Blog 2.0

A PATRIOT FALLS...
 

If you see the Pan Buzz with a sad face, it has nothing to do with the State of Emergency [in Trinidad & Tobago]; and everything to do with the death of Pan patriot, Pat Bishop, a proud daughter of the soil. I find that every time I turn my back, somebody dear, gives us cause to shed a tear.

Several times I talked to this patriot who loved the Pan like cooked food. Her most famous statement about the sorry disrespect of Pan and the Panman was: “Trinidad and Tobago don’t deserve The Pan.”  Foolish people get vex when they hear it, but it is true.

Pat loved her Lydian singers and the WITCO Desperadoes, whom she led triumphantly to victory in the 1992 Steel band Music Festival. I was there. It was a proud moment for the Desperadoes who completed a ‘three-peat’ (1982, 1986 and 1992). There was no competition in 1990, the year of Abu Bakr and his boy scouts. You like that one, eh? Look how yuh false teeth smiling. I knew Pat was ill, so the news didn’t hit me like a ton of bricks, but it hit me nonetheless. Condolences go out to the family and friends of this patriot; this brilliant daughter of the soil.

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NO UNITY IN PAN

By now everybody should know that the Pan Buzz don’t call a spade a shovel. I say it is regrettable on the eve of our 49^th year of Independence, we have to face a curfew because some of us can’t behave. Really, do we understand what Independence means?
 

Independence means taking responsibility; not faking responsibility.
 

While I won’t deal here today with the wider society, I will narrow it down to the Panman, part-time Pan lovers, and the hypocrites. I hope they go back to their gulag and stay there.
 

Year after year, despite the best efforts of Pan Trinbago led by the Bald One, Keith Diaz, the Panman is under pressure; if it is not deejays, it is some government official who feels he is the best cultural happening in Trinidad and Tobago. Throwing his voice around and ignorance as well.
 

Isn’t it amazing that after 49 years of achieving hard-back man status, Pan and the Panman are still struggling? The recent Awards ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) for Pan heroes, is testimony that there is no unity in the Pan fraternity.
 

There are 7,000 Pan players, and the event was poorly attended, just like the 2008 Steelband Music Festival. What is happening? Is Pan only about Panorama - that’s all players are interested in? Is the Panman shooting himself in the foot by not taking part in Pan events? Is he, too, a part-time lover of the instrument?
 

Sometimes I am tempted to ask the question: Is Pan in crisis?

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PAN REPRESENTS AT BALTIMORE COMIC CON
 

Jason “Peanut” Isaac and Daisy James Mc Clean were warmly received at the Baltimore Comic Con which ended last Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Centre. Both Pan icons were popular with the crowd, as well as artist/cartoonist, Keith “Keithos” Anderson who mixed the Pan with fifty faces of his fellow Trinbagonians in Pan, mas, chutney, calypso, dance and the performing arts, all done in caricature. It was a blast. Jason was his usual self on the Pan; while Daisy had to tell her story how she became the oldest living female Pan player and pioneer. All three personalities also represented the Red, White and Black with distinction and pride.

Female pan pioneer Daisy James Mc Clean, and storyteller Baba C who was over the moon about the exhibition Fiftyo Faces by Keith Anderson.    Photo:  Keith Anderson

Panist extraordinaire Jason “Peanut” Isaac being visited by storm troopers of the movie Star Wars who were well represented at the recent Baltimore Comic Com.     Photo:  Keith Anderson

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



MUSIC IS AN ART AND THE MUSICIAN IS AN ARTIST. THE IMPLICATION OF THIS ASSERTION IS THAT JUST AS EVERY ARTIST HAS THE GOOD OF THE ART IN HIS HEART, THE MUSICIAN WHO IS AN ARTIST MUST PROMOTE THE BEST INTEREST OF HIS FELLOWMEN, NOT THE OPPPOSITE.

OUR YOUTHS ARE HUNGRY FOR KNOWLEDGE AND THEY THIRST FOR WISDOM. THEY WANT TO LEARN AND GROW. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE FEELINGS AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON CHALLENGES. THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE NEW AND POSITIVE THINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE SOPHISTICATED AND VERY OBSERVANT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THIS AS A FACT. TODAY’S YOUNG MINDS ARE OPENED, EAGER AND FULL OF POTENTIAL POWER. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE “COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS” OF OUR YOUTHS ARE TUNED TO “CHANNEL ZERO”.

BY “CHANNEL ZERO”, I REFER TO THE CONSTANT NEGATIVE INFLUENCES OF SELFISHNESS AND MATERIALISM THAT PERMEATES OUR DOMINANT CULTURE. THIS IS RESULTANT OF THE SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM, WHICH LEADS TO RACISM, SEXISM AND CLASSISM. WHETHER WE CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT, IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT “CAPITALISM AT ITS INCEPTION, IMPOSED A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE ECONOMY AND MORALS”.

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHENOMENON IN THE PLETHORA OF CARNIVAL ACTIVITIES, IS THE MUSIC OF OUR POPULAR BANDS AND VOCALISTS. BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMENSE POPULARITY AND INFLUENCE AMONG OUR YOUTHS IN PARTICULAR, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE SERIOUSLY BEGIN TO EXAMINE THE TYPE OF MUSIC OUR MUSICIANS CREATE, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO THE CONTENTS OF THE MESSAGE. THIS HOWEVER, “SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT.” IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR THAT CERTAIN ASPECT OF THEIR WORK ARE NOTEWORTHY AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT. FOR INSTANCE, THROUGH THEIR WORK GENRE OF CALYPSO/SOCA, THEY ARE ASSISTING IN THE PROMOTING AND PERSERVING OUR RICH AFRICAN/ CARIBBEAN ART FORM WHICH HAS, AT TIMES, PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR STRUGGLE AGAISNT VARIOUS FORMS OF DOMINATIONS. IN SOME CASES, THIS ART FORM HAS HELPED TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, IT HAS DOCUMENTED MANY IMPORTANT EVENTS IN OUR HISTORY.

IN LIGHT OF THIS ILLUSTRIONS TRADITION, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE BEGIN TO CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITIQUE THE MESSAGES IN THE SONGS OF OUR BANDS. MOREOVER, GIVEN THE UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE AND OTHER ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS  AFFLICTING OUR COMMUNITIES, COUPLED WITH NEO-COLONIALISM AND OUR TROUBLED ECONOMY, THERE IS A BURNING NEED TO ADDRESS SUCH CRITICAL ISSUES IN EVERY FORM AND FASHION.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY FOR OUR BANDS TO CREATE MUSIC WITH THE TYPE OF CONSCIOUS MESSAGES THAT WILL EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OUR YOUTHS AND OTHERS, TO GET INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE VERY SERIOUS ISSUES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

TO CONTINUE TO CREATE SONGS THAT SPEAKS ABOUT WINE, PUSH BACK AND JAM WHILE OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE CRISIS AFTER CRISIS IS INEXCUSABLE.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WE MUST BEGIN TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF SONG CONTENT WITH OUR CULTURAL ARTISTS. “IN ANY SITUATION OF OPPRESSION, EVERY MEMBER OF THE OPPRESSED HAS CERTAIN RESPONSIBLITIES.”

Submitted by:

STAFFORD JOSEPH

                          LIME Hells Gate Steel Orchestra

                                Antigua and Barbuda

Hells Gate Steel Orchestra won sixteen (16) National Championships:- 1949; 1953; 1958; 1959 (4 peat); 1960 (5 peat); 1964; 1967; 1976; 1990; 1991; 2002; 2004 ( Independence Panorama); 2006; 2007; 2009; 2011. Additionally, Hells Gate Steel Orchestra won two (2) championships in St. Thomas USVI, during the early 1950’s.

The other Steel bands that competed in St. Thomas USVI during the early 1950's were, Brute Force of Antigua/Barbuda, and a band from St. Kitts (I am presently researching the name of that band). Brute Force won the championship once.

NB. There were periods when no competitions took place.

The Members of LIME Hells Gate Steel Orchestra extends condolences to the family of Dr. Pat Bishop and the Steelpan fraternity.

I can recall that subsequent to adjudicating the Antigua and Barbuda National Panorama [1986 ], Dr. Pat Bishop returned to Antigua later that year to conduct a workshop, focusing on music thoery, arranging techniques, and performance. One evening, Dr. Bishop came to Hells Gate Panyard, unannounced. Our arranger Mr. Alan Micheal was present and we were rehearsing the "Hooked on Classics" medley, which Mr. Micheal had arranged for Hells Gate Steel Orchestra. Dr. Bishop approached Mr. Micheal and enquired of him about the piece the orchestra was rehearsing, and to our surprise, she dropped her hand bag on the floor and took over the rehearsals for a short while. At the end of her short stint, she admonished us to learn music theory and put it into practice. She then suggested to Mr. Micheal that he should assist us with music theory lessons. Dr. Bishop's kind assistance and sound advice continue to reflect in the many successes of Hells Gate Steel Orchestra today. Thank you Dr. Bishop.

It is important to note that in my opinion, Dr. Pat Bishop was the only Trinidadian adjudicator whose comments, subsequent to adjudicating a Panorama, were always objective; and her criticisms were always honest.

Farewell Dr. Bishop. Your will always be present in the music we play. Your sound and honest advice will live on for generations. Because of the many lives you have touched, and the musical heights you have taken the Steelpan to, Pan will live on forever. 

Rest in PAN.

Pat Bishop has died. She was erudite, fearless, marched to the beat of a different drum and loved up the Pan. Can't forget those days with Birdsong in the mid-seventies, when she drilled the band. When we hit the Panorama stage she fainted and didn't hear the band at all. RIP

Pat Bishop has died. She was erudite, fearless, marched to the beat of a different drum and loved up the Pan. Can't forget those days with Birdsong in the mid-seventies, when she drilled the band. When we hit the Panorama stage she fainted and didn't hear the band at all. RIP

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.

I had once mentioned before, that i,m from a country of approximately 9 different culture and languages and as a steelpan player i played hundustani music[[[indian music//such as sohani raat/// dil liki deko,soja soha//bigi pokoe this is a type of folklore music in suriname///indonesian music,,,dutch music,,,soul,,,reggae,,,,r&b,,,waltz,,,music from the hare rama hare christna relegion,,,,now to make it more explicit once more,, MUSIC HAS NO BOUNDARIES,,,RELIGION,,,RACE,,,CULTURE OR RELIGION,,,it,s one and only one thing,,,tone for tone,,chord for chord,,and note for note,, written in only  in one international language, not in chinese,,,not in hindi,,,not in africanse,,,not in arabic,not in dutch,, in one language treble cleff,and bass cleff with the relevant notes,,,so for those that may be unware of what music really is, this is an eye opener, the steelpan playing indian music or otherwise remains to be one thing,,, ,it is music,,,,,,the only difference is whether some may understand or did pay any interest in listening before,for a musician ought to indulge in the playing of a variety of  songs from different culture, i,m always subject to correction.

Afropan Wins 2011 Pan Alive Title!!

As the end of the competition drew near, Pan Alive night, the members of Afropan setup their pans and got ready for their time to shine. After their hard work and late nights, the band was hoping to take back that first place title again, as opposed to the tie for third received years prior to this.

The announcer introduced the band, acknowledged their tribute flags for their 8 "Afro Angels", that had passed earlier this year, and conductor Terrell La Pierre got in his zone. Arranger, Earl La Pierre Sr. began the count in and with those final three taps, BANG! the first note dropped and the "Raging Storm" began. The next 8 minutes were filled with high energy, raw talent and sweet musical mayhem as the sounds of steel and rhythm poured into the hearts of all lucky enough to hear! As that final note was played both the crowd and players erupted in cheers of celebration and accomplishment; they knew their performance was near flawless and if nothing else, they executed a "Raging Storm" to match no other.

It was time to hear the results and with first and second place left to be announced the tensions grew thick and time seemed to stand still. After much anticipation, first runner up is announced....SALAH, which meant AFROPAN STEELBAND had done it! They successfully reclaimed first place and their 28th competition win since 1973! Players & supporters began to run from wherever they were back to Lamport Stadium! "AFROPAN! AFROPAN! AFROPAN!" echoed through the air with utter excitement and a sense of community surrounded the band as other steelbands extended their hands in congratulations for a win well deserved! As part of their celebration, the band members sang out their rendition of "Raging storm" inside Lamport stadium before moving the party back to the panyard for their J'ouvert celebrations.

Afropan Steelband "The People's Band" would like to acknowledge arranger Earl La Pierre Sr., conductor Terrell La Pierre, their 8 "Afro Angels" whom continue to bless the band daily and all of the players and supporters; for without the dedication and contribution of everyone this win would not have been possible or half as sweet!

Find more photos like this on When Steel Talks

Time to Re-dedicate Ourselves...

Yet another Steelband Month has rolled around. Today I want to beg steelband lovers everywhere to support the Pan like never before. Support Pan Trinbago and other promoters’ Pan events; not only this month but throughout the year.
 

If you ask me why the Pan Buzz likes Steelband Month; it is because it offers us the opportunity to rock back and take stock of our attitude towards the Pan and the Panman. You see me? I am not going to beat the dead horse called ‘respect;’ but what I’ll do is call on Pan people to look in the mirror and rededicate ourselves to Pan development... and defence. The Pan has not truly been liberated; there is still a struggle on, but only in Trinidad and Tobago; and not the wider world, that is increasingly looking to Pan and its financial benefits.
 

We in Trinbago are bumping our gums and behaving like beh behs (imbeciles); sometimes I feel we don’t know better. There is a constant battle with Panmen and deejays at events, and those who feel the Pan is still - and forever will be - a noisy instrument.

Apparently Pan is not a priority with Minister of Culture (forget the “multiculturalism”) Winston “Gypsy” Peters. Here you have a minister of culture at a public function on the eve of Emancipation, calling for “respect the calypsonians.” A Minister of Culture should not be calling for respect for one section of culture of which he is a member. Calypsonians have separated themselves into two camps; those who sing for their political supper, and those who have stayed true to the artform. Why didn’t Peters call for respect for the Panman also? No. He waged a stupid war against panmen earlier this year over some petty change stipend. He is not aware that Pan and calypso are brothers and sisters? Both were born out of struggle and had to fight every inch of the way for acceptance by society. Doesn’t he know their similar histories?

However, Pan Trinbago must be congratulated on this significant milestone... Steelband Month 2011.

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START WITH TERRY AND PEPE... JOINTLY
 

Two concerns have been plaguing my mind, and I wish Pan Trinbago could address them. Firstly I wish to suggest to Keith “Bald Head” Diaz and his crew that at the awards ceremony they launch the International Panman Of The Year Award. This is necessary to rope in our foreign brothers (not only local) as Pan is a world thing. Awarding local contributors is great, but we need to widen the scope. We have to start thinking differently.
 

I think two individuals who should be honoured are Terrence Noel and the evergreen Pepe Francis (pictured above). Both men have done much to establish Pan in England, and their efforts cannot be delinked. With the wide international spy network of Pan Buzz, I can always give Pan Trinbago a name or two deserving of honour. And don’t doubt me there are many. Pepe’s and Terry’s contributions have been so effective, that Pan, despite its struggles, is now accepted as part of British culture.

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BADJOHN DAY -PART OF PAN’S HISTORY
 

Narrow-minded panmen have attacked Pan Trinbago’s President Keith “Bald Head” Diaz over Bad John Day - that one day when the old gringos of Pan travel down memory lane, retracing their battles in defence of Pan...or turf. These stories, although filled with gore, cannot be ignored. They are a part of steelband history whether we like it or not. They are stories of iron bolts, cutlasses, bell-bottomed pants, two-toned shoes, white-handle razors and men with names that could make Captain America cringe. Names like BOLD FACE, ONE MAN, CUT-OUTA, WHITETY KINKAID, PINK EYE, LITTLE AXE, GOLD TEETH, BARONG and others. Right now I gettin’ frighten just writing dem fellas names. Ah trembling. Did you know that Pan Buzz escaped being chopped up like beef when Tokyo attacked Casablanca at the corner of Frederick and Duke Streets in Port-of-Spain? There I was in the front row, merrily playing my double tenor when bottle splintered on the rack. I didn't wait, I was off to the races... leaving a trail of brown manure.

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condolences
 

Condolences to the families of Aldwyn “Chow Lee” Chow Lin on, and the wonderful Pan researcher Gideon Maxime. I have never met both men formally, but I know of their tremendous contributions. Chow Lee was associated with the early Silver Stars and could be ranked as one of the ‘Chinee’ in Pan, as well as the Chan brothers and my old pal Hady Lee of Dixieland. Gideon, on the other hand, distinguished himself as a meticulous researcher, and knowledgeable commentator on Panorama. I will miss his commentaries.
 

Guys, rest in Peace.

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