Are we here on WST to discuss old time story or for the purpose of bringing about definite and long lasting change for the benefit of all steelpan men and steelpan women

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

Having observed the attitude of we /us the members of WST on the forum,,there was redicule,,hate,,non co-operation,,silence,,forgiveness,,and still therafter redicule,,which as grown ups I found it to be very shameful,,2013 was a year of attacks and egotism at the ending of the year there was a resolution I do presume,, for betterment,progress,,focus towards Pantrinbago,,,but it seems to  me that  inner discontent/hate for persons that do produce  a tangible program/Steelpan Wise ,,are still the black  sheep,,,there  is a time to be jovial and there is a time to be serious,,,,i do not think that WST had started  or had introduced the Forum  for us to be tantalisizing each other,   degregation,,,i do feel its for  an Educational purpose,,undoing the wrong,,dedicating ourselves towards the upliftment of the Steelpan,,,Arrangers,,Tuners,,etc, ensuring  that the  Steelpan /man /woman suffers  no further,,eradicating the wrongs,,misuse,, and stagnancy,,GIVING THEM  THEIR DUES,, as a Panman /Tuner I  know of the bus finger,struggle,,,suffering  and sacrifice that a Steelpan Player endures ,,,Just For the Love of The Instrument,,,i am just voicing my opinion ,,trust me ,,?????God Bless.

[Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks]

"In the 20th century, Africans in the Diaspora gave two musical gifts to the world, namely, the steelpan and jazz.  In many ways, the steelband movement is similar to the jazz movement in the United States.  Both art forms were created in the Diaspora by African urban working class who were descendants of African slaves.  But, unlike the steelband movement, jazz has received some acceptance by mainstream America.  Jazz also came a long way from its beginnings.  Colleges and Universities in the United States of America teach jazz studies and even have Jazz Departments to study the history of jazz.  There are many white Americans playing in jazz bands.  Jazz is now admitted in mainstream music in America.  And, it has a large African American middle class following.  But, unlike jazz, the steelband movement has not flourished as well within the society of its birth.  Although both art forms can claim similar beginnings and the low social status of their creators, jazz was infused early with middle class musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Dexter Gordon.  And, a few of the early jazz musicians read music.  Some even attended conservatories and were trained in European classical music.  Since all of them could not perform at the popular concert halls due to the racism that existed at the time they put their talents toward jazz.  So, many of them like Ron Carter and Charles Mingus turned to jazz. 

The steelband movement was different from the jazz movement in so far as the steelband orchestras were concerned.  Due to the complexity of the steelband orchestra and its pattern after a symphonic orchestra, the steelbands never developed soloist musicians in the respective instrumental categories outside of the orchestra.  Most of the emphasis is on the steelpan, namely, the soprano (tenor) pan.  Although one can find panists in every steelband orchestra who excel in other instruments as the bass, cellos or guitar pan, nevertheless, the steelpan/tenor/soprano (single or double) pan is still the major instrument of choice for steelpan soloists.  In jazz, musicians like Coleman Hawkins, who gave the saxophone its solo voice and John Coltrane whose improvisations is historical, changed the role of the saxophone.  Louis Armstrong (the first jazz soloist) and Miles Davis did the same for the trumpet.  Also, McCoy

Tyner and Thelonious Monk made the piano a central figure in jazz combos in the Bebop jazz era.  And, drummers like Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Art Blakey changed the role of the drummer in the jazz ensemble.  By contrast, the only instrument in the steelband orchestra that has had a solo career is the soprano (tenor) single or double pan.  The other instruments are still confined to the realms of the steelband orchestra.  They have no real value outside the steelband orchestra. 

One of the other areas that need to be addressed is the question of a concert hall for the steelband.  In most countries, their major cities have concert halls to house their musical expressions.  The steelpan is the only instrument that does not have a concert hall to express its repertoire.  Presently, the Classic Music Festival is held at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex where there are no acoustics.  The Panorama competition final is held in the open air at the Queens Park Savannah.  Those places were not built for the steelpan." Khalick J. Hewitt

(Source: http://www.basementrecordings.com/nap/brief/lngtimebnd.htm. Accessed 01/24/2014)

 

 

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

In short words I am me and will remain to be me,,humour is indeed good for the physical being,,,NB,,FOCUS,,OBSERVATION,,?????,from the inception on WST we can make or do a sensus and see where and what was the responses ///discussions  that were   being had with regards  Pantrinbago,...even to date as I do make my comment ,Panorama is around the corner,,,its just silence ,with regards to Pantrinbago/MR Diaz,,,,Pan Players are making the sacrifice once more just for the love of the instrument  io partake in the Panorama,   2014,,,NB,,,not yet being paid, presumably??  Mr Patrick Ramdoo had made a comment and it was quite astonishing ,,,,,,we the Members of WST don't press on ,,the response towards the New Visionaries,,,,skeptical remarks were being made ,,whereby each and everyone knowing the facts and negativity of Pan Trinbago,,,with respect ,,,,Mr Diaz,,,,we or a few of us tend to monkey  around,,bobbing and weaving,,,,,,as a total stranger/foreigner..a man from the grass roots,, A True Panman ,,whom had learnt the hard way how to make a Pan/Steelpan ,an instrument that I do embrace as my child,,a God Given Gift of T&T which I do regard   and respect,,,YA??????in closing I must emphatically state that there is only one person that had published  A  BLUEPRINT  FOR SUCCESS FOR THE STEELPAN/STEELBAND,,,Phan"tum,,,the Ghost  that Speaks,,no other ,,and what happens thereafter,we all know the rythmn,,finally as we do continue with this type of attitude Mr Diaz remains in his position and we can continue to bark up the tree,,,,throwing water on a ducks back,, with no results bieng had for  COMPLETE CHANGE,,,forgive me please  for I am not a scholar,,having a Bsc,,Phd,,,Msc,, MA,,Htd,HNC,, FCC,,just a little fella voicing his opinion.,,,,,,at least  ah know dat one and one is two,,,,,,,My respect to all WST members. God Bless.

[Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks]

Thanks for posting this question, Jerome. I have always been open about why I am here on WST. I am not just a student of steelband history, but of African history as well.One of the historians that influence my thinking is Dr. John Henrik Clarke, who said that "History is not everything, but it is a starting point. History is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is a compass they use to find themselves on the map of human geography. It tells them where they are but, more importantly, what they must be."

One of the first items on my agenda was to separate fact from allegory (fiction or fable). As Napoleon Bonaparte noted, "What is history but a fable agreed upon?", and Winston Churchill himself warned that, "History is going to be kind to me, because I intend to write it" (What were these two famous world leaders suggesting?)

So, again, in my opinion, history affects the future, and we "look back" as we soar into the future. (SANKOFA). As for it's "educational value"; I ask: What value is an education, if it is not used to serve our communities? I chose to use my "education" as a tool to serve mine. In any case, it is extremely important to properly vet the authors of the history you read, again, for the issues raised by Napoleon and Churchill. Remember, a lie (such as the Winston "Spree" Simon BIG lie) is a lie, even if everyone believes it, and the truth (such as Spree DID NOT invent the steelpan) is still the truth, even if no one believes it. Of course, when people (such as Kitch and Chalkie) endorse the lie, it eventually becomes "history", i.e. the "fiction" that is "agreed upon". Great discussion topic,bro.

Ghost. Same philosophy; different attitude.

[BEDE LOPEZ]

Humor not only makes us feel better, but it also can serve as a social lubricant, smoothing out our interactions with others, according to Abe Lincoln.

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

Many thanks fellas,,

[Winston Frederick]

Well said Blessing.

[Mercer Ramdoo]

I don't know if your comment is to stimulate 'thought' or stifle opinions to which we are all entitled. The range of emotions show disgust for the operations of the pan body. be it this one. the one before or any to follow. 2012, 2011  and prior were years of attacks. Are we ever satisfied with what we have? Should that be? Then we are  not evolving. One can 'lighten up'  discourse and still be serious........heart attacks didn't resign yet.

The question is how do we eradicate the wrongs and how do we give them(?) their just due? This is T&T where, to wax political for emphasis, you vote UNC and they do wrong. then you vote PNM and they do wrong, then you vote UNC and they wrong, then you go PNM.............. and so on, and so on...they "eat ah food" and move on, then more come, more come.....If ever we can inject our carnival seriousness into Pantrinbago or even Gov't then we are on our way, but.................serious??????????. 

[Ian Franklin]

Point taken Jerome.