All Blog Posts (562)

Island Jazz Chat is a Jazz in the Islands podcast featuring conversations with Caribbean jazz and panjazz musicians based in the islands and the diaspora. For more, click here.

Andy Narell, globe-trotting and pioneering…

Island Jazz Chat is a Jazz in the Islands podcast featuring conversations with Caribbean jazz and panjazz musicians based in the islands and the diaspora. For more, click here.

Andy Narell, globe-trotting and pioneering steelpan jazz musician, composer and arranger chats about his beginnings in the world of steelpan in the 1960s, and the evolution of the…

Island Jazz Chat is a Jazz in the Islands podcast featuring conversations with Caribbean jazz and panjazz musicians based in the islands and the diaspora. For more, click here.…

I lost my sister this year, around the time when it would have been Carnival and there was instead "A Taste of Carnival". I'm still processing the loss but wanted to share this as it speaks of a big part of her and of me-our love for pan.I think anyone who reads this shares that love.  Do enjoy and respect the copyright!

12^th POEM FOR LISA

There was no Carnival this year

A blessing for me a curse for others

Carnival was…

Island Jazz Chat is a Jazz in the Islands podcast featuring conversations with Caribbean jazz and panjazz musicians based in the islands and the diaspora. For more, click here.…

By Ajamu Nyomba, Ph.D.

and Kiara Nyomba,  M.Ed., CCC-SLP

It’s A New Day: Influence of the Steelpan and Steelpan Players Across Music Genres, Pan People Steelband’s Different Drums Steelpan Experience Spring 2022 production, was held on July 26. The production highlighted the steelpan, its history and its influence in the music of popular artists from various genres. From the…

Trinidad & Tobago’s Phase II Pan Groove, founded by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, celebrates its 50th anniversary in August. Nigel A Campbell looks back at the pioneering journey in the July/August issue of Caribbean Beat magazine.

Caribbean creative and cultural institutions that have achieved the half-century mark are not rare — the…

Quadrophonic Sound Systems now available for hire at a musician price for all Brooklyn Steel Orchestras. We specialize in LIVE MIXING for Steel Bands and also Brass/ Soca Bands.

Produced by Audiozonne Music LLC.

We are available for Labor Day activities:  Support your T&T Small Businesses:

Mixing by: Experience Musicians

Call: 347-573-7196

E-mail:…

Hello Pan Diaspora,

I need info for Casablanca, Wonderland, San Juan All Stars, Sputnik, Kintups and Am Boys.  Do you know what was their tunes of choice and arrangers for the 1960's panorama.

Thanks. 

‘Boots” passed away in Coquitlam, BC last week. Well known Tuner and Pannist on the Vancouver scene for many years. Rest in Peace our Brother and Insiration.

Is there a carnival in or near your city or town?

Kim Johnson tells us in his book, The Illustrated Story of Pan: Second Edition that,

"Anthony 'Muffman' Williams is arguably the most important panman in history, because of his brilliance as an inventor, tuner, arranger and captain. He introduced the use of oil drums for the background pans, the cellos and bass, and then he put them on wheels so the heavy oil drums could be played on the road. He discovered harmonic tuning, in…

Congratulations to Barbados on becoming another Republic in the Caribbean. Let us wish Barbados success in its endeavors. On observation, I was hoping to see steel pans in Barbados’s military.

The steel pans are permanent features in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda militaries. Although Trinidad and Tobago invented the steel pan, the steel pan is the strongest symbol and the greatest identifiers of Caribbean…

On Saturday, November 6th, 2021, Professor Liam Teague of Trinidad and Tobago displayed a masterful pan performance in a NIU Faculty Steel Pan Recital. He was immaculately dressed. His chrome pan shone as if it was a mirror. The sound of his pan induced the taste of honey . He played the standardized cycle of fifth treble pan. He opened the recital with percussive strokes on the side of the pan. Then the professor dazzled the listening audiences with lightning…

Congratulations to Halcyon Steel Orchestra for receiving the Institutional National Honor in Antigua and Barbuda. The Halcyon Steel Orchestra has served the Antigua and Barbuda tourist industry with high distinction. They entertained thousands of tourists on tourist boats and also in hotels. They are synonymous with Sherly Heights, a magnetic venue for tourists and local patrons. The Halcyon Steel Orchestra performed in many countries promoting Antigua and…

There is this thing about books on the steelpan and the steelband movement. They are sometimes large books with plenty words. There are not that many books though; certainly, less illustrated coffee-table sized books have been written on the steelpan than on the electric guitar for instance, or the piano The thing is, Kim…

Dear pan community, during the ninth century, Guido d’Arezzo invented western music notation. In the twentieth century, Trinidad and Tobago invented the steel pan. Western music notation took hundreds of years to arrive where it is today. Brass and combo bands read music notation to accompany calypsonians. Philharmonic orchestras read music notations when performing in concerts. Police and military bands read music notation in march parades. Many steel orchestra…