In a few weeks New York's Despers USA will host a concert called Champions in Steel. New York has had no shortage of great champion steel orchestra franchises and panorama music arrangements that are now classics. Who can forget those classic panorama battles between some of the greatest music minds to ever walk the planet.
The late Clive Bradley ruled the realm like a King of Thrones, while iconic steelpan music figures the likes of Boogsie Sharpe, Pelham Goddard, Robert Greenidge, Ken "Professor" Philmore, Jit Samaroo and others turned the New York Summer Panorama classic into one of the most competitive and respected music producing events of our era.
Moods Pan Groove's "No WuK for Carnival" as arranged by the great Robert Greenidge, the legendary Len "Boogsie" Sharpes "Mind Yuh Business" with Pan Rebels and "High Mas" with Silhouettes, Pelham Goddard's "Celebrate" with Marsicans and of course there is a body of work from Clive Bradly that may never be matched or reviled in the likes of "Tell Me Why" and Dingolay with Metro, "Stranger" with Pantonic ... All will be required studying by steelpan music educators, musicologist and musicians in the very near future.
An era defined by creativity and awesome musicianship. Indeed you could get your feelings hurt in a New York minute as there are no prisoners allowed or taken. It's one and done! No do-overs! No tomorrows in New York Panorama. It's one thing to excel on the somewhat friendly confines of the ancestral home of the steelpan instrument - Trinidad and Tobago. It is a totally different story to successfully take the show on the road to the hostile environs of Gotham City and successfully tame the beast with your musical culture, heart and 100 plus players steel orchestras.
However, some of the finest music for the steel orchestras was created and performed in this arena.
Here are some past New York panorama performances captured on video.
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Greetings I get up every morning to listen to the sweet pan that When Steel Talks presents to me. Thanks again for making my stay away from home be like home. I always find myself jumping up like ah in Point. Meh wife ting ah crazy, oui. Lately, before writng, l have to listened to meh music.( Check out meh books about Trini on ww.tricanbooks.com). Dr. Lance Seunarine