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A Night to Remember - Bravo, Bravo, Bravo - Kendall Williams ACO, NYU, BSO, Crossfire and the Steelpan

New York, New York - This is a magnificent music story that is so much more. It is a story about the human condition that allows one to grow, overcome, provide opportunity and affect change on a community.

The event was “Composers OutFront“ and the

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David Rudder Speaks! - Performing Artist, Composer, Musician Extraordinaire - UpClose!

David Rudder Speaks! - Performing Artist, Composer, Musician Extraordinaire - UpClose!


 

Global - The name David Michael Rudder is synonymous with a thoughtful consideration for artistic integrity, an appreciation of culture, and an acute awareness

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Revisited -- Daddy Sparks, Seventy-eight years young & still playing the Steelpan

Trinidad, W.I. - Come carnival 2010 Fitz-Gerald Sparks would be 79 years young and still playing tenor pan for his beloved Starlift Steelband for Trinidad & Tobago panorama even though he has been confined to

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A Chat With Clive Bradley - Master Arranger, Composer, Producer - UpClose!

Global - Over the course of approximately a little over two decades, members of WST (When Steel Talks) interacted closely with the late Clive Bradley in various capacities - i.e.., musicians, players, engineers and journalists. The following is

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Steelband arranger and guitaris Scipio “Sarge” Sargeant - An Exclusive WST Interview

Scipio “Sarge” Sargeant at Basement Recordings’ studios in an exclusive 2003 WST interview. “Sarge” has been a significant figure on the music scene, co-arranging for Despers USA during their record 6 consecutive year-wins at the New York Panorama.

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Caldera’s Mambo

Global - The writing and performance of Reynold “Caldera” Caraballo’s tune “Caldera’s Mambo” in 1955 was—at the time—the only calypso performed that was composed by a steelband person - and incidentally also how he came by his name.  Caldera’s

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Revisiting - Meet Caldera Caraballo - Panist, Performing Artist, Steelband Promoter... UpClose!

Global - Mr. Caldera Caraballo is a central figure in the history and development of the steelpan movement in the USA as a panist, organizer and promoter. From winning New York’s first-ever steelband competition to organizing the New York Panorama, g

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An Apology - WIADCA Boss Speaks to New York Steelband Community

Brooklyn, New York - In an unprecedented address to members of the New York steelpan community, Mr. William R. Howard (more familiarly known as Mr. Bill Howard), president of WIADCA (West Indian American Day Carnival Association) - expressed regret

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PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2014 - from a Steelband Perspective

Global - So what’s New and Great at the PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2014 currently on at New York’s Jacob Javits Center - from a Pan Perspective?

....We could go on and on about the latest and greatest products. That would serve our readers no good. Too much

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“Can you hear me now?” New York Pan Stars and Brooklyn’s Steel Orchestras Rock Volume II on Pantastic Friday... 2014

New York Pan Stars perform

Brooklyn, New York, USA - The “Cultural Center of the World” is a title that New York City has earned for quite awhile now because of its size, diversity and respect for the arts. And now within the city, Brooklyn has becom

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Revisited - Meet Marc Brooks - He’s Brooklyn! From the Hood and Straight up Crazy In Love with Pan... UpClose!

Global - Meet Marc Brooks:  Brooklyn native, panist, arranger, educator and performing artist... Creative, inquisitive, thoughtful, gifted and growing - Marc is a natural. He is a ‘sponge’ whose musical horizon is expanding by the moment.

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New York 2014 Panorama Basement Panyard Recordings and More... UpClose!

Global - The 2014 Basement New York steelband panyard recordings captured the performances of some of the finest steel orchestras in North America. In addition, some of the world’s most outstanding and respected steelpan music arrangers participated

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St. Jude’s Private School Steelband does Nigeria proud at International Marimba & Steelpan Festival

Gauteng, South Africa -  Steel band musicians of St. Jude’s Private School hailing from Festac Town in Lagos, Nigeria, represented their country well, and indeed, their part of their continent for that matter, when they participated in the 2014 Inte

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New Dimension & Commancheros Steel Orchestras Joint Champions in 2014 Grenada National Panorama

Andre Greenidge, David “Peck” Edwards - Winning Arrangers

St. George’s, Grenada, W.I. - It was double the joy early Sunday morning when defending champs New Dimension Steel Orchestra and challengers Commancheros Steel Orchestra were named joint winne

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Revisited -- Meet Daisy James-McClean - Panist, Lecturer, Pan Pioneer... UpClose!

Global - Mrs. Daisy James-McClean is an award-winning female steelpan musician, whose recognized list of firsts and accomplishments within the steelband movement are both significant and staggering. She is an original (Ms. McClean started playing ove

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Carnival without Kitchener - Revisited

Republished with the expressed permission the author

February 25, 2001
By Raffique Shah

THIS year’s [2001] Carnival has been dedicated to the Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Fransisco), who, as a colossus of calypso, deserves every accolade that he has been

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Ebonites Steel Orchestra Triumphs as 2014 Champion in Antigua & Barbuda Panorama

Third time’s the charm
for arranger Dayne “Wadeka” Gomes

St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - With tears of joy flowing down the faces of grown men, Ebonites Steel Orchestra players both young and old gleefully danced on the stage in exhilaration as

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Meet Khuent Rose - Educator, Arranger, Composer, Performing Artist - UpClose!

Global - Khuent Rose is a scholar, an intellectual, brilliant, thoughtful and cerebral without being ‘disconnected and automated.’ His immense musical talent is undeniable as he remains spiritually, historically and actively engaged with the steelpan

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St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2014 Panorama Results - History-making SIX consecutive championships for Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra

Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines  - History was again made when Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra kept their national Panorama title for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year at Victoria Park in the country’s capital of Kingstown. Though t

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Ace Musician and Steelband Arranger Eddie Quarless Remembered Big-time in Brooklyn

New York, USA - It was an A-plus list of men and women who have shaped the Caribbean musical landscape over the last half-century, bolstered by the great players, major management figures, and fans of the New York steelband music community - all in a

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