at Rooks Heath High School (now College),
also in Harrow. The group was developing into a large and talented band and caught the attention of David Griffiths,
who encouraged and assisted the new group into becoming a community concern. So in December 1990, Rooks
Heath Steel Band became the second incarnation of Panash Steel Orchestra.
In this new line up, members from the original group were included, Panash flourished and toured extensively around
the UK and continental Europe. Notable performances include the 1991 ‘Street Entertainers’ festival, where the
orchestra attained second place, numerous tours to the South-West, Scotland, France and Ireland for the ‘Rose of
Tralee’ festival. Panash was also the headline act for the 1992, ‘Guernsey Liberation Day’ celebrations. The orchestra
continued until 1994, when it was disbanded due to players leaving for careers and university, and Jason relocating
home to South London.
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Jason continued to participate in the steelband community, playing with London All Stars, BT Melodians,
Croydon Steel Orchestra and Ebony Steel Band. He
was the musical director for the Comets Steel Band
from 1996-2007, leading them to four Croydon Music
Festival Champion titles, 7th in 2006 - ‘Best Band on
the Road’ competition at the Notting Hill Carnival and
3rd in the 2007 competition. He also arranged and captained the Comets Youth Steel Orchestra to 3rd place in
the 2007 CAPCA/BAS Junior Panorama competition.
In 2009, it was decided to resurrect Panash, relocating from the original Harrow base, to the south-west
London borough of Merton. It was agreed the borough
had yet to offer any provision for the education of the
steelpan as a cultural and community resource. With
the help of Merton Council, the committee acquired
funding for the purchase of brand new steel pan instruments and a drum kit.
purchase pans and set up their own bands. So far, over
£40,000 worth of pans has been introduced in Merton
in the past 18 months.
Panash - Merton Community Steel Orchestra, performed in Brockwell Park on the 29th May 2011 for
Levi Roots’ “Lazy Sunday”. There was a very large and
appreciative audience who turned out to see the orchestra perform a program of Caribbean, European,
Jazz and Avant-Garde pieces for the crowds. This performance kicked off a busy year for the players, with
engagements booked throughout the summer season
and beyond.
Band Leader Jason Butcher said, “we are extremely
excited about the future of Pan in Merton, we have a
wealth of musical and pan talent in the borough, which
we hope to showcase over the coming months”.
Since the arrival of the instruments in July 2009, the
orchestra has undertaken classes to teach the local
community the basics in playing pan. This has enabled
Panash to develop into a multi-generational community
orchestra.
It is the vision that Panash will work together with these
new ‘recruits’, and develop the band to the appropriate
level to participate in the National Panorama. Panash
Steel Orchestra transcends Social, Racial and Cultural
barriers, to create an atmosphere of fun and learning
for all!
They also operate a junior band, which will facilitate the
continued growth of the band, for future generations.
Through their work in the community, they have assisted several schools and academies in the borough to
Anyone interested in joining the band should contact
Varina Kellman: [email protected]
or kindly visit the band’s website at www.panash-uk.
com
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PAN CLASH
2011
by Shareen Gray
“Pan Clash 2011 was held at 197 Arch Dance Studio in Chiswick, London.
It was a vibrant evening with outstanding performances.
It was presented by Joel ‘Tubbs’ Hamilton-Mills from Metronomes
and Kayleigh ‘Loudmouth’ Lewis, an upcoming UK comedian.”
The audience, although very small, included Michael De Souza, author of 'Rasta Mouse', Pepe Francis MBE, Director of the Ebony Steelband Trust and Aldwyn Simpson, Manager of the ERASE Foundation who provide aid to
children in Gambia.
There were three participants David Ijaduola from Eclipse Steel Orchestra, Jenny Gilberg from North Tyneside Steelband and Joshua Prescod from the Ebony Steelband. Each of them graced the stage with well-prepared solos to the
well-known classic 'There's Nothing Like this' by Omar and reggae song 'Hold You' by Gyptian.
Both pieces were approximately 3-minutes long and after each performance they received feedback from the judges; Michael ‘Bubbles’ Ollivierre who has been awarded honours from the British Music Industry and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Debi Gardner, Secretary of the British Association of
Steelbands (BAS) and Paul Dowie, Manager of Croydon Steel Orchestra.
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David attained the winner’s podium winning a £500 cash prize; Jenny was awarded the runners up title with a cash
prize of £200 with Joshua Prescod in third place which attracted a cash prize of £100. Each received a medal and
certificate from the British Association of Steelbands (BAS). The event was sponsored by Pan Clash organiser,
Shareen Gray and the BAS.
The guest performers were a highlight to the event and demonstrated musical excellence. A talented 6-year old
named Jadon ‘Ninja’ Holder (son of Brent Holder Caribbean Steel International steelband’s Manager) opened the
show performing ‘Human Nature’ by Michael Jackson. Other performances included Samuel Dubois the champion
composer with the Ebony Steelband at the National Steelband Panorama competition in 2010 and 2007.
Thomas Sinclair a phenomenal musician and tenor soloist performed ‘Someone like You’ by Adele. Brent Holder
did a beautiful and humorous performance, interacting well with the audience and really demonstrated soloing at
its best.
Previous Pan Clash competitions were held during October, Black History Month in the UK, in 2007 with the other
hosted in March 2008. The rules were a lot more complex then and winners included Thomas Sinclair and Rodell
Sorzano, the soca artist known around the globe as Triniboi Joocie. ‘Triniboi Joocie’ has performed at Carnivals
worldwide and in the 2010 UK Soca Monarch competition; where he placed second with his rendition, ‘Big Ting
Dat’.
The aim of Pan Clash is to encourage young people to participate in steelpan competitions and live performances as part of nurturing potential champions. The objectives are to increase the number of steelpan
soloists, build young soloist confidence to perform in front of a live audience and to promote good practice
in the steelpan industry.
Shareen Gray who manages the event intends to continue hosting it on an annual basis and looks forward to
seeing increasing numbers of competitors and also its audience. Pan Podium strongly supports Pan Clash
as one of the UK events that assist in the continuity of the steelpan art form amongst the youth.
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BOBILA STEELBAND
a Catalan Steelband
by Tito Busquets & Carme Garrigo . revised by: Naima Busquets
Bobila - a Catalan Steelband
In L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona’s Metropolitan
area), a new caribbean sound has arrived to the city.
The steel pan takes part in a new public school for the
arts, which is very rare in Spain. Additionally, the foundation of the first Catalan Steelband (Bóbila Steelband)
is spreading the steel pan gospel all over Catalonia.
Starting its 6th course, Escola de Música-Centre de
les Arts is changing the cultural panorama in the most
densily populated city in the Spanish territory.
A little bit of history
The place name L’Hospitalet, dates to the Medieval
age, because Spitalet was a hostel for travellers who
came at night to Barcelona, and found the city doors
closed. Nowadays, L’H is always receiving extra-communitarian citizens from all over the world, and It is a
very diverse city, with a strong individuality, uniqueness
and collaboration. The society maintains its own identity and traditions whilst integrating the new and foreign
ones.
Artistic education in L’H:
Escola de Música-Centre de les Arts
This new public school for the arts, managed by the
municipality of L’H since 2005, wants to plan a space
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where creation, education, practice and artistic dissemination interact with the city. The objective of the
Escola de Música-Centre de les Arts is to democratize
the access to artistic education and also to merge the
society through artistic expression. Centre de les Arts
has started its 6th year of activity in L’H with 875 students.
Why Steelpan?
You only have to look at Trinidad and Tobago and the
history of its steel pan to see how this instrument is utilised as a cohesionary tool between people of different ethnic groups and the people responsible for the
development of this fascinating instrument. The idea
to create a steel band course came from Escola de
Música-Centre de les Arts’ headmistress, Núria Sempere. She was fascinated with its history, development
and sound. And obviously for its social capacity which
gives students the work method - co-operation, team
work and respect.
Bobila Steelband
Weekly practice is held at the Centre Cultural La
Bóbila, and from which the band took its name owing
to their generousity of lending their space to practice
regularly.
Venezuelan,Tito Busquets, their lead pan player, first
heard the sound of the steelpan in Barbados in 1997.
He played drums and various percussion instruments
and in 1999 he bought a Bertie Marshall’s tenor pan and
started playing it. He plays percussion and the steel
pan in the most popular percussion group of Catalan
territory, Tactequeté.
Cristina Garcia, their double guitar player, is originally
from Switzerland and started playing with Les Amis
de la Casserole. After winning the 3rd prize (classical
piece) in the Paris European Steel Pan Competition with
the PANCH project, she founded the Ferrum Helveticum
Steelband in 2000. In 2003 she moved to Barcelona.
Martin Horne-Zagalsky, is originally from Uruguay and
plays the tenor. His interest for ethnical percussion
saw him learn to play some new and interesting instruments, as steel pan and kalimba. He also learnt how
to build and tune them. At the very beginning they did
not have a rhythm section, so Pedro Hidalgo (african
percussion teacher) from Escola de Música-Centre de
les Arts, offered to be their drummer. He now plays the
bass pans.
They also had players in the likes of Alicia Bella, from the
south of Spain, Alexandra Apostolidis, Greek student,
Radhika Aggarwal, an old member of Ebony Steelband
and Francis James who all lived temporarily in Barcelona. Presently, they are a five member steelband: Tito
Busquets and Martin Horne-Zagalsky (lead pans) Cristina García (double guitar), Pedro Hidalgo ( bass pans)
and Carme Garrigó (double second) . They are exploring new repertoires, and many various pieces. They are
also trying to increase their number of musicians and,
of course, to perform as much as possible in the different spaces in L’H and other parts of Spain.Their aims
now consist of being involved in all the cultural activities
in the city, playing free concerts in open spaces and
bringing the steel pan music to the entire community.
Research
Research by Bobila is necessary for the development of
the steel pan instrument in Spain. Visits to the Trinidad is
also essential to learn from the experts, to improve their
playing skills and generally getting immersed in the Pan
culture to accept, understand and respect its existence
in its full entirety.
They all have dreams about organising a tour of Trinidad and Carmen applied to work in University of Trinidad & Tobago to teach classical and contemporary
percussion as a part-time teacher, with the goal of getting involved in the steel pan but she never received
a reply.
Fortunately, one of their members, Tito Busquets, met
Laurent Trouchard from Montagnac (France), who is a
member of French steelband, Calypsud. He recommended Nestor Sullivan, manager of Pamberi steel
orchestra (San Juan- Trinidad), who is assisting Tito in
all aspects of the steel pan culture. Tito will document
all his experience travelling to Trinidad with audiovisual
support, which will be used later to introduce the Steel
Pan and its culture more broadly in Catalonia. They are
hoping to forge and maintain working relationships with
steel pan players both in Trinidad and Europe.
Steel Pan Future in Catalonia
The most important goal for the Steel Pan in Catalonia,
is to be integrated into thie school curriculum especially in secondary schools. Additionally it can be used
to include young people in social exclusion risk situation, and extrapolating this experience to other kinds
of collectives e.g. retired citizens (Silver Steel, for 60
year old students), students with learning or cognitive
difficulties.
Bobila Steelband is actively promoting the steelpan
to everyone who is interested in playing this new instrument in Catalonia. Bobila is also the influence for
children and adults who are playing this instrument in
Escola de Música-Centre de les Arts.
Escola de Música-Centre de les Arts provides the platform and opportunity (teaching, building, tuning and
playing the instrument.) whereby this project can be
achieved, and be extended to all parts of the Barcelona metropolitan area and the rest of Catalan territories.
In addition, steel pan is the most ecological instrument in XX and XXI century, because its derives
from recycling used oil barrels, and it can be played
by everyone, and it has also shown its social capacity through history. What else can you ask for, with
such a complete instrument?
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Stavanger
by Ingeborg Løsethr
Steel Drum Band
Warm tones from the great white north - Stavanger's
answer to the Jamaican bob-sleigh team!
One of the world’s most northerly steel bands comes from Stavanger, on Norway’s west coast, the brainchild of an enthusiastic percussionist with an instinct for tropical rhythms. Stavanger Steel Drum Band was formed in March 2007,
but its story began much earlier, in 2002. During that year Ingeborg Løseth, a percussion teacher from Stavanger’s
School of Culture, took a sabbatical to work for the Norwegian Peace Korps in South Africa.
Ingeborg stated – ‘I worked for the Field Band Foundation, where steel drums play a central part in the music, and
came home dreaming of forming a band that could reproduce that wonderful sound. It’s a feeling of summer - it
gives you the urge to dance, don’t you agree?’ The possibility to make her dream a reality came when Stavanger
was chosen to be the European City of Culture 2008. Ingeborg applied to the organisers for a grant to start the band
and received just enough to buy the pans needed for a modest line up.
The grant received a lot of local publicity and Ingeborg used the opportunity to recruit band members. There were
lots of applicants, many of whom were already expert drummers, as well as some who couldn’t play an instrument at
all, but wanted to learn. Today, the band consists of 14 musicians, including Ingeborg, who is both band leader and
conductor. The band members have stayed together since 2007, with only a couple of them moving on. A children’s
band has become a youth band and Ingeborg hopes they will continue to play their way into adulthood.
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‘They play so well together now that new recruits will probably have to come from a new junior band,’ speculates Ingeborg. Since their formation five years ago the band has performed between 30-40 concerts, from small exclusive
company bookings to large open-air concerts with a public of thousands. Every booking is dependent on the bands’
parents showing up as roadies, something they are glad to do, even under some challenging circumstances.
‘One of the most memorable and somewhat bizarre bookings was to play for guests arriving at an opening of a new
office building. The band however, was outside, in a temperature of at least minus 10 degrees. The tropical rhythms
on that occasion were accompanied by some extremely frostbitten hands! And for the enthusiastic parents it was
definitely not 96 degrees in the shade! ‘
The parental team spirit is very good and an important contribution to the band’s success. The financial crisis hit the
band very hard as many of its jobs were from the business sector and bookings dried up almost overnight. Luckily,
the band was offered a free rehearsal room at this time and was no longer dependent on commercial jobs to make
ends meet.
‘The wind went out of our sails a little when we had to wait so long between bookings, but things are picking up
again. The whole band, from the youngest who is 12, to the adult musicians enjoys watching what happens to the
audience when they start to play. They just can’t help but start smiling and dancing!
If you want to know more about this enterprising steelband then visit their website www.steeldrums.no
17
The 2nd Dutch Steelband Festival
Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands
by Digna van den Broek
The 2nd Dutch Steelband Festival
held in Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands got off to a
cracking start on the Friday evening with Steelworks steelband from the UK and Calypsonic Steel Orchestra, formerly known as PanGanG from Germany arriving early to set
up their instruments. Steelworks was picked up from the airport and taken directly to
play some songs at a local BBQ for volunteers in Hellevoetsluis. Some Afro-American
dancers start to dance and it soon turned into a party. This was the start of a great
weekend of Steelband Music.
Saturday 25th June was the Festival day which was overcast and very wet. As the steelbands arrived at the Plaza
they were ushered into the local government building for the rehearsals of the Play Inn. Hundreds of steel drums
were set up everywhere in the building and the players had a great time rehearsing four songs with 80 players
unfortunately for the audience there were no activities at the plaza until Steelband Tavenu from De Kwakel (NL) offered to go out and play for a wedding that was taking place. They were supported with umbrellas as they played
the wedding march.
18
At 2.30 pm a decision was made to play on the Plaza, regardless of the rain as the festival had to go on. The opening ceremony was done by Digna van den Broek from Steelbandshop, Holland and Mr. Taal, alderman of the local
government, Hellevoetsluis. MPH steelband from Hellevoetsluis started playing on the stage at the plaza and the
rain stopped, they were formed eight months ago and played so well that everyone was amazed. Pan Magic from
Leek (NL) followed at the stage on the float. They also appeared at the first Dutch Steelband Festival in 2009. Tropical Sensation from Rozenburg (NL) followed, they were new to the festival and performed very well with popular
Dutch and traditional steelband songs.
Steelworks from Middlesbrough in the UK played Michael Jackson, Guns ‘n Roses as well traditional songs. They
were followed by Tropical Steelpans from Callantsoog with lots of traditional and popular Dutch songs. After this
performance the podium at the plaza and half the plaza was full with instruments from the Calypsonic, Tavenu, Tropical Sensation, Steelworks, Pan Magic and MPH steelbands. Together they played 4 songs, sponsored by Row-Loff
Music. It was amazing and the audience loved it.
Bruce Lai, secretary of the Embassy of Trinidad & Tobago in Brussels spoke some kind words to all participants and
the organization. Mr. Jan Koorenhof from the local Government of Apeldoorn (NL) confirmed that the next steelband
festival will be held on the 22nd of June 2013 in the city of Apeldoorn in the centre of the Netherlands. After the Play
Inn, Panash from Paris, France arrived in Hellevoetsluis and amazed their audience with their entertaining performance. It was perfect! Steelband Tavenu from De Kwakel (NL) who organized the first Festival in De Kwakel in 2009
followed. Their performance which included Mexican heads and wigs coupled with some festive music turned the
plaza into a big party.
Ebony Steelband was up next and as was expected they had the audience mesmerised and fully entertained with
their scintillating performance. They had to be stopped after playing over 50 minutes. Calypsonic Steel Orchestra,
formerly PanGang from Dortmund in Germany, who also played at the 2009 festival, was outstanding. The players from all the other bands turned the stage into a big party, dancing with Digna van den Broek as first lady with
Calypsonic playing 4 extra songs.
The festival was a great success. Special thanks go to: The local Government of Hellevoetsluis, Frits Rens and the
Multi Percussion foundation, Maasdelta Group, Steelbandshop Holland, All the bands and volunteers.
All bands are welcomed to participate in the 2013 Festival. “Several people came to me and told me what a great
program I produced at this festival. I told them: “I didn’t do it, the Steelbands did!”
19
pan podium special event feature
CROSSFIRE STEELBAND – ON AN EXCURSION TO RIO CLARO
In the 1940s, fights in Trinidad were unfortunately a common occurrence, men with a fighting spirit
would take any opportunity and sometimes no opportunity at all, just a glance could be enough to
trigger their unrestrained and raging need for bloodshed, a need that always took over any common
sense and there was no stop to their frustrated and fiery temper.
One morning, fifteen of us from Crossfire steelband took our drums on an excursion to spend the
day playing at Rio Claro, South East Trinidad. We played during the train journey, entertaining all
the passengers in our carriage. While we were taking a break a voice was heard from the back of the
carriage urging us not to stop, it was Carlton, better known as “Back Head’, offensive and dreaded
for his constant need for a fight, a real “bad john “as we say in Trinidad.
Not giving him the benefit of our attention we carried on playing and stopping at random when it
suited us, we knew too well to ignore his presence but when he became so persistently loud and
obnoxious we all decided to stop playing altogether. He suddenly got up, picked up two of our drums
and threw them overboard, looking at us defiantly he took a knife out of his pocket, snatched two
more drums and before he could throw them, Eamon Thorpe’s brother, Roger, (a bad john himself)
stopped him by grabbing his arms while in the motion of swinging the drums through the open door,
we just stood there looking at the knife and at the two of them holding and pulling at the drums when
finally they fought fiercely with one another, everyone around them scampered to other carriages.
While fighting, both coming closer to the door, Roger in a final struggle pushed ‘Blackhead’ out
of the open carriage door, Blackhead fell out of the speeding train onto the rail tracks, and we all
screamed, “He is dead! He is dead!” Roger, his face bleeding all over his shirt looked behind where
Black Head would have been lying only to see him brushing off his clothes and walking away from
the tracks. Our excursion had taken an abrupt turn and while accompanying Roger to the hospital
he went into an epileptic fit.
For this incident, ‘Blackhead’ was prosecuted and given a 3 months jail sentence.
20
CROSSFIRE AT FORT GEORGE, EASTER 1947
Defying the ban on all street parades, we had decided to take our band, “Crossfire”, on a musical
picnic up the hills, to Fort George fortifications rising 1000 feet over the western side of Port of Spain
and its harbour.
We left our pan yard in Hyderabad Street, St James, walking and playing our steel drums which were
hung around our necks. Friends and family followed carrying baskets of food and drinks, knowing
very well that playing in the streets outside the carnival season was forbidden. My mother, Stella Betancourt, who would never have missed a party for anything in the world, came to share the afternoon
of entertainment with us. She was also there along with the other adults to supervise the teenagers
we still were, in order to protect us from getting into trouble.
All the players from the band wore white shirts; white flannel pants white shoes and red berets that
my mother made for us. On the shirt’s pockets, in green, she had embroidered a coconut tree. To
avoid been seen by the police, we walked through the narrow back roads, having only the St James
Main Road (the Western Main Road) to cross.
That Easter afternoon on the hills, was filled with music, dance and laughter.
On our way back that evening, we took the dirt road down the hills, playing, with the crowd of followers who had gathered along the way jumping and singing. We came to the same main road crossing
at Cocorite when a British inspector driving along on the same main road got a glimpse of the crowd,
drove to the St James police station, reported the offence and sent some policemen to deal with the
rebels.
We were almost home when they caught up with us, just as we were walking along the wall of the
Mucurapo cemetery, two police vans arrived and before they even stopped, policemen were running
out of the vehicles with batons and bull pistles in their hands shouting, “Police raid “! The steel
drums around our necks came flying off so fast over the cemetery wall that we did not even anticipate
the damage our drums would suffer, others just dropped their pans on the side of the road, but we
were all running as if we had seen spirits ( ghosts) rising from the graves.
From the nearby houses, people who saw the policemen chasing us came out with sticks or any other
apparatus they had come across to confront the policemen, shouting at them to leave us alone as we
were so close to home. The drums dropped on the side of the road were eventually taken to the station by the officers while the ones in the burial ground had not been found and were later recovered
by us. Luckily, a member of our band was the son of a sergeant who was based at that same police
station and assisted us in getting back all our instruments.
21
Rhythm & Blues & Reggae
special features
ROCK DESPERS USA PAN LOFT
Hosts Despers USA playing through their Reggae selections in the
first round for the evening.
Pan folks are still talking about their steelband
experience early in the New York pan season,
conceptualized and brought to life by
Despers USA.
On a sultry Sunday evening, ‘R&R’ was not for ‘rest and
relaxation.’ Rather it signified that R&B and Reggae
ruled and rocked the Classon Avenue-located ‘Pan
Loft,’ as the panyard of one of New York’s veteran steel
orchestras is affectionately known. A great evening
with a bit of humidity was the backdrop for some very
good steelband music provided by four of the region’s
top music organizations.
An event with a difference, it was a daring move by
the younger members of Despers USA’s management
team - that of having only R&B and Reggae - sans Soca
- reign supreme for several hours. In the run-up to the
New York panorama, make no mistake: regular band
launches always serve up plenty of ‘Soca on steel’ to
sweat through. But in this R&R (R&B and Reggae) session, it was the music made popular by the likes of Chris
Brown, Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Bob
Marley, JC Lodge, Tarrus Riley, Dennis Edwards et al,
which had the crowd moving.
22
It was 9:00 p.m. when CASYM gave patrons a fabulous
opener, dropping Bruno Mars’s Grenade, Commodores’
All Night Long and Cee-Lo’s Forget You, for a snappy
and cleverly-selected first showing. With the musical
gauntlet thrown down, reigning New York panorama
champs Sonatas Steel Orchestra stepped up to the
plate not long after, delivering a cool, rhythmic session
for pan lovers to ‘get their groove on.’
It included material highlighting the arranging talents of
two members of Sonatas’ robust stage side, as well as
the band’s panorama arranger Yohan Popwell (Just The
Two of Us).
Orisha John’s work came to life in Seal’s Free, while a
swanky steel version of She Ain’t You arranged by Mark
Garceran rounded out the band’s R&B session. Then
came the Queens, New York-based Steel Sensation
crew with their deliberately refined approach, taking
the opportunity to deliver both their R&B and Reggae
sessions in one go. By the time it was over, the crowd
was loud in their applause for the music set which showcased Lost Without You, Don’t Matter, Prison Walls, Call
On Me, Jammin,’ Someone Loves You Honey, Forget
You and Could You Be Loved.
when steel talks special features
Sonatas, the largest band for the evening at Despers USA's R&B and Reggae Night
Not to be outdone, hosts Despers USA took up the challenge with their R&B mini-marathon featuring Clement
Franklin’s arrangements of One In A Million and Don’t
Look Any Further, and son Odie Franklin’s version of
Can We Talk.
The unique musical evening, brainchild of Despers
USA’s Kern Simon, took the innovative event concept
one step further. Simon was excited throughout the
evening, talking to When Steel Talks (WST) about what
was to come next. The by-now fairly customary camaraderie prevalent among several of New York’s younger
generation of steelpan musicians, came full circle in
Simon’s idyllic vision of the coming together of a few
players from the other bands in a jam session.
Becoming temporary “Despers” for a few minutes, they
got behind the instruments of their hosts for the ‘jam.’
CASYM, Pantonic, Sonatas/Steel Sensation - they were
all in the line-up as the music flowed for a short while,
just before the high-spirited “Pan Ramajay” allowed
representative members of each music organization and a few other well-known faces on the Pan music
scene - to individually show off their steelpan skills, to
the immense delight of the crowd on hand - all to NeYo’s hit One In A Million.
The “stars” included, but were not limited to Despers’
Wilfred “Wiz” Kieal and one of their phenomenal veteran players, Sterling “Sugars” Sample, Pantonic’s
Wayne Bernard, CASYM’s Natalie Wint, and Khuent
Rose. Impromptu performances from Earl Brooks, Jr.
and Duvone Stewart who happened to be at the event
were also crowd-pleasers.
After a short break, steelpan player McKell Rodney exchanged his sticks for a mic as he rapped through a
couple pieces. The versatile Mustafa Alexander also
had his turn on tenor in the spotlight as one of the
event’s guest artists. Additionally, with fine food and
drink to be had, steelband lovers found ongoing opportunity to have both cravings fulfilled - culinary, as
well as music to the max.
Before the evening of R&R was over, the audience enjoyed the return of CASYM for their reggae wrap up with
Jammin’, She’s Royal and No Woman No Cry. In the
same order as the first rounds, Sonatas then sounded
out Marc Brooks’ arrangement of Rockaway and Waiting in Vain, the oldie goldie How About A Little Love
from KC and the Sunshine Band with Yohan Popwell’s
touch, and Gyptian’s Hold Yuh arranged by Joshua
McPherson. Despers USA’s Man Down arranged by
Wilfred “Wiz” Kieal, and Never Dis the Man along with
Too Experienced arranged by Odie Franklin, brought
the curtains down on this “New York first” of R&B and
Reggae on Steel.
Kernel Simon told WST that feedback on the show was
simply great. “People were like ‘this was one of the
best shows! A lot of people have been asking for a
recording!” Kern shared happily.
France-based, renowned Trinidad & Tobago panist
Duvone Stewart delights pan lovers with an’
impromptu 'Ramajay' session
23
when steel talks special features
Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra
and Khan Cordice... return to win
2011 Antigua-Barbuda National Panorama
“The Panorama was fantastic. All the bands played exceptionally well... I thought they did very
well indeed. And it demonstrates that Panorama is regaining its prominence in Carnival once
again. So as far as I’m concerned, Steelband music won tonight....”
The Honourable Baldwin Spencer - Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda is the only country in the world
where a sitting Prime Minster can be seen pulling or
pushing a pan rack filled with steelpan instruments
onto and off the stage during a national panorama
contest. This was again the circumstance during this
year’s event. This Prime Minister - the Honourable
Winston Baldwin Spencer - knows Pan!
As he himself so aptly put it - “....Steelband music won
tonight” that about says it all on the 2011 Antigua and
Barbuda National Panorama held Tuesday July 28. And
with that, it is implicit that at least on this night there was
a clear understanding of the need, value and uprightness of meeting the challenge of elevating and supporting the steelpan music genre immediately, and in the
years going forward.
The world-renowned Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra took the
much sought-after 2011 Antigua and Barbuda national
panorama crown with their rendition of calypso great
Rupert Mighty Swallow Philo’s Satan Coming Down. The
song was arranged by the young steelpan music standout Khan Cordice. Swallow, who is celebrating his 50th
year as a performing artist in the music business, also
took the stage with Hell’s Gate as they performed to an
engaged crowd at the Antigua Recreation Grounds in
the country’s capital, St. John’s. Swallow would also return later when the 2010 champions, Halcyon, took the
24
stage, also playing another of his greatest all-time hits,
Don’t Stop The Party.
Dressed in a red zoot suit, Swallow seemed quite pleased
with the arrangement of his music on pan, and the attention he was receiving as he pranced around the stage
during Hell’s Gate presentation. Band members were
clad in all black, the color interestingly synonymous - on
this particular night - with both the subject matter of their
tune of choice (Satan Coming Down) and part of the orchestra’s own name, Hell’s Gate.
Using a three-judge system (all were from Trinidad & Tobago), six of the country’s steel orchestras participated
in this very well-attended 2011 National Panorama competition; Ebonites, Hell’s Gate, East Vibes, Halcyon,
Gemonites and Harmonites, in that order.
The stands were filled with steelband lovers. In addition, there were those die-hard pan fans who anchored
themselves firmly and directly in front the stage, cheering
wildly as their favorite bands played their hearts out in a
bid to snatch the 2011 championship title and bragging
rights.
Guest artist Panache Steel Orchestra entertained the
crowd before the competition began, through 8:20 p.m.,
and ten minutes later saw the end of the delivery of the
country’s national anthem. In terms of time, the impact of the racks and pans having to be negotiated along the
way to playing positions was being felt. It was already 9:12 p.m. before ninety-five players of the 1977 Panorama
champs, Ebonites, struck their first chords of Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel’s arrangement of Short Shirt’s Nobody Go Run
Me. The band faced several challenges along their way to the 2011 panorama, including that of their regular tuner
not making it to Antigua.
Forty-seven minutes later at 9:59 p.m. it was the turn of the band established in 1945 - and the eventual 2011
champs – Hell’s Gate, to stake their musical claim, with one hundred players sounding off. Newcomer to the Panorama competition, East Vibes Steel Orchestra delivered Panorama Night, an original composition of their arranger
Curtis “CC” Cochrane, at 10:42 p.m., to be followed by Halcyon, celebrating their fortieth year of existence as a
music organization. Naturally the steel orchestra had looked forward to the Panorama title to be their crowning glory
for 2011. With a track record of twenty-two Panorama championships between 1972 and 2010, four of those consecutive wins (1992-1995) - they were more than up to the task, and entitled to the aspiration. Arranger Victor “Babu”
Samuel’s vision of Don’t Stop The Party and UK-based tuner Dudley Dickson’s handiwork came through clearly in
the steelpan instruments commanded by the band’s one hundred and three musicians, right through to their final
notes at 11:39 p.m
Competing in position five with their resident arranger, Patrick “Stone” Johnson, was Gemonites Steel Orchestra,
which last took the Panorama championship back in 2005 (which, incidentally, was also held July 28). With Johnson’s arrangement of Frenzy the band gave it their best shot, beginning 12:25 a.m., fielding between sixty-five and
seventy-five steelband musicians - the normal complement for the band (they won with seventy-six players in 2005). The difference with the band this time around was a larger number of young people; this according to Joseph “Jowato” Henry, a senior management member of Gemonites.
The band which had the luxury of being the one to make the ‘lasting impression’ on the audience and judges, was
Harmonites with seventy players. This was also the second time the arranging talents of Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel were
heard for the night, the first time being with the first band up. He arranged Harmonites’ tune of choice Tribute to
Swallow: 50 Years sung by Carl “De Panman” Richards. With respect to the performances, all was said, done - and
played - by 1:27 a.m. After a well-received, three-song appearance by Antigua & Barbuda soca favorite “Drastic,” it
was 2:08 a.m. when the results were announced, and by then the rain had returned. The weather had held up well
for the duration of the competition, much to the relief of the steel orchestras, audience and event organizers.
Certificates of Appreciation were first bestowed upon each of the six participating bands, for making the 2011 national Panorama what it was. Then came the moment all had been waiting for: results. Harmonites were deemed
second runners-up, defending champions Halcyon had to be content with the first runner-up position, and Hell’s
Gate triumphed in the 2011 Antigua & Barbuda National Panorama; both Hell’s Gate and Halcyon received their
trophies from Prime Minister Spencer.
To read these and many other exciting and interesting articles from the team at
When Steel Talks logon to: www.panonthenet.com
25
pan podium
speci
a
l
feature
AUGUSTINE
LEITH FRANCIS MBE
30 YEARS INVOLVEMENT IN THE STEELBAND MOVEMENT
by Shareen Gray
Augustine Leith Francis better known in the
steelband and carnival world as ‘Pepe’ has
made outstanding contribution to the steelband
movement over thirty (30) years and received
an MBE for his continued efforts this year.
26
He has been recognised and celebrated by almost every carnival organisation and arts arena in the UK. Pepe
joined Ebony Steelband in 1970 and transformed it to
the extent that they recognised as Europe’s finest steelband.
In 2005, his efforts were recognised by HRH Queen Elizabeth II when the band was awarded the Queens Award
for Voluntary Services. In 2007, Pepe was the recipient of
the Mayors Award for his work in the community. In 2000,
Ebony was crowned Champions of the European Steel
Band Music Festival in France. This enabled the band
to go to the World Steel Band Music Festival in Trinidad
and Tobago where they placed 4th and then 3rd in 2002
festival. Ebony has won the UK National Steelband Panorama 9 times consecutively and a record breaking 19
times in total.
Additionally, Pepe is one of the founders of the British
Association of Steelbands (BAS), actively participates
on the Executive Committee of Carnival Arts (ECCA)
and reintroduced the J’Ouvert celebrations in 2004.
Over the years Pepe has been involved in various carnivals in Manchester, Devon, Huddersfield, and Bagneux
in France. He is also well known in the voluntary sector for his consulting and community advice and sits on
the boards and committees of a number of organisations, particularly those that work to improve the lives
and prospects of disadvantage communities and young
people.
Pepe was born on the 15th August 1943. He spent his
primary years at Morvant Boys RC and Mucurapo Boys
RC schools in Trinidad and advanced his education at
the Progressive College, Henry Street, Port of Spain.
Carnival and steel pan have always played an active
and important role in Pepe’s life. From age eight he
was involved with Ebonites Steel Orchestra of Morvant,
and was also a member of the village steel band, Black
Hawks, from Mon Repos formed by band manager and
tuner, Knolly Bobb. He was one of the many players from
Ebonites who followed Knolly to Solo Harmonites.
Pepe arrived in England in 1961 to study. However
coming from a steelband background he found himself visiting all the places that steelbands like Dixieland
and other small sides were playing. He joined the British army in 1961 and continued to travel to London every weekend to listen to or be involved with steelpan.
Some of the popular haunts in London where steelpan
would be played on Friday nights, Saturday nights and
Sunday lunchtimes were the Albany Pub, The Colherne
Pub, Furlong Road Pub and the Crucible Nightclub. In
the late 60’s for a short period Pepe was a motorway
operator on motorway developments then he became
a joint owner of a mini cab firm and later he owned a
motorcycle dispatch company.
In 1969 a group of people from Trinidad decided they
wanted to carry on playing steelpan music in England
led by Randolph Baptiste, Cape James and Winston
‘P’ Joseph. Ebony steelband was formed, they started
rehearsal in an old garden shed at the back of Cape
James House in Acton, much to the annoyance of the
neighbours, who would sometimes throw stones on top
of the shed to try and disrupt the practice. As the band
grew it moved to the Grenada Centre in Acton – from
there the band really took off.
When the band came out for Carnival in 1970, it was
the largest steelband and costume band on the road.
Earl Lewis and Pepe came on board, Earl as a pan
player and Pepe as a mas player. Ebony grew in leaps
and bounds. Pepe won the Carnival King competition
seven times and came second twice, a record yet to be
broken. Their followers came from far and wide; one of
their largest sections came from Huddersfield.
They went on to start the Huddersfield Carnival. Sections of the band came from all over London the Alexander family from Ilford, Essex, and Bertie from West
London. Their mum was also a great asset in the sewing
of the costumes and as the years went on the Quashie
and Lewis families, in particular Monica Lewis played
a great part in Ebony’s overall success, not only from
27
the costume side, but a lot of her relatives also played
steelpan in the band. Ebony moved to West London in
1977, to the Cryptic, a club in Paddington. By 1981, the
band had moved to Granville Centre in Queens Park
and in late 1981 to the centre of Carnival at Acklam Play
Centre, located at the centre of Portobello Road under
the A40 motorway where they remained until 2004.
All this time the big one, the National Panorama eluded
Ebony, they were the biggest band with supporters
and mas players, and under the musical direction of
Randolph Baptiste they tried year after year to win Panorama. In 1982, Pepe Francis decided to try a different
arranger in consultation with Randolph Baptiste and
Cape James. A decision was made to employ Kenrick
Isidore as musical arranger for Panorama, which was
the first year Ebony came in the first three. Randolph
then left the band after the carnival of 1982 to form
Stardust and Pepe Francis was left in charge as manager, with Earl Lewis as captain and Winston Joseph
as chairman.
Pepe decided to bring aboard Geraldine O’Connor, a
close friend and classical music arranger to arrange
the 1983 Panorama tunes. That was the first year Ebony
won Panorama, which was the beginning of the Ebony
success story. Ebony went on to become a charitable
trust in 1989 responsible for the teaching of steelband
music in schools, running workshops for the disabled,
music therapy in hospitals and a young offenders institute programme.
Ebony then won Panorama in 1988 and 1989 and came
second in 1990. This took place under the musical direction of Annise ‘Halfers’ Hadeed who came to Ebony
after Geraldine Connor, and totally changed Ebony’s
style of music and playing. Hadeed was originally from
Phase II Pan Groove steel band in Trinidad but spent
most of his time in England playing with the Breakfast
Band and Jazz festivals in the Caribbean, America and
Europe with such musicians as Raf Robertson, Richard
Bailey, Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe and
Robbie Greenidge.
28
Ebony has toured all over Europe and at many prestigious events such as the FIFA World Cup in 2005, many
live performances and collaborations with Billy Ocean,
Buckingham Palace at least once a year and most recently performed at the Nigerian Port Harcourt Carnival
and shared the stage with Busta Rhymes to name a
few.
Ebony has won panorama now for nine years in succession 1991 – 1999, a record that no other steelband
anywhere in the world has ever achieved. Apart from
the music and dedication of Ebony players, the other
major reason for Ebony’s success is the supreme quality instruments. This quality is attributed to Dudley Dickson who is in Pepe’s opinion the best steelpan tuner
around today. Dudley takes pride in the pans he makes
and is in great demand over Europe.
Pepe is one of the founders of the British Association
of Steelbands (BAS), formed in 1995 and has been
their Chairman since its formation. BAS is the national
steelband organisation responsible for development
of steelbands in England and BAS has grown into a
national organisation with an international profile and
membership. BAS has also assisted in establishing Pan
Podium, the world’s leading publication on steel pan,
and steel pan European, a pan European network of
steelbands.
Pepe is the European representative on the Pan Trinbago’s Executive Committee. His most current projects include Carnival Village the capital’s newest multi-venue
arts and entertainment working along side three other
partners; The Association of British Calypsonians, Mangrove Steelband and the Yaa Asantewaa Arts.
Pepe continues to be an active campaigner for pan
and carnival. His vision and determination has inspired
future generations of artists, practitioners and leaders.
The steel pan and wider carnival community, both in the
UK and overseas, is richer for his contributions and for
that we are all extremely grateful.
Endurance Steel Orchestra
“Endurance is a not for profit organization and as such is committed to
using every penny made to reach out to more young people and children”
By Rose Bartlett
Endurance is the brain child of Marlon Hibbert who had the dream of starting his very
own steel band. The dream became reality on the 1st July 2009 and the orchestra began with eight musicians,
they soon became very busy, performing at all sorts of events in and around South East London, and all the while
growing in number steadily to twenty musicians from five surrounding boroughs performing with the Orchestra on a
regular basis. Marlon is very proud of the fact that the musicians are all involved in the running of the project and that
they are able to help provide lessons and workshops, as well as performing to the public.
30
Endurance is a not for profit organization and as such is committed to using every penny made to reach out to more
young people and children, from performing at primary school events where much younger children can see musicians of all different races, all working together to make fun music, to showing their peers when they are out busking
or providing a workshop that everyone can work together, no matter what their postcode is, this is what keeps Marlon
and the musicians focused and driven, and hopefully his enthusiasm for pan will spill over into the other members
and keep them on the same road.
Because Marlon has a special empathy for children and young people who may not have had the best start in life he
wanted to try and help to do something to help in some small way, and so when the Orchestra was formed he vowed
to give 10% of all proceeds from public performances to Kids Company, the ground breaking charity founded by
Camilla Batmanghelidjh, and wherever Endurance goes KidsCo is represented by them and hopefully as a result of
our informal and friendly promotion more people are now aware of the fantastic work they do.
Marlon is not only looking forward to watching Endurance grow with the years but he hopes to bring out the best in
many more musicians, incorporating other instruments, including singers and songwriters in various projects and
encouraging budding arrangers to use their creative skills whenever possible. They put this to good use earlier this
spring when the orchestra performed for the opening evening of the 58th annual music festival in the village of Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and wowed the sell out crowd with an evening of Pan and Piano, making good use of the piano
skills of two of the musicians, treating the audience to some intricate classical pieces as well as some jazz that could
have come straight from Ronnie Scotts or even Carnegie Hall!!
The Orchestra now have a total of nine weddings under their belt, all of which were held in very prestigious surroundings, no mean feat for such a young organisation, add to that the corporate events and other performances for the
local community and countless private functions and you will see that as a highly competent and entertaining band
Endurance are proving very popular.
Endurance are very hands on in their approach to providing the best service possible, especially when it comes
to such occasions as weddings, Brides and Grooms are encouraged to think of any special tunes that they would
like and the musicians are always happy to provide a tailor made service. Endurance Musicians are encouraged to
suggest new tunes for the Orchestra to learn, and those that show aptitude for arranging or teaching are given every
opportunity to hone their skills in a friendly and supportive environment. There is a rule in Endurance that no one
is ever called or referred to as a kid, a child or a teenager, but as a musician, everyone’s skills are respected and
hopefully this will give those who need the boost a little more confidence in what they can achieve.
Now that the project has a permanent home they are now able to look to the future and build the foundations for Endurance to continue and hopefully grow. And they are now able to hold lessons. Children (up to 16) each Monday
at 5.p.m – 6.p.m and Adults (16 +) each Tuesday at 8 p.m – 9p.m. At the Waterside Centre, Avenue Road, South
Norwood, London SE25 4DX
31
PanMasters
Steel Orchestra
26 YEARS ON AND GETTING STRONGER!
by Steve Reid
PanMasters stage side members
For those who have not read the story already, there is great pride
in repeating successful achievements. So here it goes.
The formation of many steelbands has historically evolved from another existing band. Such has been the case with
PanMasters Steel Orchestra. In 1985, some members who had performed with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband
of Washington, DC, decided that they wanted to go in a different direction. This resulted in the formation of the PanMasters Steel Orchestra. The original members included Frankie Baltazar, St Clair Baltazar, Roland Barnes, Robert
Barnes, Patrick Belle, Don Cumberbatch, Malcolm John, Lennard Jack, Stephen Landrigan, Joseph Lewis, and
Brian Solomon.
PanMasters’ accomplishments include performances at area hospitals, nursing homes, schools and homes for the
elderly, Embassy Row on open house days; being adjudged the 1993 through 1998 Steelband Champion in the
Baltimore Panorama Competition; recipient of the judges’ award for outstanding performance at the 1993 through
2001 and 2008, DC Caribbean Carnival celebrations on Georgia Avenue; 1998 champion in the New York J’Ouvert
32
competition; 2008 winner of the Baltimore Harborview Steelband Festival; several command performances at the
Bluemont Concert Series in Virginia, and the only participating steelband at the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton and Mayor Marion Barry.
In this absolutely ruthless, dynamic and competitive environment, known as the entertainment industry, there are
still no short-cuts to success or to becoming financially comfortable. The only thing that continues to pay is loyalty
and hard work. As an organization, PanMasters has been very fortunate to have a constant cadre of “stageside”
members that epitomize loyalty and hard work.
STAGE SIDE MEMBERS
Belinda “BJ” Caesar, Greg ‘Lynx’ Smith, Selwyn “Guitar George” Henry, Jabari Edwards, Jason Lewis, Jeremy
Caesar, Keith Preddie, Lennard Jack and his daughters Ayoka and Nwenze, Makaya Gittens, Mark Johnson, Roger
Greenidge, Roland Barnes, Shanice Haynes, Sheldon Sammy, and Warren Thomas.
PanMasters also boasts a loyal and committed supporting cast. The Management Committee headed by chariman
Malcolm John, has been steadfast in its resolve to ensure that PanMasters remains a disciplined, productive organization, whose goals and objectives are to deliver a musical product, in a timely and efficient manner.
Lennard Jack Jr. (right), leader of the music group Fusion,
and Chris Toussaint (left) perform at PanMasters’ annual
Pan Jazz show at the panyard. Lennard is also the steelband
coordinator, and one of the resident arrangers at PanMasters.
Background artwork by Elizabeth Caesar.
Left to right standing: Keith Caesar, Steve Reid - Member Relations/
Advertising, Lennard Jack, Jr. - Steelband Coordinator, Roland
Barnes - Public Relations, Marcus Adams - Special Events/Pan Jamboree. Sitting: Jennifer Cosbert - Website/Merchandising, Malcolm
John - Chairman, Elizabeth Caesar - Communications/Production.
Folks like Elizabeth Caesar, “the Minister of Everything”, the Adams twins (Errol and Edwin), and Stephon Kangolee,
a relatively new member, who can be counted on to do just about anything to ensure the smooth running of the organization, are but a few, who in collaboration with the management committee, contribute greatly to PanMasters and
our goal of being around for another 26 years and beyond. Due to our display of good cultural citizenship, PanMasters has been chosen as one of the partners of Gateway Community Development Corporation, which is “the catalyst
for arts-driven economic revitalization of the U.S. Route 1 corridor and the surrounding communities in the Gateway
Arts District. Gateway CDC works in the communities of Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Mount Rainie.”
The determination of the collective membership and the assistance of partners such as Gateway CDC - www.gatewaycdc.org, The Carnival Bandleaders Association (CBLA) - www.cbladc.com and The DC Caribbean Carnival
Committee - www.dccaribbeancarnival.org/carnival/, to promote the organization and keep moving forward, is the
main ingredient which will ensure that PanMasters continues to grow as it strides boldly and confidently into the
future...One Love!
33
events in tune
Pan Greats
Honoured in London
written by The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission
The Commonwealth Arts and Cultural Foundation in association with His Excellency Mr Garvin
Nicholas, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago held its Steelpan Awards
2011 at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London on Tuesday 26th July 2011.
The event was held to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Steel Orchestra
(TASPO) and the Golden Jubilee of the Dixieland Steel Orchestra. To recognise and commemorate these two
historic events, the Year 2011 has been designated and declared the ‘Year of the Steel Pan’.
The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Steel Orchestra (TASPO) was the first steel band to perform in the United
Kingdom. This steelband performed at the South Bank, London on July 26th 1951. Trinidad and Tobago was
the only country in the British Empire to perform in the UK even though all the other British colonies were
invited including India and other African and Caribbean countries. It was organised by the Steel Band Association and headed by Mr. Sidney Gollop, the first President of the Steel Band Association.
In May 1961 the Dixieland Steel Orchestra came to the United Kingdom after winning the National Steel Band
Music Festival in Trinidad and Tobago.
34
His Excellency Garvin Nicholas, in his welcome address, spoke about the significance of the Steel pan
and its contribution to the musical art form in the United
Kingdom. He acknowledged that the steel pan was
making significant inroads into most countries on all
continents but that persons must not forget that Trinidad
and Tobago is the birth place of ‘this fine instrument’.
He commented on the contribution of Mr. Sonny Blacks,
Artistic Director, Commonwealth Arts, who was instrumental in organising the evening’s event.
The High Commissioner also informed the invitees that
he was able to present a beautiful tenor pan as a gift to
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as their wedding
gift. He read from the letter received from St James’ Palace thanking him for the gifts:
‘Your Excellency
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me
to convey how deeply moved they were that you should
think to send such a generous gift in celebration of their
marriage of the splendid steel drum and also the very
nice crystal decanter full of Trinidadian rum. It was truly
so kind of you to think of Their Royal Highnesses in this
way, and no doubt they will have much pleasure in playing the drum whilst drinking the rum!’
High Commissioner ended his welcome by wishing the
honourees all the best for the future and thanked them
for their contribution in making the pan the most versatile instrument ever invented and for helping to put Trinidad and Tobago on the world map together with other
great musical geniuses.
A number of Steel pan icons were present on the night.
They included Keith Diaz, President of Pan Trinbago.
Mr. Diaz, in his speech, spoke about the history of pan
which he described as ‘a chronicle of extraordinary
achievement and of extraordinary men and women
who sacrificed life, limb and reputation in their attempts
to place the instrument in its proper niche’. Mr. Diaz
spoke about the three day International Conference on
the steelpan to be hosted next year by Pan Trinbago
and his impending visit to Nigeria to meet persons interested in pan. Another notable pan icon, Mr. Nestor
Sullivan, Pamberi Steel Orchestra, was present at the
Awards Ceremony.
The List of Awardees included Mr. Sterling Betancourt – TASPO, who received an award from Her
Majesty on behalf of TASPO. Mr Betancourt has
been acknowledged as the main steel pan player and
tuner responsible for keeping pan alive in the United
Kingdom. Other awardees included Mr Miguel Barradas, Dixieland, Mr. Alfred Totesaut, Dixieland, Mr.
Trevor Cumberbatch, Dixieland, Mr. Lennox Langton, Dixieland, Mr. Russell Valdez, Dixieland, Mr. Michael ‘Natsi’ Contant – Tuner of Dixieland (RIP), Ms.
Angela Christopher, Dancer of Dixieland, Mr. Sonny
Blacks, Manager of Dixieland. Two surprise awards
were also given to Mr. Peter Joseph and Mr. Cyril
Khamai for their contribution to the steelpan movement in the United Kingdom.
There was also a commemorative concert at the South
Bank after the Awards Ceremony at the High Commission. This concert featured the CSI Youth Steelband led
by Mr. Brent Holder, a national of Trinidad and Tobago.
35
The Bassman – Acrylic on canvas
Elizabeth
Caesar
Artist Extraordinaire
“Elizabeth often draws from her past experiences as a
bass player to transfer the rhythms of steel band music
into her poetry and unto her canvases.”
Inspired by parents who designed and created costumes for
Carnival competitions in Trinidad, Elizabeth has been creating
art in one way or another from an early age—from costume designs to murals assembled from fabric, string, and found items.
“As a child I drove my mother crazy with the stuff I would bring home sometimes,” she said. “From pieces of windshield glass, picked up on the street after an accident, to termite-eaten wood. I love natural things, especially wood;
and I find seeds, pods, bark, etc., artistically interesting.
Needless to say, getting these things past my mom was not easy. I have fond
memories of her looking at me sternly, waving a finger, and warning me not to
bring anything home on my trips to the beach with my aunty May. Whenever
I got home, she would ask, “What did you bring?” And then she would laugh
when I showed her the shells, or beach glass, or pieces of driftwood I had
logged home.”
36
Boogsie – The Arranger – Acrylic on canvas
The Blue Devil – Acrylic on canvas
Len Boogsie – Mixed media
As a child, Elizabeth tagged along with her father, Randolph
Sharpe, on his journeys to “the Mang” off Wrightson Road in
Woodbrook, where he collected clay, which he would later mold
into shapes, and cover with homemade paper maché to make
masks for his “ole mas” costumes. Her father won prizes for
many of his original designs. Most notable was his portrayal
of Mr. Carib. His costume essentially was a suit and hat completely covered with Carib bottle caps.
Elizabeth was born on Benares Street, in St. James, Port-ofSpain, Trinidad, in the very yard that housed the legendary Sinfonettes Steel Band. She is the youngest of five children and
the little sister of noted musician, composer and arranger Len
‘Boogsie’ Sharpe.
“Growing up in the St. James/Woodbrook area, surrounded by
so many steel bands, fed my fervor for pan, but ironically I was
not allowed to play. In my house it was not considered ladylike.”
Elizabeth confirmed.
Elizabeth’s chance to “play pan” came when she traveled to the
United States in 1982 to attend the Corcoran School of Art and
joined the T&T Steelband in Washington, DC. She later moved
on with some of its members who formed the PanMasters Steel
Orchestra in 1985. She is still a member today. In fact it’s a
family thing. Elizabeth’s two kids, Belinda and Jeremy, and her
husband Keith, whom she first met when she joined the T&T
Steelband, are also members of PanMasters.
Belinda and Jeremy are musicians in their own right. Jeremy
is also an accomplished drummer. In addition to being able
to play any pan in a steelband, they both arrange music and
are music tutors at their alumni the Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFÉ) — a music-based academic program in Washington DC, www. cafeyouth.org.
Elizabeth and Keith no longer “play pan”, but they often help
out in the “engine room”’ at PanMasters on the iron and the
congas.By profession, Elizabeth is a graphic artist, but designing and creating works of art is her passion.
Music, color, and movement are her sources of inspiration;
and although she works predominantly with acrylics, oils, and
pencil, any medium that’s handy at the moment her creativity is
stimulated will do. Elizabeth often draws from her past experiences as a bass player to transfer the rhythms of steel band
music into her poetry and unto her canvases.The steel band, or
Pan, is one of her favorite subjects to paint. “Making art is the
thing that keeps me sane,” she said.
37
THE BOSS! WE THE BOSS!
U K
W O M E N
O F
S T E E L
SWEETWRISTS • PANNESS • PAN WOMAN • PAN DIVA
The UK Women of Steel event, was a part of the Hackney Fringe Festival which was between 10th and 30th July 2011. The world renowned Reggae Saxophonist, Ray Carless,
organised this event for the Festival at Visions Video Bar in Dalston on 22nd July.
As the audience started to build, you could feel the excitement in the atmosphere. And these talented ladies
made the audience wait for their performances. And it
was worth it.
Ray welcomed and introduced the evening...Then called
Carlene ‘Sweetwrists’ Etienne who began the show with a
stunning ‘Summer time’ that also celebrated her birthday
that day. Sweetwrist not only blessed us with her Pan
dexterity on Double Tenor but then used her soulful voice
to sing the last verse to everyone’s surprise.
The show continued when we were treated to a special
guest; Iman ‘Ras-Shorty’ Pascall-Evanson. Iman is in the
UK to arrange RASPO’s 2011 Panorama tune. Iman is
known for playing Pan in that amazing Phase II FRONT
LINE for Trinidad Panorama. Her skill and smooth improvising really was a treat for everyone.
38
Next up was Delphina ‘Panness’ James playing the
Double Seconds. She did a beautiful and passionate
rendition of ‘Misty’. Looking wonderful as always, Vanya
‘Pan Woman’ Reid got the crowd singing and swaying
with popular song ‘ September’. Her well executed
playing on the Low C tenor Pan was appreciated by
all.
Then everyone’s Pan Mentor, Debra ‘Pan Diva’ RomainAhmad blew the audience, the staff, everyone away
with her rendition of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’.
Her strong and confident singing accompanied with
her Tenor Pan playing that made the audience wanting
more.
‘Pan Woman’ mentioned that the love and support from
the audience helped our performances and eased any
butterflies and nerves. All the ladies looked confident
and comfortable. he perfect way to end the first half.
The second half was a smasher with ‘Sweetwrists’ performing 2 vocal compositions (accompanying herself
with her Double Tenor’ with an appearance from Samuel
Du Bois playing a solo to one of her tunes. Her performance was mixed in with audience participation of
‘Happy Birthday’.
‘Pan Woman’ performed ‘Silly Games’ showing her
excellent technique and cool improvisation. Pan Diva
completed the set with ‘Sweet Love’. Her melodic singing and playing gave such a great performance.
To end the night there was a big collaboration with all
the UK WOMEN OF STEEL to play Boogsie’s ‘Woman is
Boss’. Again Iman came to the stage and played Pan
Diva’s Tenor Pan as Pan Diva sung the calypso classic. The bar came alive with the sweet sounds of PAN
– sweet jamming chords from Panness, smooth melodic
lines from Pan Woman – spot on harmonies from Sweet
Wrists – Lyrics and soul from Pan Diva.
The UK Women of Steel event was an excellent
success... ‘Pan Diva has excelled herself tonight – really impressed me’... ‘Panness making them Double
Seconds sing’... ‘Pan Woman knows exactly the right
music choices to get me grooving’... ‘Sweetwrists talent is going to get her far’ ‘I’m so glad I came. I didn’t
know these Pan players had this talent.
All performances were special and memorable. A great
and enjoyable night’ From Pan Diva ‘This event was important for us, as women aren’t really showcased in the
Pan Community in this country. Our hard work paid off
tonight and I’m really proud of the ladies that performed.
There will be more from WOMEN IN STEEL’
We do hope to perform again and that other ladies will
join us.....Susannah Flack, Princess Rollock, Miranda
Hohenkirk, Jenny Gilberg....that’s just to name a few.
39
The Diamond Vale Government
Primary Steel Ensemble
by Yolande Joseph
'The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music'
Agnes de Mile
It was a truly visionary move in 1991 that inspired Mrs. Yvonne Pinder, the then Principal of
Diamond Vale Government Primary School, to commission the construction of the school’s Pan
Theatre and establish the first Primary School Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago. This decision was critical in charting the course of the school, which twenty years later, clearly continues
to excel in the Arts.
40
The Diamond Vale Government Primary Steel Ensemble has upheld this legacy with its present membership of eighteen talented young musicians who share a love for the steel pan. Directed by Mrs. Yolande Joseph, this combined
group of both present and past pupils can boast of a wide repertoire of music, ranging from classical to Trinidad’s
own calypso and chutney selections.
The Ensemble is no stranger to the stage, both locally and abroad. Some of their most recent performances include
guest appearances at Jazzang which was held at Phase Two Pan Yard in December 2010 and at the Carnival Village
in Movietowne in March 2011. On both occasions they performed to very appreciative audiences, treating them to a
repertoire ranging from classics to local seasonal favourites. The ensemble performed at the Aberdeen International
Youth Festival in Scotland in July 2010, where they were clear favourites, wowing international audiences at varied
venues.
Their latest achievement is the release of their first CD entitled When Dreams Come True. This CD was launched at
a concert entitled A Journey in Steel at Queen’s Hall in May 2011. Their performance earned them excellent reviews
with overwhelming requests from the public for a repeat performance. The CD showcases extensive repertoire from
their tour to Scotland and features music for all age groups and tastes.
The Diamond Vale Government Primary Steel Ensemble provides positive alternative choices for the nation’s youths,
nurturing their love for music, while instilling in them, discipline and a sense of professionalism. It is their desire to
continue to be positive role models for upcoming young musicians both here and abroad.
They can be contacted at 868 778 2514 or email them at [email protected]
Their band profile can also be viewed at www.ttentonline.com where individual track downloads from
our album will be offered by July, 2011.
41
Jamal
Glynn
by Jamal Jasani ‘Pacman’ Glynn
'Having to understand music therapy in a broad sense shed light
onto my own experiences and helped me become a better musician'
Hi my name is Jamal Jasani ‘Pacman’ Glynn, originally from Geranium Drive, Morvant, Trinidad.
I have been a steelpan player for over 29 years and was a member of some of the most famous
steelbands in Trinidad and England, e.g. Curepe Scherzando, Solo Harmonites, Pamberi, Ebony
Steelband Trust and Phase II Pan Groove. For eight years, I was a professional musician at the
Trinidad and Tobago National Steel Symphony Orchestra.
In 2007, I completed a BA in Musical Art (special in Steelpan) at the University of The West Indies, St Augustine
Campus, in Trinidad. I developed the idea to work as a music therapist and this passion drove me to apply for a
developmental award. In 2009, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago awarded me a full scholarship to train as a
music therapist at the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. In 2011, I successfully attained my postgraduate
MA as a music therapist with the steelpan as the primary musical instrument to form therapeutic relationships.
The music therapy training course at Anglia Ruskin University had a strong focus on psychoanalytic approaches
within music therapy. This meant that each student had to attend a minimum of 50 sessions with a registered psychotherapist. It was a challenge to grasp this new way of thinking, writing and understanding which proved very useful
for developing a better understanding about particular client groups as well as myself.
The course also included practical clinical placements in three different settings. My first was at a special needs
school for six months where I interacted with autistic children at different ends of the spectrum. My most memorable
interaction was with a young boy who had been diagnosed with developmental delay. During my clinical sessions
he excelled in accessing his mental functions and towards the end of the therapeutic relationship he became more
verbally coherent.
42
My next session was at St. Christopher’s Hospice, London where I worked with the elderly providing support
to their quality of life through music therapy. I worked
with elders from different parts of the UK and different
ethnic backgrounds, in particular, the Caribbean.
I developed a positive therapeutic relationship with
a Caribbean gentleman diagnosed with cancer and
used the rhythms from the Caribbean to access his
inner world. The steelpan acted as a medium to form
associations with his youthful days assisting him to
reminisce. Attendance at the Hospice’s cross section
meetings was useful. I also provided entertainment on
the steelpan for half an hour after each meeting and
was invited to perform at their Christmas function for
their patron, Princess Alexandra.
In my final placement, I had the opportunity to work with
a young psychiatric outpatient who was on medication.
It was impressive to see this young man operating on
a high cognitive level, getting off medication and being
able to access his inner world and create melodies on
a steelpan.
In the second year, I had to submit a dissertation and
mine’s was “An Exploration of the Steelpan in Music
therapy”. The chapters included a brief history of the
steelpan in Trinidad and England, case studies as a
music therapist and an analysis of interviews with people involved with the steelpan in education or community work in England/Trinidad.
Finance was a challenge as my allowance was not
enough so I busked at least once a week on a pair of
oversize double seconds secured from Len ‘Boogsie’
Sharpe. I was also able to do a few workshops at two
local primary schools to subsidise my costs. Attaining
my masters in music therapy was a developmental process. It encompassed understanding psychoanalysis,
improved my musical ability and interaction with multi
ethnic class mates. I was also trained by Tony Wigram,
Helen Odell- Miller, Amelia Oldfield, Eleanor Richards,
and Helen Loth, some of the leading authorities in music
therapy in the UK.
The complex experiences of this course were interwoven. Having to understand music therapy in a broad
sense shed light onto my own experiences and helped
me become a better musician and assisted in communication with clients/ client groups such as autistic
children, elderly in palliative care, and clients in mental
health care.
It was not all about the steelpan. I also interact with a
combination of musical instruments. But my particular
interests were steelpan, drum-set, piano, xylophone,
tambourines and shakers which could be integrated into
a particular session. Psychoanalysis was critical in my
last two placements.
Having the opportunity to talk and listen to clients as they
developed a level of trust, that allowed them to express
their deepest thoughts, emotions, and feelings, helped
me work. I worked on the different applications of the
steelpan within a session to create an impact. I believe
there are no other music therapists who use the steelpan
as their primary instrument. I am now able to communicate with and to access clients as they improvise on this
instrument.
There is still a lot of room for further studies on the steelpan since it is a young instrument and growing in importance and this will be critically important for future endeavours. There aren’t many universities that embrace
the steelpan into their curriculum.
All in all, my course offered me a fantastic opportunity to
illustrate the special characteristics and differences of
the steelpan compared to other musical instruments.
43
pan podium
special
feature
Admiral Daniel Gallery
Patriot and American Steel Pan Pioneer
by Dr. Andrew Martin
Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery
If one were to compile a list of early important
steel panists active in creating a steel pan scene
in America, important names the likes of Ellie Mannette, Rudy King, Cliff Alexis, and Andy Narell are
sure to be included.
However, it may surprise many that missing from this
list is arguably the most important—and certainly the
most dynamic—American steel pan pioneer: Admiral
Daniel Gallery. With steel pan roots that connect such
icons as Ellie Mannette, Al O’Connor, and singer Harry
Belafonte, Gallery’s contributions to the early development of steel pan in America laid the foundation for
future generations of steel panists.
Admiral Gallery was a classic American war hero with
impeccable character, sharp wit, and plenty of can-do
spirit. He was an accomplished officer and his military
honors are many; most notably his capture of the German submarine U-505 in 1944 - the first such American capture of an enemy vessel since the early 1800s.
A true renaissance man, Gallery was well-versed
in the arts, an avid reader, an accomplished athlete
(he competed on the United States Olympic team as
a wrestler during the 1920 Games held in Antwerp,
Belgium), and a writer with eight books and countless
newspaper articles to his credit. The Admiral was also
44
single-handedly responsible for starting and fostering
the first youth baseball leagues in Puerto Rico which
have since led to the development of numerous professionals including Roberto Alomar and Ivan “Pudge”
Rodriguez. Despite the aforementioned achievements
and Gallery’s command of an area encompassing the
Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean (Tenth Naval District), the Admiral grudgingly acknowledges a notoriety
forever linked with Trinidad’s National instrument.
I never heard of the steel drum until I was in Trinidad
at Carnival time in 1957, and when I heard hundreds
of them in the fabulous Carnival parade. The music
just got inside me and shook me up. I bought a whole
set of steel drums, and when I got to San Juan I sent
for the leader of my official navy band, Chief Musician
Charles A. Roeper, and told him I wanted to teach his
boys how to play them…During my forty-three years of
active duty in the Navy, I had a hand in a lot of things
for which one might think I would be remembered, such
as inventing new ordnance devices, flying jet airplanes,
and capturing a German Submarine.
I have also written three books and a lot of articles and
short stories for the Saturday Evening Post, Reader’s
Digest, and other national magazines. But if you ask
any captain or admiral on active duty now, “do you
know Dan Gallery?” the chances are he will say, “Sure.
He’s the guy who started that steel band in San Juan.”
Gallery, like many Americans, was entranced by the
melody and lyricism of Harry Belafonte’s 1956 Calypso
album; however, Gallery was an ambitious well-connected man and his interest in calypso resulted in the
formation of a steel band comprised of naval musicians
at his base in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Unlike most Americans in the 1950s, Gallery actually attended Carnival in
Trinidad (in both 1955 and 1957) and was spellbound
by the spirit, music, and sound of the steel bands.
Moreover, so profound was his Carnival experience that
it served as the driving force for Gallery’s steel band
obsession.
In February of 1957, Gallery ordered a set of steel
drums from Ellie Mannette in Port of Spain, and had
the instruments (and later Mannette himself) shipped
to San Juan. The first musicians of the US Navy Steel
Band were actually traditional navy musicians (players of trombones, flute, etc.) stationed in San Juan until
Gallery ordered these base musicians to surrender their
normal instruments and learn to play steel drums. Gallery’s flag rank made him a US diplomat and he often
hosted foreign dignitaries, military officers, and political
officials in San Juan using steel band as the showcase
entertainment. According to former US Navy Steel Band
member Franz Grissom “it must have been strange for
Caribbean diplomats to hear steel pan at a meeting with
the US Navy.”
The US Navy Steel Band toured the Caribbean and
United States extensively and gave performances at the
White House and on national variety television shows,
including The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958 and 1959. The
group also performed at the 1958 World’s Fair held in
Brussels and toured Latin America in 1960 under orders from President Eisenhower and the US State department. Gallery was a public relations genius and he
considered the US Navy Steel Band an indispensable
tool for recruiting new sailors. The group, which moved
to New Orleans in 1972 and later disbandment in 1999,
brought the cultural capital of the Caribbean—steel pan
music and the Limbo—to the fore of the American cultural mainstream.
Gallery influence seemingly touched all aspects of steel
band in America, and, for example, with Gallery’s help
Ellie Mannette was able to secure a special H1 artiste’s
visa in 1961 which meant he could freely work in the
United States and enabled his permanent immigration in 1967. However, Gallery’s impact on the growth
and development of steel pan in America can best be
seen in the activity of the US Navy Steel Band. From
his founding leadership the group gave approximately
30,000 performances world-wide, recorded seven albums, and performed on numerous television shows
and three feature films.
In all, the US Navy Steel Band reached an audience
that ranged into the millions. Moreover, the residual
impact of Gallery and the US Navy Steel Band is witnessed by the countless individuals who, inspired by
the group, formed steel bands across America (Northern Illinois University and the University of North Texas
for example), many of which still play steel band arrangements created by US Navy Steel Band member
Franz Grissom.
Gallery commanded his Caribbean post from December 1956 until July 1960 when, battling the early stages
of cancer, he retired from the Navy. Gallery was a man
of unrelenting energy, and in his short time in Puerto
Rico, the Admiral was able to forever shape the course
of the steel band movement in America. His energy and
enthusiasm for life, music, and Carnival are hallmarks
of early American steel pan pioneers. Beyond his contributions to steel pan in America, Gallery can be credited with changing perceptions of Caribbean music
throughout the American cultural mainstream. Gallery
was bitten by the “pan jumbie” and the Admiral excitedly told a colleague in 1957:
“I’ve got something down hear [Puerto Rico] that is really terrific! The thing has such tremendous possibilities
that my mind boggles when I start thinking about it. It’s
musical business, which might knock Rock n Roll, and
Elvis Presley into the trash can (where they belong). It’s
a steel band. . . . Last February [1957] I was in Trinidad at Carnival time. I had never even heard of a steel
band up to that time. I heard several hundred of them
play then and I’ll never be the same again. They [steel
bands] do things to you that are immoral, illegal, and
unconstitutional.”
45
The Montreal
International
Steelpan Festival2011
by Adiylah & Salah Wilson
This was the 11th edition of the festival and there were changes in the time span and location.
The festival was extended for an entire weekend and the new location was at Parc Jean Drapeau
a historic note - this is the island ( Ile Ste Hèlène) where the famous Montreal world fair ‘Expo
’67’ was held, this is where the Trinidad Pavilion was featured with the Steelband as the main
attraction. It was also the event where Liberace met the Esso Tripoli Steelband and took them on
a three year tour of the USA.
The July 8th event was a Steelpan Soloists concert which featured the following soloists. Raynald Drouin from Quebec City, Pepeto Pinto from Jamaica, Hameed Shaqq ‘The Pan Piper’ from Toronto and Salah Wilson from Montreal.
The Event opened with a solo performance by young 12 year old Rashiyd Wilson ( grandson of Salah) the audience
was thrilled with a variety of styles from the competent Steelpan Soloists.
The July 9th event saw the participation of two Steelbands in the annual Carifiesta (Carnival) parade. Caribbean
Cultural Association of Halton ( CCAH) Steelband a group from Ontario Canada and Salah’s Steelpan Academy
from Montreal. There were no Steelbands participation in their parade for quite a number of years, but according to
Salah it was about supporting a community objective. The Steelbands, one at the top of the parade and one at the
end of the parade delighted the crowds of participants and spectators.
The July 10th event was the main event as it featured the annual Panorama competition. The scenic view of the island of Parc Jean Drapeau gave a feeling of being on an island in the Caribbean so the atmosphere was vibrant. This
annual Steelpan festival was twinned with other festivals occurring on the islands under the banner of ‘Weekends du
monde’ so there was a natural flow of thousands of people.
46
The Festival was again opened with a solo performance by young 12 year old Rashiyd Wilson (grandson of Salah).
Other groups which followed in a non competitive role included – ‘Special Connection’ a group from the school of
Salah’s Steelpan Academy which consisted of some autistic youths with their parents and friends forming indeed a
special connection Steelpan group, they were appreciated and cheered on by the audience. Other performances
included Coronation Elementary school of Montreal and Forrest Creek Juniors from Ontario. The audience was always appreciative of the performances of the youngsters.
This was followed by the warm –up sessions of the bands where they played their two songs a tune of choice (non
calypso) and their Panorama song. This set the stage as to what to expect for the actual competition. There was
eagerness in the audience as well as the participants for the competitive stage and no one was disappointed with
the outcome. During the adjudicators deliberations of the competition, some of the soloists from the Friday July 8th,
event entertained the crowd. Salah’s Steelpan Academy has now won the last five consecutive
Panorama competition in Montreal. For more information and so much more visit www.steelpanplus.com
THE FOLLOWING WERE THE RESULTS OF THE TOP THREE BANDS
Tune of Choice:
1st place Salah’s Steelpan Academy of Montreal - ‘Cry Me A River” by Justin Timberlake.
Arranged by Miriyam and Salah Wilson
2nd, place Pan Coalition of Maine USA - ‘Hips Don’t Lie’
Arranged by Nigel Chase
3rd, place CCAH Steelband of Ontario - Soul Sister
Arranged by Albert John
Panorama Song:
1st place Salah’s Steelpan Academy of Montreal - ‘How We Coming” by Brian Bean Griffith
Arranged by Salah Wilson
2nd, place Pan Coalition of Maine USA - ‘Calling Meh’ by Destra
Arranged by Nigel Chase
3rd, place CCAH Steelband of Ontario - ‘Do Something For Pan’ By Len Boogsie Sharpe
Arranged by Albert John
47
Jenny
Gilberg
Pannist painting
up a storm!
Acclaimed British pannist and artist Jenny Gilberg
has set her sights high once again as she plans a
unique art exhibition in Port of Spain coinciding with
the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2011 and bringing
together her passions, art and music, but, in particular, steel pan.
Jenny’s Exhibition Statement:
“As an award winning British steel pannist
I embrace Trinidad’s national performance
tradition, steel pan, from a perspective
based in the visual arts. My solo exhibition
of ten documentary-style combinations of
painting and photography will be exhibited
in a working panyard during the run-up to
Panorama 2011, bringing to Port of Spain a
behind-the-scenes look at the prestigious
Trinidad & Tobago Panorama competition.
This will form a visual backdrop to my public rehearsals as I prepare for the competition generating a cultural dialogue between
a pannist-artist from North East England and
a renowned panyard in Port of Spain.”
48
Arrangements and plans are steadily moving forward with pan organisations BAS and Pantrinbago supporting the
exhibition and applications going to the British Council as well as a few local organisations. Following the launch of
the exhibition in Trinidad it will then be on show in Newcastle and London and hopefully some popular pan venues
in London.
Jenny studied Fine Art at Northumbria University, specialising in painting, and graduated with first class honours in
2009. After graduating she became a graduate fellow at the University in the painting department (2009/10). Throughout her degree she always managed to maintain and build on her pan career: winning the 2008 BAS Solo Pan Explosion competition, tutoring in schools, and performing and arranging for North Tyneside Steel Band, who have enjoyed
great success recently including another performance at the Music for Youth Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
in 2008 and a top-of-the-bill appearance at the Cudrefin Steel Band Festival in Switzerland in 2009.
Jenny tutors pan in several schools across North Tyneside and Northumberland and has performed in the UK Panorama with Stardust Steel Orchestra and Caribbean Steel International (CSI) and in the 2010 Trinidad & Tobago
Panorama with Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille and San Juan East Side Symphony. She has since gone on to
become a member of Graduate Studio Northumbria (GSN), a professional working art studio based at Northumbria
University. Her studio space at GSN is where she spends her time painting in between working as a performer and
peripatetic instrumental tutor. Jenny has been involved in several local art exhibitions in Newcastle as well as Berwick
and in London, but this ambitious Trinidad exhibition will be the most significant show of her career.
Over the last year, Jenny has been working hard to set up her own steel pan business. With assistance from local
enterprise agency TEDCO and a business start-up grant from North Tyneside Council, she managed to acquire a set
of high quality steel pans and is offering individual and group tuition, workshops and performances to schools across
the North East. Please visit www.jennygilberg-steelpan.co.uk.
As a result of starting up her own business, Jenny has been working with North Tyneside Disability Forum (NTDF)
on a steel pan based music therapy project over the last six months. Pans are a very accessible instrument for any
age or ability and she has discovered that they are a very good instrument to use for music therapy work. Jenny also
works as a woodwind and percussion peripatetic tutor for Northumberland County Council Music Service.
Jenny stated, ‘I feel very fortunate that my two passions, art and music, go hand in hand and that I have been able to
pursue both successfully. It seems fitting that my first solo exhibition blends both pan and painting and is to be shared
with the pan community, who have always supported me and welcomed me so readily.’
Pan Podium applauds the arduous efforts of Jenny. This amazing artist, musician and photographer’s drive, determination, aspiration, musicality, and affable manner will see her achieve much more in the future.
To see more of Jenny’s art work visit www.jennygilberg-art.com.
49
LP reviews
by Rachel Hayward
PAN AM JET NORTH STARS SOUVENIRS IN STEEL
RCA
Victor LPSD 3035, 1965
This album was made by the Pan Am Jet North Stars in 1965, two years after the band won the
first ever Panorama, remains an astonishing tribute to the skills of the musicians, tuners and
arrangers involved with this project.
Anthony William’s revolutionary innovations in pan manufacture are easily heard here in the
clarity of each line, especially in the lower pans which ring out with both a power and delicacy
that most modern bands would envy. The pitch and blending of the pans, while not perfect at
all times, is easily comparable to modern instruments and better than in some contemporary
recordings. The musicians achieve a variety of style and demonstrate a musical understanding
of the different genres on the album.
Beautifully executed runs in ‘Maria’ and ‘The End of the World’, and the virtuosic showpiece
‘Minute Waltz’ contrast with the atmospheric and mesmerising ‘Moonlight Sonata’ which also
is a fine example of a well-constructed arrangement carefully dovetailing the moving lines between the different pans. The album also contains a selection of contemporary popular songs
and calypsos which are performed with exuberant verve and panache.
Not commercially available in a digital form this album is well worth tracking down - copies can
be found on eBay - as this is one of the best and most inspiring pan recordings of any era, and
is also enhanced by the beautifully produced gatefold cover with a clever die cut pan design on
which hints at the audio treats contained within.
THE
ESSO TRIPOLI STEELBAND- WS 1917, 1971
There were at least two bands which included ‘Esso’ in their titles, in the mid 1950s some
members of Dixie Stars (themselves a faction of Dixieland) entered into a sponsorship deal
with Esso, and relocated to Bermuda where they enjoyed great success.
However, the band on this recording is the Tripoli Steel Band who was instrumental in bringing
the sound of pan to the ears of millions of Canadians and Americans during the late 1960s through their performances at the World’s
Fair in Montreal, Canada, and later on the television shows of flamboyant pianist Liberace, with whom they also extensively toured.
This album is a masterful collection of performances, many of which feature vocals (‘Apeman’, ‘Cecilia’, ‘I Want You Back’ and ‘Come
to the Sunshine’, ‘Erasmus B. Black’) and have been recorded with evident reverb. The album features two classical tracks; the first
is a impressively aggressive and beautifully executed rendition of Khatchaturian’s ‘Sabre Dance’ which utilises the metallic effects
possible on pans. The album closes with Saint-Saen’s ‘Aquarium’ from the Carnival of the Animals.
While not as gentle and mysterious as the orchestral version, this performance certainly evokes the metallic sheen and flashes of the
fish as they dart around the aquarium. Other selections include calypsos by Sparrow and Lord Blakie (‘Erasmus B. Black’ and ‘Simple
Calypso’) and popular songs of the time.
While the band lacks the variety of tone and style demonstrated by the North Stars, this collection easily compensates through the
energy and vigour of the execution of the masterful and entertaining arrangements.. Rachel Hayward 12 November 2010
50
Unheard Voices
Myrna Nurse
Unheard Voices will surely delight as well as inform you on facts about the movement revealed for the
first time. Surely, you will want to add this important work to you personal library. A compilation of twenty-two
narratives, each story portrays pan-people’s perpetual struggle and triumph over much adversity to bring to
the world the only percussion invention of the twentieth century.
Prominently featured are some “fathers” of the movement: Elliott “Ellie” Mannette and Neville Jules. Author,
Myrna Nurse, also considers the women who have broken into this art form, as well as Calypso, “the music
of the steelband” itself. Unheard Voices is a welcome addition to the small but growing body of literature on
the musical inventions of the West Indian Diaspora.
by PANNESS
COOL
EVENINGS 2– Mighty Jamma
The Mighty Jamma has made more CDs than I have fingers and all have been a mighty success. ‘Cool
Evenings 2’ is a great collection of popular tunes from deep soul such as ‘Saving All My Love’ to football
classics such as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. His improvisation is sweet and non evasive which makes for
easy, enjoyable listening. The title really does say it all...you’ll find yourself singing and swaying. ‘Cool
Evenings 2’ is perfect for when you are taking a hot bath and glass of wine. YOU WILL ENJOY.
Highlights from the album: Lately, Endless Love
ONCE MORE, FROM THE TOP, WITH FEELING North
Tyneside Steel Band
North Tyneside Steel Band (NTSB) has made an excellent album. From the beginning, you get a great
sense of hard work and most of all FUN. Their hard work has paid off with Calypso, Latin Jazz, pop and
more exciting arrangements. Players from the band have also had a hand at arranging some tunes which
always adds refreshing ideas and sounds. This is an album for all ages and the togetherness of the playing
is great to listen to at anytime. Highlights from the album: Bohemian Rhapsody, Golden Brown
TLA
SteelBand
TLA made this CD while performing live and you can hear the audience appreciation after every track.
This album has a great selection of tunes with an arrangement from modern pop group Black Eyed Peas.
TLA have a great rhythm section that really did a great job keeping all sections playing together.
Highlights from the album: They Don’t Care About Us, Band From Space, I’ve Got A Feeling
PAN
SPIRIT STEEL ORCHESTRA
This CD had me dancing, singing, and appreciating every note played. A very good CD from a very good
band of musicians. Again, a great selection of songs with well written arrangements. Great levels with
harmonies and timbre between the different sections. This album truly invites the listener on a journey to
the Caribbean with tunes to make you smile. This album has captured the spirit of PAN and is a GREAT
LISTEN. Highlights from the album: Hard Times, High Mas
WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE –
Diamond
Vale Government Primary Steel Ensemble
This album is a fantastic collection of music ranging from Classical to Reggae to Jazz. This album shows
just how disciplined Pan Players can be and how versatile Pan is. It doesn’t say if the players have memorised the classics or if they are reading sheet music, either way you hear great practice, skill and control,
especially in ‘Panis Angelicus’ Their classical pieces are very tight and well arranged. It was especially
great to hear a singer performing with Pan in ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’.....GET THIS ALBUM!
Highlights from the album: William Tell Overture, Pan Rising, Rajin Jheem Jheem Jhoom
52

Having to understand music therapy in a broad sense

Transcription

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