Blog 2.0

My third original collection "Put It Behind You" features 20 new tunes in Caribbean styles.  Charts are arranged with melody & chords in a lead sheet format that is easy for live bands to play.  For soloists, each backing track blends drums, bass, and percussion, with a variety of harmony instruments including guitar, organ, marimba, vibraphone, and occasionally, horns.  This collection features my best work to date!  My other collections, “Sea Breeze” and “Chasing Summer,” are also available through Tropical Shores Productions. 

You can purchase the book now at this link: http://www.tropicalshores.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PAB%2Dputitbehindyou

You can listen to the entire demo recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr_LE7W4i_g&t=10s

Or download a copy of the demo album here: https://panoramicview.bandcamp.com/album/put-it-behind-you

I hope any or all of these tunes get added to your set list!  Enjoy!  

With thanks, 

Aaron Abrahamson Cote 

Steel Pan Artist; Composer & Educator 

Master of Music; UIUC

www.PanoramicViewBand.com

To  the administration of WST and Pan Lovers the world over, please feel free to access my page and engage in any questions, clarifications,conversations etc, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/Ian-Clarke-for-External-Relations-Officer-of-Pan-Trinbago-368619973877936/

I have seen Keron's team.

In my opinion too much accent on Biographies and academia of the candidates.

Not impressed at all. Pan must not go down that path, we need a combination of academia and representatives

from the school of hard knocks who not only know pan in its infancy but will recruit the best support staff to 

move the movement. Keron, this is not the Mayors office.

Orvis Noel Ex-Pat 

St Augustine

How%20Low%20Will%20We%20Go.docx

Our dynamic team: Keith Byer (president); Aquil Arrindell(vice President); Fuad Abu Bakr(PRO); Khion DeLas(Education Officer); Travis Mulraine (Asst. Secretary); Kerri Ann Walters(Treasurer).. We looked acros slates to get the best people for the job and we have identified persons for the other positions which will be revealed in a subsequent post.

1. So, according to reports he (Philmore) rolled his vehicle and as a  result suffered internal injuries .He was taken to SGH where  in 2018 there are no doctors capable off treating traumatic injuries. When will Trinidad medicine get better?.Condolences  to his family and friends .

ABOUT THE MAN HIMSELF

Much is known of Ellie as a pan tuner and popular steel-band man, but not many people know of his academic side. Ellie as a young man was very ambitious and at an early age became an apprentice in machinery and graduated at the top of his class as a Lathe Operator. He was well recognized for his work in Trinidad in that field, as a valued employee at the Acme Engineering Co. on Richmond street. His first encounter with Navy would come when US Navy forces staged a maneuver in the Gulf and in so doing broke a propeller. The job to repair the shaft was sent to Acme Engineering and no other that Ellie was given the task. On the completion of the job the Admiral wanted to know who in this Island was responsible for doing such good work and Ellie was invited to meet the officer. This meeting started a collaboration between them for a navy steel-band. The rumor has it that he was the number one tuner in the Country at that time.
Ellie brought a meticulous manner of application into the pan arena, using dividers, compasses and more precise measurements that was not present before. He changed the method of shaping from convex to concave. He introduced for the first time the full-size drum to apply new measurements for the first chromatic pan, and changed the method that was used for the initial sinking of the drum. Instead of cutting the pan off the barrel at the desired length and placing it on the ground and hammering into the ground, thereby causing a rough surface, the pan was worked entirely with the whole barrel until it was completed and then cut off at the desired length.
He was someone that liked to dress a lot and from time he would come into the yard well dressed in very light color clothes, two tone shoes and decide to make a pan. He would fold his shirt and pants halfway up, put some slippers on and begin the process of sinking, burning and tuning at the end of which there was a well-tuned instrument and impeccably still well-dressed Ellie. I would take his lunch to him at his job many times and noticed everybody had overalls except Ellie who was in his flannel pants and butter colored shoes. To me that was an example to be always neat and clean.
There was always something new happening in the yard that would pique your imagination like the way a note had to be tuned after many attempts without any results. For instance, once, during the sinking of a drum a small tear appeared in the material. He said, “Oh, don’t worry.” He circled that area with a punch, made that spot a note and repositioned the entire pattern around that note. Another time, there was a pan that he made for a friend. When the guy showed up to pick up the drum, he told Ellie there was a note missing. Ellie asked what was the note. His friend said E. There was a D note. Ellie grooved the D in half and tuned it to E. Being around Ellie you never ceased to be amazed.
Once I observed that Ellie was working on a pan while some other gentlemen in the yard were placing pram wheels on a stand to carry a pan on the road. One of the legs was shorter than the other and they were having trouble making it level. Ellie must have been watching them struggle while he was working although he never spoke to them or asked what was the problem. He simply excused himself and said he would be right back. When he returned he came back with a large u staple that was hammered into the shorter piece of pipe making it level with the other leg thereby finding the solution to the problem. That was the way his mind worked. See the problem, figure out a solution.
“Don’t use those drums to make basses” he would say to Emmanuel “Jack” Riley. Of course, Jack would do differently only to find out in the end they could not be tuned as basses which Ellie already knew and was the reason he told Jack not to use them in the first place.
Ellie had that feel about steel that I have never seen in anyone. He had an uncanny way of note placement and combinational balance of tones which he combined with the idea of playing across the pan as compared to playing around the pan. He developed the engineering that went into making two or more pans come together as one instrument which was user friendly in accommodating the universal left and right hands application.

Dr. Elliott “Ellie” Mannette

Elliiott was always surrounded by the people who loved him throughout his entire life and I am referring to his earlier days as a young pioneer in the Steel Band world in Trinidad Tobago his home land. Even dating back to the steel band riots of the 40’s he was revered and recognized for his pan tuning skills. During riots that existed at carnival time a truce was established to allow him safe passage as he was escorted through hostile territory from one band to the other so the longtime rival band’s pans could be tuned. 

“ELLIE” as we called him, an abbreviation of his real name, Elliot Anthony Mannette, was once called LA CARIO, the maiden name of his mother. This quickly morphed into Cairo, a derogative term to show toughness amongst the Steel Bands. This was changed to “Ellie” by Trinidad’s first lady of dance and founder of the Little Caribe Theatre, Beryl McBernie, when she collaborated with him to provide steel band music for her dance troupe. She insisted, “What kind of name is that? Your name is ‘Ellie’. Sounds more god-like.”

“ELLIE” was one of those rare persons that had the support of thousands of people for many years because of that love that was shared both ways. He was always a visionary when talking  about pan. Anyone one that was interested in pan tuning could just stand next to him while he worked on a pan and listen to the information pour out that was so complex but at the same time very explainable that you knew in your own mind it was true. Back home we call that “show off” but in reality, it was just a wealth of knowledge being passed from the thesaurus and pan encyclopedia that was Ellie Mannette to the world and its inhabitants. Every day there were new experiences and new discoveries.

You don’t need a formal introduction to “Ellie”. DR. Elliot still sounds corny. The first time I met Ellie I walked up to him some 60yrs ago in the “yard” as it was known, and asked him if he knew my elder brother by name, who at the time was a member of the “Woodbrook Invaders.” One of the things that I vividly remember is the manner in which he spoke to me as though he knew me for many years and this encounter was just one of the many times we met. He looked across the yard and said to Emanuel ”Jack” Riley,  “Do you know Sydney? “Jack” said, “Yes, that tall guy from Belmont.” Ellie replied, ”This little guy is one of them.” And that was the beginning of my journey in life as a pan man and pan tuner. He took me under his guidance and I started sinking his pans for him, scribing and laying out the patterns and I became known as “Ellie’s boy.”  He became more of an uncle to me than a good pan tuner.

I consider my self fortunate to have had the chance to grow up in the shadows of such an icon and great teacher that influenced me to learn, even duplicating his mistakes at times, and to be always critical of your own work, never stop learning and experimenting, most of all sharing your knowledge with others.

I would like to take this time to share a moment about the Maestro. We stayed in touch throughout our lives and I spoke to him about a month ago and his voice sounded raspy. I asked how he was doing. He replied, “I am feeling kinda weak but I always bounce back.” He continued saying, “But boy Ansel, looks like this one is going to take me down!” So when I got the news that he had an issue with his kidney it was not a surprise.  I do think he knew what was going on and that he would want us to celebrate his legacy, not be saddened, but be happy that we came to know him and all that he has accomplished (especially if you know the history of Pan in TRINIDAD&TOBAGO) and was able to give this gift to the world. 

My comments about my enjoyment of the recent steelband parades have been misinterpreted as an endorsement of steelbands on trucks , so I wish to further clarify my thoughts, to clear up any misunderstandings.
.
Now , I fully appreciate why it's done , but I don't like steelbands on trucks.

Like I've said many times, I think something about the steelband vibration is lost , with the distance created between the steelband , the natural environment , and the people.

Having said that , I've never been about necessarily returning to the way we did things in the last century , and I've also stated this on many occasions..

My thing is, and always have been, about the importance of the steelbands participating in Trinidad's main cultural event , the carnival street parade.

I'm convinced that modern , efficient , twenty-first century means can be used to mobilize the steelbands , but if we must settle for trucks , so be it.

I however will never accept the fact that putting steelbands on trucks is the best way to display and demonstrate the beauty and power of a steelband on the move.

Other forms of motor driven conveyances , platforms closer to the ground for example , may prove more effective., but the truck bed , though it affords a convenience we cannot deny , is certainly not my preference.

I was very disappointed that I did not receive a notification of yesterdays event Pan on the Avenue. I sent a note on your Facebook. We got to see the video which stopped at Harmonites, the large bands we did not see or hear. SAD.

RIP "Tempo"...stalwart and former Double Second pannist and as recently as this year's Panorama, great Rhythm Section tambourine player.

Your send-off today was synonymous with your personality, humility, love of pan and people.

Continue to fly the Renegades flag, and pan flag in general, flying high in heaven.

You will be missed by all.

 Stanley 'Kiddie' Currency ( Known for his insightful, Thoughtful and biting commentary- And an Ardent Desperadoes Affectionado) has passed on.

Condolences to his immediate family, Simple Paradise Sports Club Members and friends. HE SHALL BE MISSED!

The mistake we are making , my friends is assuming that the problems facing the steelbands of T&T are pan people’s problems , but they are much more than that.
The problems are societal , and about national identity , culture ,vision and even more.
Trinidadians have not yet recognized that in a failing economy , an emphasis on culture and tourism will become a most important part of the nation's economic security.

Many Trinidadians have been reluctant to appreciate uniqueness and value of the steelpan , the national instrument.
The most unique , and most economically viable part of the culture is the steelband and it related aspects - tuning , marketing of pans etc.
But this can only be exploited to the nation's benefit if that is recognized and appreciated by all aspects of society . including the government , the NCC , the steelband leaders , the business sector and mostly by the public at large.

And the government can’t just “ wash their hands” and leave it up to pan people , it is too important to the nation’s well being.
Because it will take a national investment ,and a focus on the steelband as a centerpiece of the culture , including the carnival.
And it will need direction and leadership from all aspects of society including government , the business community and the public.

Such an emphasis on culture should produce benefits in the entertainment sector and particularly in tourism .
The culture must be promoted and marketed with the spotlight on the steelband , in such a way as to emphasize the history of the steelpan , its culture , its creators and the superior skills of the pan creators and innovators of T&T.

Increased funds in the national coffers due to tourism based on steelband activities can then be shared with the steelbands , since it would be obvious they have earned it.

The steelbands , even with exemplary leadership , cannot solve these issues by themselves.

The problem is us.

All of us , not just pan people.

https://youtu.be/zQwSazb9BK8

Windrush part 3 of 4

Four-part historical documentary series tracing the changes to British national life brought about by the first major influx of people from the Caribbean on the troopship Empire Windrush.

Windrush is a four-part series of one-hour television documentaries originally broadcast on BBC2 in 1998[1] to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the MV Empire Windrush, the ship that brought the first significant wave of post-war West Indian immigrants. The series was produced and directed by David Upshal. Its Executive Producer was Trevor Phillips. It won the 1999 Royal Television Society Award for Best Documentary Series.[2] Contributors include Lenny Henry, Jazzy B, Doreen Lawrence, Valerie Amos, Rosalind Howells, Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng, Ben Bousquet, Carroll Thompson, Charlie Williams, Cy Grant, Professor Stuart Hall, Ken Livingstone, Darcus Howe, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Columbus Deniston, Ulric Cross, Chris Blackwell, Mike Phillips.

Windrush is a four-part series of one-hour television documentaries originally broadcast on BBC2 in 1998[1] to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the MV Empire Windrush, the ship that brought the first significant wave of post-war West Indian immigrants. The series was produced and directed by David Upshal. Its Executive Producer was Trevor Phillips. It won the 1999 Royal Television Society Award for Best Documentary Series.[2] Contributors include Lenny Henry, Jazzy B, Doreen Lawrence, Valerie Amos, Rosalind Howells, Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng, Ben Bousquet, Carroll Thompson, Charlie Williams, Cy Grant, Professor Stuart Hall, Ken Livingstone, Darcus Howe, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Columbus Deniston, Ulric Cross, Chris Blackwell, Mike Phillips.

https://www.facebook.com/CCNTV6/videos/1880787001963483/

At Panorama 1965, Steve Achaiva was a panist with Cavaliers and

in 1975, he arranged for Hatters.

At Panorama 1969, Herschel Puckerin, Len Sharpe and Pelham Goddard were all panists with Starlift.

In 1978, Herschel arranged for Starlift, in 1987, Len arranged for Phase II and Pelham arranged for Exodus in 1992.

In 1973, Leon Edwards was a panist with All Stars and in 1980 arranged for them.

In 1966 and 1970 Robert Greenidge was a panist with Desperadoes and in 1991 he arranged for them.

Duvone Stewart played on many of Renegades' panorama wins in the 1990's and in 2018, he arranged for them.