Blog 2.0

CARNIVAL IS A RITUAL

They came from all over just as they did last year and for so many years before to this meeting place, to indulge in this Ritual that is Carnival. Their behavior was trance-like, as though possessed they gathered at Ports of departure, each one determined that nothing could stop them from worshiping their God, King Carnival. Their transit to the venues of worship was tense with anticipation as they were moved by the memory of last year's Ritual. Their arrival was met by fellow worshipers, greetings were exchanged, commitments made. The God must be served with more splendor and glory than was last year.

Food of the God was offered nightly at places called Calypso Tents;

The food:- the Music, the Rhythm, Calypso;

Food of the God:- The songs that bellowed from the hilltops, from ritualistic nooks and crannies called Pan Yards;

Food of the God:- The Fetes, the Panorama, exciting, captivating,

Food of the God:- Stimulating, appetizing, preparing for the Feasts of Feasts, God King Carnival.

Jourvert is the offering a million worshipers make;

Ah! the God is pleased because this offering is bigger and better than last year's.

God King Carnival opens his arms and embraces his subjects, "Let the Ritual Begin!"

Carnival is alive!

Oh! Oh! A! A! Mama Yo! It's Carnival!

Tambu Bamboo, It's Carnival!

Jab Malasie, It's Carnival!

A million hearts in majestic unison, Oh God Carnival!

A million faces in transfigurated countenances of ecstasy, Don't Stop the Carnival!

And so for forty-four hours two sister islands in the sun pulsate, vibrate;

Rhythmic voices chanting; Rhythmic bodies swaying, gyrating;

Shango drums, Steel Drums bellowing;

The children,  the fathers and the mothers, jumping, shouting;

Color, every color mixing, blending;

Tempo hot, Laughter loud, so much love, so much loving;

Somebody shout:- PLAY MAS!!!

The eyes of night smile with romance.

The sound of music in the moonlight, 

Sometimes soothing, sometimes exciting.

Vows made, some betrayed.

God King Carnival reigns.

The bowels of King Carnival is filled and so sleep calls, but the Ritual must be drained to the very end.

It's Las' Lap!

New acquaintances tightly embrace,

Music is softer, voices whisper,

Tired feet scuffle, over each other they stumble, 

A guitar pan strums,

A lone tenor responds,

A base pan dies,

Sleep has taken its life,

A lover whispers "Oh God I'm tired",

Collapses, energy expired.

It's Midnight!.

And there is the sound of silence,

As God King Carnival sleeps.

THE RITUAL IS OVER.

                                                                                                    Winston Andrews (a.k.a. Boots)

TWO PAN GREATS FOR BALTIMORE COMIC CON 2011
 

Female pan pioneer Daisy James Mc Clean and Jason “Peanut” Isaac of ‘Pan Redemption’ fame will be special guests at the Baltimore Comic Con to be held this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at the Baltimore Convention Centre, Downtown Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 

Jason “Peanut” Isaac

Daisy and Jason will be part of the touring caricature exhibition of cultural icons of Trinidad and Tobago in Pan, mas, calypso, dance, chutney and the performing arts. The exhibition is the brainchild of Trinidad Guardian cartoonist Keith “Keithos” Anderson and was shown in Port-of-Spain (2008), and San Fernando (2009).
 

Daisy James Mc Clean (standing, front right) - with Harlem Syncopators

The action starts at 10:00 a.m. each day and finishes at 6:00 p.m.; be sure to drop in and meet and greet these two Pan pioneers.  Jason is best known for his stunning pan compositions ‘Ten Commandments of Pan’ and ‘Pan Redemption.’ Daisy is the oldest living female Pan pioneer and is the co-founder of the Harlem Syncopators, a single-pan band. Jason will be playing several songs, including his own compositions, at the Comic Con.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARDEES

A significant award ceremony took place in the Pan world in London recently. The Pan Buzz is happy to report that my heart is always filled with pride when people get awarded for their contributions, however small.
 

Congrats go out to Pan greats Sterling Betancourt, Miguel Barradas, Alfred Toussaint, Lennox Totesaut, Lennox Langton, Russel Valdez, Michael “Natsi” Contant and Angela Christopher.
 

This was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the London Commonwealth Arts and Cultural Foundation, the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission and prime mover Sonny Blacks - a tireless worker for Caribbean Culture.
 

The official function was attended by Pan Trinbago’s President, Keith “Bald Head” Diaz and others. A similar function was held recently at the Shay Shay Tien Restaurant in Newtown, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad for five (the fabulous five) Dixielanders: George Ng Wai, Hady Lee, Mervyn Telfer, Billy Carpenter and Curtis “Wayward” Pierre. They invited Pan Buzz and other members to a scrumptious Chinese food and ‘ole talk’ by narrator Curtis Pierre. These men celebrated 60 years of the visit to London by Dixieland. At the function Dixielanders were in high praise of Sonny Blacks on whose expertise and contacts they had relied on to get settled, and get jobs.

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THANKS AND PRAISES

It’s always good to give thanks and praise to all those who agree, and disagree, with the Pan Buzz. Those who have said wonderful things about the column, still going strong courtesy When Steel Talks (WST). I am having to start responding to members of WST that make sense. Those who wish to bring brawl, and brawl with Pan Buzz, take note. I won’t be engaging you in such nonsense. Time is too short for that. I am just off the boil with the TT $35 million Pan Controversy involving the G-Pan and PHI pan.  Be assured I am working behind the scenes.

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FESTIVAL NOTES

Today, I launch the Festival Notes which will bring you up-to-date on the 2011 National Steelband Music Festival.  Please note it will be the
12^th Steelband Music Festival, Pan Is Beautiful Series.
 

Competition will be held in the various categories: ensembles, duets, single-pan bands and conventional orchestras. The finals will be held on October 27^th at the National Academy for The Performing Arts (NAPA). Panmen, Pan lovers give your support. The last Festival was held in 2008; Sagicor Exodus won.

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On September 1^st, nominations for the PAN BUZZ AWARD (Third Edition) will be opened.  Readers can send in their nominees for the various categories.

• Top Ten Pan Songs/Pan Song of the Year
• Arranger of the Year
• Pan Organization of the Year
• Pan Heroes Awards

A panel of five usually mulls over these awards, and the panel (judges) decision is final, no ole talk, cussing, fussing and fighting will be entered into by the Pan Buzz and/or his associates. Now - nothing is given to winners of the Awards; only ‘mention’ on a global scale, or world stage. In time the Awards, will (hopefully) give a small token based on resources.
 

Now Pan Buzz was threatened and wrongly cussed out by a Pan Song Composer last year who felt his song was good enough to make the Top Ten. I too old to fight with anybody. I will have to call on God to help me. So fellas, have mercy on me please. Last year, When Steel Talks (WST) was voted Organization of the Year.
 

The Pan Buzz Awards will be announced on Friday December 9^th, 2011.

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Until next week, wherever you are in Pan’s Diaspora, keep loving up The Pan.

Steelbands must commit to Music Festival

Every time the Steelband music festival comes around I am filled with trepidation. Now - you might ask how a fearless man like Pan Buzz could be filled with fear. It has to do with the poor turn-out and the lack of commitment of government agencies - The Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism, the Tourism Development Company and hypocritical panmen, who prefer to smoke a “10-piece” (weed) than support the festival. And that’s not all; the big bands, by their very selfish attitude, have contributed significantly to the demise of the Festival.
 

Two big bands that could make the festival a thing of beauty, WITCO Desperadoes and Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars - both past winners - have been ducking the Festival for flimsy reasons. My spies tell me the prize money is not attractive as the National Panorama’s, hence the reason panmen are reluctant to participate. Then there is the question of indiscipline in some bands, because some panmen and their cliques run the bands, not the executives - and who don’t like what I am saying it’s their damn business. Everybody knows the Pan Buzz tells it like it is. I don’t owe anybody, only the bank. Sagicor Exodus and TCL Skiffle Bunch have been consistent; I say hooray to them. Bptt Renegades, Caribbean Airlines Invaders and Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, like lame racehorses, have been in-and-out performers. There are 7,000 panmen, and you want to tell me the 2008 Festival buss; and these same panmen quick to wash their Listerine mouths on Pan Trinbago.
 

How do they want the festival to grow when their bands don’t participate? The big bands, too, should know that their presence will make the sponsorship work easier, and Keith “Bald Head” Diaz and his team don’t have to fart like an old engine to get help. They [big bands] have a responsibility to making the show grow, and not staying on the sidelines. They have got to look at the bigger picture and commit to the Festival. The last time Despers participated in the Festival was 1992 when the band won.
 

Let’s face it; the 2008 Festival was pathetic; it was more like a funeral, than a celebration. One deceitful panman blamed the high price of admission, although it was a quality show. When I started to fart on him, he had to run for cover. These same panmen buy their weed et al, attend shows by Jamaican acts, but don’t find the price high. Anyway, August is Pan month; and October is Festival month. And both must be stoutly supported. As the weeks progress, Pan Buzz will update you on things Festival, and go down memory lane with great festival moments in Pan. Don’t miss it.

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Use the works of Pan song composers

Everybody knows that the Pan Buzz does run he mouth like a river; but what they don’t say is that the Buzz offers solutions and ideas too. They quick to say I negative and vulgar, but they can’t touch me when it comes to defending The Pan. They too wotless!  However, I have one for Pan Trinbago and the upcoming Festival. I say let’s give Pan song composers their just desserts, or due if you prefer. Let’s choose the Test Piece from the brimming archives of songs that celebrate the Pan... Pan songs. We have a body of work sitting there gathering dust. Every year there are over 50 songs to add to the library. Now my Maths ain’t good, the only thing I could count is sheep. From Lord Kitchener in 1936 to Holman in 1972, the floodgates have been opened. I will like to propose six songs from which one could be chosen as the Test Piece, and adapted in the classical mode. Readers may want to submit their selections too.

Here goes:

• Harps of Gold:  Mighty Duke

• Pan Forever More:  The Original DeFosto Himself

• Pan Redemption:  Jason “Peanut” Isaac

• Symphony In G:  Lord Kitchener

• Ah Hearing Pan:  Mighty Shadow

• Oh Trinidad:  Ray Holman    (pictured, upper right)
  
  

Pan Trinbago, let’s forever give our composers pride of place, alongside the great masters Bach, Beethoven and others. There will always be room in our Festival, because Pan and the classics form a great relationship. As usual bands could play their tune-of-choice, and a classical piece. The Pan Is Beautiful XII series will be held in several categories: ensemble, soloist, single pans bands and conventional. Get cracking, Pan Trinbago.

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MORE questions on the G-Pan /PHI controversy

It is with a very sad and heavy heart I return to the G-Pan and the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI). Now I said it once, I will say it again, Pan Buzz intends to ask questions about the controversy until I fall sick. As I always say the Pan Buzz will not let go this topic until all parties come clean; they have to bathe in the river of truth. We are talking about TT 35 million smackers here, so don’t expect me to walk away. I am going to beat this topic like a drum, and I am in for the long haul.
 

I say Professor Brian Copeland must account. I am not accusing him of anything, so why is it so difficult for him to account? His integrity is on the line. The University of the West Indies (UWI) must state its role in this affair. If they playing bad, I am going to make this a social media campaign. I am warning all parties. Pan People around the world will have to intervene. This is taxpayers’ money we are talking about, Professor Sankat. I am not taking that. Calling Mr. Keith Maynard; say something. I want answers. I want answers. I won’t rest, this involves my grandchildren money. You know what 35 million could do in terms of Pan development?

As far as I am concerned and I said it on several occasions; the G-Pan is a work in progress. I have already pointed out that made-to-order drums are available in Europe. We should have a Pan lab humming 24/7. Young inventors could walk off the street and pursue their ideas, explore their ideas. Last week I named two inventors who have something to offer. Professor Copeland must say something and not ‘wish’ this controversy away. This is not a fairy tale; this is a serious matter.
 

UWI has stated its concern to monitor the controversy; this must not be allowed to fester like a sore foot. Professor Copeland: you have to say something. You can’t hide under a lawyer’s desk. I not taking that, I want answers:

• What is the unspent balance?  How much of the TT $35 million has been spent?  Where are the bills?

• Who is administering the fund (Payments)?

• UWI must explain its role in this sorry episode

• Who is responsible for the OVERSIGHT of these two projects? Was this a ‘bran tub’ exercise where disbursements were concerned?

• When can taxpayers expect a financial statement?

• Why were UWI students deceived into thinking it was a contribution, when it was in fact a commercial enterprise?

• How many G-Pans were sold? Why weren’t UWI students given a stipend for their creative energies? Why are they playing dumb, are they sworn to secrecy?

• Are they afraid of victimisation?

• What legal avenues are open to them to challenge for a share of the PHI pie?

• Have they signed over their creative rights?

• Is it true that the PHI pans are now being sold for TT $15,000?  If true, how many pans have been sold?

• Who owns Panadigm, and how is it legally constituted?

• Name the jurisdictions the Pans are registered, and in whose name(s)?

These are some of the questions I need answered. Is UWI’s Sankat playing dumb? Is Professor Copeland playing dumber?
 

Please be guided accordingly

The Pan Buzz is a lover of democracy, but when it gets crazy, it is a different story. I have been reading some of the comments relating to the Pan Buzz and am filled with wonder. Some people are coming up with their own ideas that Professor Brian Copeland tief this or tief that.
 

All the Pan Buzz is saying is: why should accountability be a problem concerning the TT 35 million smackers? The Pan Buzz could ask questions...can’t he? The longer several questions remain unanswered, the lack of transparency - the longer the cloud will hover over the G-Pan and the air of suspicion, malfeasance, (nice word, eh?); deceit also. For far too long we haven’t held our peers responsible, but lived in awe of their academia...not Pan Buzz.  UWI just cannot say it is monitoring the controversy and go hone. UWI must answer questions too. Commentators please be guided accordingly.
 

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Wherever you are in Pan’s Diaspora, don’t forget to keep loving up The Pan.

Tell me , pan people, what pan music are you listening to?

This week I'm enjoying Robbie Greenidge's fine Christmas album from 1995" It's Christmas mon!.
Steel Pan music Christmas style".
(I prefer it to the new one)

I'm also enjoying Invaders "An Enchanted Evening" featuring such classic Invaders hits as" With a song in my heart" and "Schubert's Serenade"

Btw, can anyone tell me who does the solo work on this album?
Very impressive.

I'm also checking out "Jazz 'n' Steel from Trinidad and Tobago", by the Rudy Smith Trio, featuring the Anise Hadeed quartet.

It's Christmas, so let's take a break and enjoy some good pan music.

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http://www.afropan.blogspot.com