Trinidad Newsday - Carol Matroo
FOR THE first time, Kazakhstan will experience the sweet sound of the steelpan as four of this country’s top pannists visit that country for the Espana Trade Expo 2017.
Named the Caribbean Steel Pan Connexion (correct spelling), the band consisting of Andre Robbley, Kwesi Paul, Carlon Morris and Terry Guischard left the country yesterday to spend 49 days promoting TT’s national instrument in the Central Asian country. The team was the only one chosen by Caricom to represent the Caribbean at the show.
The team’s manager, Israel Mc- Leod said the men were all professional universtity-qualified musicians who have received an opportunity they have always dreamed of with hopes that more doors like this would open up to them in the future.
The team’s leader Robbley is the lead tenor with the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra for the last 30 years while Paul plays with Pandemonium Steel Orchestra and Phase II Pan Group. Morris is the lead double tenor also with Desperadoes and Guischard plays with NLCB Fonclaire.
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Congratulations guys, Keep Trinidad and Tobago on a positive note.
CONGRATULATIONS: ANDRE AND CARLON TWO OF MY COLLEAUGE IN DESPERADOES,."CRACK SHOTS. AND TOP FRONT LINE PLAYERS"ALSO KWESI FROM PANDEMONIUM AND GUISCHARD FROM FONCLAIRE
KEEP THE DESPERADOES,LAVENTILLE,PANDEMONIUM, FONCLAIRE AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FLAG FLYING HIGH IN "KAZAKHSTAN". AH FEEL THAT FEEL1N "1967".EXPO'67 IN MONTREAL WITH THE ESSO TRIPOLI STEELBAND."AH STILL HERE IN MONTREAL" ....ENJOY"KAZAKHSTAN" .MAKE FRIENDS FOR YOURSELF AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO..
Hello Posters especially Claude
Do not get too excited. In November 2000 6 members of the BT Melodians Steel Orchestra visited Kazakhstan. A visit organised by The British Council and the British Embassy.We were the first steel band to visit that country plus several others. Kazakhstan is one of 30 countries from Azerbaijan to Zambia including Pyongyang in North Korea visited by Melodians over the last 30 years. Some of the countries we have visited several times.
While in Kazakhstan we performed on the National TV and the University. On the TV we played Golden Steppes a composition by a local Kazakh composer plus Lezginka by Kachaturian and All night Long.
It is a pity that some research was not carried out before writing the article. For example In Newsday Archives on the following dates
24 November 2007
23rd July 2008
December 2009 under the heading "UK Mayor plays the steel Pan.
Trinidad Express:
30th June 2000. 23rd August 2003 and 26th February 2005. Under all the above dates our visit is mentioned.
by the end of this week we will be posting a video of our visit on facebook and youtube. We will send a link to When Steel Talks. Keep tuned in to www.melodiansuk.co.uk
The 21st October is our 30th Anniversary celebration concert we have a special piece "Caribbean Pearl" written by Robert Thompson from Arima in Trinidad.
Terry Noel MBE JP
Leader
Melodians Steel OrchestraUK
Terrance: I am fully aware that YOU BRITS have had a BIG LEAD and made MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS taking PAN to the world from as far back as 1951. Give NEWSDAY a little break for their omission; they feature more stories about PAN and CALYPSO than any other local newspaper.
On another note, I think that you should contact the BIG 5 and try to offer them some OUTSIDE GUIDANCE. They need help from EXPATS like you -- they just don't know it as yet!!!
I am looking forward to checking out your "Caribbean Pearl" in October!!!
Claude
Claude This is the exact thing when I joined Groove Warehouse steel band. They are all graduates, never played in a steel band before with the exception of me, who plays congas and the singer of the band. This is a new awaking for steel pan players. God bless. Courtney
They FINALLY getting smart. A FOUR MAN PAN SIDE!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!
Three PANS and two E-PANS with the right players -- WORLD TOUR!!!