Santiago de Cuba - A steel band will play the “Ave María” for Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, this Tuesday, March 27.
The “Steel band” composed by 14 amateur musicians is one of the most impo
Read more…Recently, a call came in – someone was looking for a steel drum player for a local gig, and was referred to this one “working panman" from Trinidad; a Florida resident, and one of Boogsie's "crackshot" tenor pan players for Phase II. Negotiations wer
Read more…When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of Junior Pouchet founder of Silver Stars Steel Orchestra.
Related content:
Steelband Pioneer & Arranger Junior Pouchet Remembered: Eulogy
Toward Standardized Pans
by Bert Boldon
Some say that given pan music’s relative newness, which makes ongoing exploration in the tuning area a foregone conclusion, any move toward standardized instruments would be premature. For others, such talk jus
Music from the Ebony Steel Band laces its way around this fine revival of Errol John’s play. At first, it sounds joyous but, with repetition, you hear the melancholy in it. And so it is with John’s p
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Florida, USA - She is one of the world's foremost experts, educators and promoters of the steelpan instrument. Her name is synonymous with inspiring and guiding young musicians to achievement, greatness and academic excellence. When Steel Talks
Read more…Michelle Huggins-Watts
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - She is one of the world's foremost experts, educators and promoters of the steelpan instrument. Her name is synonymous with inspiring and guiding young musicians to achievement, greatn
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Global - Personal notes on live interactions from Panorama 2012 by journalist, pan historian, musician and film editor Dalton Narine.
The thoughts of the likes of the legendary Anthony Williams and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe; the raw words of Pan Trinba
Read more…Trinidad Express
...Maybe that is one of the reasons why they no longer command capacity audiences, with the North Stand just over half-full last Saturday night, when the first big band didn't come on stage until a
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New York, USA - Over the February 11-12, 2012 weekend, New York University hosted the 4th annual PAS (Percussive Arts Society)-KoSA (KoSA International Percussion Workshops)-NYU Weekend of Percussion at the University’s Frederick Loewe Theater. The e
About calling it dumb when it is
By Les Slater
Sometimes we try too hard to convince folks where we're coming from about this or that matter. A case in point being the recent appearance of Mitt Romney before a conservative gathering in Washington,
Glenroy Joseph - Pan Enthusiast, Pan & Calypso Media Cataloger & Collector- speaks on Pan & Panorama 2012
Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - Pan Enthusiast, Carnival, Pan & Calypso Media Cataloger & Collector - Glenroy R. Jo
Hello once again WST Community!
Last year I made my first pilgrimage to the Mecca of Pan and had the opportunity to write about my experiences over the two month period I spent in Trinidad and my first Panorama. Since returning home I longed to retur
Read more…I HAVE been nursing a not-so-quiet anger since last Sunday's Panorama Semi-finals, and no, it has nothing to do with Despers being omitted from the finals, although I feel "a how" about that. I have asked fellow pa
Read more…I’m not pointing any fingers nor am I taking sides; I just think that a serious conversation has to be had among stakeholders about the type of competition we want the panorama to be. Is it about music? Is it about jam? I have no beef with whicheve
Read more…For the last few years, I have been very disappointed with the panorama judging. This leads me to ask:"WHO'S JUDGING THE JUDGES?" As the music has evolved and improved every year, the judging seems to be the same old biases and personal preferences
Read more…A Desperadoes Moment of Greatness
Global - In a Panorama season full of intrigue, surprises and unknown territory rife with land mines and few certainties - we find ourselves in a very special place. It is the morning after the semi-final 2012 Pano
Trinidad Express:
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Police used batons and their fists to beat patrons during the 2012 National Panorama semifinals at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain yesterday, after hundreds of pan fans tried to push past barriers
Etienne Charles - scholar, musician, jazz standout- speaks on Pan, Panorama 2012 and more
Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, panist, assistant jazz professor, performing and recording artist, Etienne Charles shares his overal
Amrit Samaroo - Standout Panist, Composer and Arranger Speaks on Panorama 2012 and more
Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, steelpan musician, composer and arranger - Amrit Samaroo, shares his experiences, visions and overall
