Posted by moreen h on September 12, 2009 at 4:31pm
congrate to all steel bands for tribute to Micheal Jackson 2009 J'ouvert bomb thanks to Hazel John and Danville Williamson President J'ouvert City for the changes they both promise. The marshall escort for the recognition of steel bands and mas band inspite of trials steel bands will survive the odds if we all work together for futue parades.
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Posted by moreen h on September 11, 2009 at 9:38pm
Congratulation to Danville Williamson and Hazel John of J'ouvert City International for the changes promised by them having the marshalls on the parade route for the first time of j'ouvert celebration. Thanks to the marshalls for their support keep up the changes
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Can anyone tell me whether or not Stardust competed at this year's UK panorama? This is a band I'm also interested in.I would also like to know the status of this band as I was a close friend of the late Randolph Baptiste.Ivan Hutchinson
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The family of Desmond Bowen would like to EXPRESS THEIR HEART FELT THANKS… for all the support and words of encouragement, as well as, the donation to St. John’s Hospice-MacMillan Nurses of £233.51. His presence will be greatly missed by all who had the honour of knowing him.Special thanks to a dynamic group of friends that held the family through the last four months of Desmond’s life: (Castro, Cyril “Khamai”, Pene, Gail and Jr. Phipps).Friendship carries a world to its Glory…It brightens the soul of who we call “a friend”…by Kiran P. McTaggart
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Dennis Kaufman, founder and leader of Pan Fever, the original, home-grown steel pan band from East Bay San Francisco ( Richmond ), passed away suddenly many decades ago. Dennis was a gifted musician in addition to being a zealous advocate and champion of the music of steel pans. Each year he traveled to the steel band festivals in Trinidad & Tobago, bringing back songs and renewed inspiration with which he grew both Pan Fever and its audience.Dennis was a skilled and creative pianist as well as pan player, and in the early 80s he was a regular performer with my group Culebra. I was fortunate to have recorded Dennis on pan on a number of tunes. You can hear his energetic playing on "Cinnamon Bay", a track posted on MySpace at www.myspace.com/tropicalouterspace .Those who remember Dennis will appreciate this rare recording. Those who did not have the pleasure of knowing him will wish that they had the opportunity to do so after hearing his extended solo on this track.
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ON JULY 4TH '09 THE PAN ON THE MOVE EXPERIENCE BEGAN, 15 MINUTES OF ROAD PAN MUSIC, CONCEIVED,PRODUCED BY HUELOY AND MAGNIFICENTLY ARRANGED BY SIR PELHAM GODDARD,STAY TUNED.
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Posted by Hameed Shaqq on August 11, 2009 at 7:00pm
The Steelpan Community need to get on the ball, more than 70% of th players in Toronto is under the age of (30) thirty. To these youths, playing steelpan is as canadian as playing hockey. The Steelpan art, represents an inter-generational interaction with the same objectives within the steelband Community. However, the community must be active in securing funding for the long-term developement in terms of the Science and Technology of the Instrument in Canada.
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Pan tuner and long-time apprentice to Ellie Mannette, Billy Sheeder, will be at Radoes Panyard from Monday August 31 to Friday, September 4, doing tunings for all of the public. Radoes panyard is located on Chase Court between Ralph Avenue and E. 83rd St., near Foster.No appointment is necessary -- anyone is welcom to bring their pans for blending on a first-come, first-serve basis.Billy has been tuning for 13 years, 8 of which under the tutelage of Ellie Mannette and a primary tuner at Mannette Steel Drums, Ltd. He is now freelancing across the US and internationally.Hours will be from 11 to 4 daily. Cost for blending is the Labor Day week special price of $75 per instrument.Billy can be reached at 304-319-3210 or at panbilly@hotmail.com to answer any questions or inquiries.
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Russell's response to UTubes Pingpong Samba (1952) and my asking if it was his Jazz trio and/or him on piano and was this the first pan recording in the Uk as far as he knows goes as follows:-'I made my first recording in 53, or 54 for Melodic records ( pingpong Samba, pingpong Lullaby etc). I don't know of any earlier recordings! If you find out please let me know.''Yes I'm on Piano, Fitzroy Coleman on Guitar. It's one of my compositions . My nephew Selwyn Gomes also a musician and pan player in Canada, recorded my Pingpong Samba, but many years later. I happened to be the first person to arrange Steelpan with conventional instruments. People like Winnifred Atwell, and others followed later on. I can't remember all the names of my compositions, but if you look for Russ Henderson on Melodic, maybe you might uncover some more?'I too would further ask if anyone know of anything earlier and to please let Russ or me know. I don't mean information you have heard. I need some proof! There is more stuff on UTube but see 'Russ Henderson - 1' for a mean little taster.
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Want to hear steel pan when it stole your heart? Check Pingpong Samba by Russ Hendersn Steel band on UTube 1952. Russ is probably on the piano. I am just checking with him now.
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Hi I am looking for a recording of Gold By Third World, If anyone can point me in the right direction or to a link it will be most appreciated. Thank You In Advance.
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Calypsociation is happy to say to all that we started to record a new Cd !! Only new tunes : A tribute to Michael Jackson, A tribute to Joe Zawinul ( and weather report ), Some Salsa, Some Mazurka, Some 12/8, and of course True Panorama Tunes !For more Information you can contact us!
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I am a music teacher stationed in North Miami and currently at home for the next two months wasting talent and time. I have a small kids' steel ensemble but because school is out, the instruments are packed away and the kids are home also wasting talent and time. I was recently offered more instruments but unfortunately I may have no where to house them as the space I currently use is not mine. I have written a few people who work for the city of North Miami and below is my communication to them. I know that this website has many followers and I am hoping that you would be able to help me in terms of networking for ideas and support for this project.Good afternoon Mr. Galvin, my name is Elizabeth Flocker-Aming. I am the music director of the steel drum band that was featured on NBC news last year. Although I was surplussed and transferred from one school to another, I still continued my after school music program at Natural Bridge where my instruments are still stored. Sad to say, 11 out of 12 of my band members graduated from Natural Bridge are moving on to various middle schools. I have been thinking of ways to keep the band together by opening a music school at a central location in North Miami, as these are very talented musicians. So far due to monetary constraints, nothing is affordable. Currently as a ten-month employee for Miami Dade County Schools I am at home with nothing to do until August 18th. The students are also at home with no productive activities beside watching TV and playing video games--both a waste of talent and time.Just yesterday I was offered a set of steel drums that may possibly be given as a donation or for a highly-reduced price to my program. If given these drums I will be able to facilitate at least 20 children, which would be a pretty impressive and powerful band.My only concern is that apart from the pod that I share with another teacher (in terms of space), I have no where to place these extra instruments when I get them. I wanted to start a North Miami after school music program for "at risk" kids but never got this off the ground. I believe that this is the best time to go after this dream as I now will have sufficient instruments for a solid program. I am willing to start such a program this summer if given the support and facility to work in.My music students have received exposure from playing at the Annual Miami Thanksgiving parade, the North Miami Beach for the lighting of the Christmas Tree, as guests of the City of Miami Gardens. They also preformed at the Viscaya Botanical Gardens for Homeland Security, for the School Board, at the North Miami Beach Library, for the Lions Club (North Miami), at the Panamanian American Association of Florida banquet and for the Spanish Monastery; Saint Bernard de Clairvuax and most recently for the Florida Democratic Party for their Jefferson Jackson Dinner Fund raiser where they met/were introduced to several senators as well as the Mayor of North Miami.I was thinking of asking the city of Miami for a facility to host an after school program as a non-for-profit organization. As a certified K-6 teacher I can also tutor math, reading, language arts and writing as part of the program (coupled with the music).I can write a grant if needed and I have done the research that shows the effect of an after school music program on at risk students. I believe that this program would bring out the silent talent of our under-represented population here in North Miami.Please direct me if possible to the right network that would be able to assist me in making this vision a reality. I have video clips of my current students performing upon request.
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THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DEFENCE FORCE STEEL ORCHESTRATHE ONLY MARCHING MILITARY STEEL ORCHESTRA OF THE WORLDThe Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra was formed in June 1995, under the guidance of Warrant Officer Class 1 Earl Wright (deceased) and Sergeant Cecil James (retired) on the initiative of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Carl C.A. Alfonso. The first leader of the steel orchestra was Sergeant Cecil James (retired).The first major undertaking was in July of the same year, when the band participated in the National Pan Ramajay Competition, placing fifth out of ten finalists.In 1996 the Orchestra entered the ‘Pan Is Beautiful’ Music Festival as a conventional band and did quite well, winning the prize for the best calypso and placing third overall. The rest of the year was spent doing charity engagements both for service personnel and civilians.The year 1997 started off very successfully for the orchestra, with a first attempt at the National Panorama; competition for traditional steel orchestras, it placed first playing “Mirror Mirror”, a tune composed by calypsonian “Crazy” and arranged by Eddie Qualess, a renowned musical arranger. In June of that year the orchestra was invited by the 33rd Regiment French Forces in the Antilles to perform at their 1st anniversary celebrations in Martinique, this was the first in what has now become an annual event for the orchestra, having returned in 1998, 1999 and 2000.Between the years 1997 and 1999 the band participated in the St. Peter’s Day competition in the Traditional Band category and achieved a hat-trick playing ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ and ‘Blessed Assurance’ respectively, all songs arranged by Robert Tobitt, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra.As a result of the bands”’ outstanding performance they were invited to perform at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1997. The orchestra became the only marching military steel orchestra in the world, performing nightly for an audience of over ten thousand. The outcome was an outstanding success. The band also became the first steel orchestra to lead an armed contingent of troops on a ceremonial parade, when on it’s return from Scotland it made it’s first appearance on the annual Independence Anniversary Parade. More success came in 1998 when the orchestra having entered the Music Festival for a second time as a conventional band, emerged joint winners.In November 1999 the orchestra was invited to perform at the Anzac Military Tattoo in Sydney Australia, where it rendered another creditable performance. In the year 2000 the orchestra placed first in the Traditional bands category, when it rendered “The Road” Arranged by Robert Tobitt. ‘A Tribute to Aldwin Roberts’ The Lord Kitchener, one of Trinidad and Tobago most outstanding Calypsoians. A sure sign that the orchestra is indeed a force to be reckon with.The Steel Orchestra performed in Antigua in November 2003 at the MOODS OF PAN Festival. This also saw the orchestra being invited again to Antigua to take part in their annual Independence celebrations on 02 November.The orchestra placed 3rd at the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama competition in February 2004.In June 2004 the orchestra participated at the 33rd Regiment Forces in the Antilles, another great success for the members.In June 2005 the band performed at the World Steel band Music Festival which was held in Madison Square Garden, New York, placing 3rd.In July 2005 the orchestra performed again at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The outcome was another outstanding success which saw the orchestra being invited to attend again in 2007.In November 2005 the band performed in Malta at the Commonwealth Resounds, where the citizens of Malta gave a standing ovation for every performance of the TTDF Steel Orchestra.The orchestra played in Washington DC at the request of the Delaware National Guard in April 2006. T & T Military Attache to Washington, Lt Col Phillip Spencer, coordinated the visit. Members of the band became honorary citizens of the City of Baltimore.The orchestra placed 3rd at the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama Steel band competition in February 2006.In June 2006 the orchestra formed part of a national contingent to perform at the World Cup 2006 in Germany. The members played in Nuremburg, Kaiserslautern and Dortmund something that left all Germans spellbound to this day.In October 2006 the orchestra performed at the 25th Independence of Antigua.2007 Performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, 2008 Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo and Basil International Tattoo in Switzerland.May, 2009 the Orchestra performed in England at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo at which Her Majesty The Queen was present.At present the management team of the band compromises of Major Roger Best (Officer In Charge), Warrant Officer 2 Robert Tobitt (Manager /Musical Director), Sergeant Junior Stevenson (Senior NCO in charge of Orchestra) and Cpl Frederick Dennie ( Logistic Officer)
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New Generation Branches Steel Orchestra held a weekend of pan in Orlando florida, taking part was Miami Rising Star steelband / Silver Stars USA , Spirit Steel Orchestra, New Generation branches Steel Orchestra, and what a sucess it was MIami Rising Star serenaded the audience with some back in times music with a touch of Silver Stars Arrangenent, Then on Sunday the pan ramajay took place with individual pannist playing some of their favourites and Spirit steel orchestra led by Junior Harris closed the evening with a wide selection of tunes. The management of New Generation Branches would like to thank both bands, for their support in this venture and continued support in the future as we move along in trying to keep the Steel Band in the forefront also Special Thanks to Michael Kernahan and hope to see you soon.
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