The Voices of Pan - Steelpan Gospel
This is a great selection of well known gospel songs, played using the full range of instruments in a steel orchestra. All instruments played by the Steelpan virtuous the Mighty Jamma, also featuring his son Jamani Stewart. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Greenbeat Music by Barry Mackadub Stewart. The album has a great lively Steelband sound. Bringing out the happiness and sunshine whenever it is played.
All Posts (7)
Sort by
I am just letting all my east coast friends know that I will be teaching as artist-in-residence at Colby College (Maine) for the Spring semester. I would be pleased to hook up with any steel bands/players in the Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont area while I am there. Also, we are looking for a set of triple guitars and a set of six-bass to use for the steel band survey course I'll be teaching there. If you know of any groups in the area between Portland and Bangor, Maine, by all means, let me know. Thanks.
Liner notes (as written) for Boogsie's new CD, A Tribute To the Mighty Sparrow: Len ”Boogsie” Sharpe on the PHI
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe has reached a point in his career where accolades are superficial. He is that temperamental genius who can compose in his head without the enhanced skill of an academy-trained musician, the scores for up to eight mini-symphonies for large steelpan orchestras in one short Carnival season. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean diaspora and the world, "Boogsie" is an icon of steelpan, that self-sufficient and brilliant musician who can do it all. In that sometimes erratic mind of his, “Boogsie” can cajole melodies and improvisations from any steelpan family member, making the familiar new, and the new, unforgettable. His new instrument, the PHI is an evolution of the acoustic steelpan into the digital age, and in the hands of this master, we can bear witness to some firsts.
Sun Ra, in 1956 was the first artist to release a commercial recording of the electric piano (a Wurlitzer) in jazz on his album Angels and Demons at Play. Walter/Wendy Carlos’ 1968 recording Switched on Bachwith a modular synthesizer system, the Moog, heralded the commercial breakthrough for the synthesizer to the general public. These are artists in the midst of transition of the possibilities of sound, silencing the status quo and creating new moulds. Calypso music was first recorded in 1912, some five years before the first jazz recordings in the USA. In Trinidad and the world, as a matter of fact, aside from the 1940 Decca recording of the proto-steelpan side, The West Indian Rhythm Band accompanying calypsonian Roaring Lion, Casablanca Steel Band was the recipient of the honour of being the first recorded steel band with Trinidad Steel Band in 1948. [Brute Force of Antigua would have to wait a further 3 years before they could supply the fiction of their claim of being first.] That recording heralded an effort to put into the public domain, the new sound emanating from the urban yards, those laboratories of sweat and spit and fire, where the steelpan was created and evolved. In the intervening years until now, the steelpan and the steelpan sound have evolved to a rich timbre and wide sonic range that have taken a place in the sound library of World musics with commercial crossover appeal and demand.
The technical evolution and skill of these early pioneers still amazes. To actually play tunes, and yearn to improve the sound and the instrument was heady pioneering stuff much like the work of the Wright Brothers or Thomas Edison. As steelpan researcher Dr. Kim Johnson says, it is “the audacity of the creole imagination!” The importance of capturing that first sound must have also been significant. From a foreign sound engineer’s perspective, this early sound might have been as much as he could perceive the steelpan could do for a while or forever! In 2011, that magic of captured innovation is so important to us as a nation. “Boogsie”, with this CD, A Tribute To the Mighty Sparrow: Len “Boogsie” Sharpe on the PHI, is entering that domain of those pioneers by recording his tribute to the Mighty Sparrow on the PHI. This recording is the first commercial recording using this Caribbean-created technology of the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI), an electronic descendant of the traditional instrument. One pan, many sounds; the complete range of the steelpan family is within reach with a single PHI. Compact. Convenient. Creative. With it, “Boogsie” is an ensemble.
In our existence in the Caribbean, to be a first would need a recognition that comes from creating in a new medium, on a new instrument, for a new audience. “Boogsie”, whose infrequent recorded output as a solo artist exists in contrast to his numerous live arrangements, has now created a legacy project which can only add to the increasing catalogue of steelpan recordings dating all the way back to 1940. It also juxtaposes the creativity of artist and scientist in the Caribbean milieu and highlights how far we have come, and shows the possibilities that Trinidad-born Nobel Literature laureate VS Naipaul never recognized during his sojourn in the West Indies in 1960-61 that he had published in his definitive and seminal travel book, The Middle Passage: “History is built around achievement and creation; and nothing was created in the West Indies.” The steelpan was about 20 years old at the time of Naipaul’s indictment, evolved from its accidental birth and willed into communal acceptance. 50 years later, Trinidadian engineers have created an electronic instrument that merges the powerful facility of MIDI with a form inspired by the traditional steelpan. History will be vindicated!
Sparrow, that great calypsonian whose canon is unsurpassed in terms of range of melodies, lyric topics, and superior performance both on record and on stage, represents the ideal starting point for the evolution of the recording of calypso melodies. One pioneer interpreting another on a pioneering new instrument is a legacy that can’t be denied. It is the evolution of pan. It is the indictment of a version of history. It is the genesis of a new Caribbean musical aesthetic.
© 2011, Nigel A. Campbell. All Rights Reserved.
Global
PAN BUZZ AWARDS 2011
After much deliberation by our judges’ panel, and endless gulps of black coffee, it is my pleasure to present the Pan Buzz Awards 2011. First let me thank all those who sent in nominations.
The judges’ decisions are final, and no injunction, cussing or bottle-pelting, will be entertained.
Pan Song of the Year: It’s Showtime
Arranger of the Year: Leon “Smooth” Edwards
Top Ten Pan Songs
It’s Showtime - Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell
Pan For Peace - Kygel Benjamin/Sheldon Reid
How We Coming - Brian “Bean” Griffith/Alvin Daniel
Momentum - Don Clarke/Alvin Daniell
Calling Meh - Mark Loquan/Ken Philmore
Zhess - Dexter Keane
Pan Badjohn - Earl Brooks/Kurt Allen
Alien Steelband - Dunstan “Carwash” Lawrence
Bamboo Man - Alston Jack/Chris and Samantha Jack
Ruction - Jason “Peanuts” Isaac
Allan Gervais Pan Heroes Award
No tribute is too great to pay to the Dixielanders, who this year celebrated 60 years of their ground-breaking trip to England. These defenders of the Pan went up against family and friends, putting their college education on the line for pan. They won acceptance for Pan... and panmen. They are: Hady Lee, Curtis Pierre, Billy Carpenter, Joey Ng Wai, Mervyn Telfer, Miguel Barradas, Trevor Cumberbatch, Alfred Toussaint, Lennox Totesaut, Lennox Langton, Russel Valdez, Michael “Natsi” Constant, Angela Christopher and Sonny Blacks.
Other awardees are: Thunderbolt Williams, Sterling Betancourt, Barrie Nanton, Elton “Smokey” John, Cyril “Nick” Boxhill and Zigilee.
International Pan Heroes Award
Terry Noel, Pepe Francis and Andy Narell
_______________
BEST OF LUCK, SEION
Like Duvone Stewart (bptt Renegades), Señor Seion Gomez (pictured) has stepped into the big league on Pan. Seion campaigned in the Second Division of pan (Medium category), but has now been given the tough assignment with the Solo Harmonites. Yohan Popwell has been given two bites of the cherry, but failed to deliver. Pan arranging is becoming like football coaching, you either stand, or fall, on your results.
_______________
“BOOGSIE” TO EAT AH FOOD
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe will eat ah food in three categories of Pan next year. He has just been given the assignment with single pan band Carib Woodbrook Playboyz.
In Tobago, he will eat some curry crab and dumplings with medium band Our Boys, and his biggest plate will come from his beloved Phase II Pan Groove.
My spies tell me that “Boogsie” has stopped his foolish excursion, and pitbull behaviour with Pan Trinbago, and is getting down to what he does best... music.
_______________
Wherever you are in Pan’s world, keep loving up The Pan.
We are pleased to announce the release of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe's album on the PHI - A Tribute to the Mighty Sparrow.
The album is available for purchase online at CDBaby.com and at local retailers in Trinidad such as Kam's (Long Circular Mall), Crosby's (St. James) and Cleve's (Frederick Street, POS).
The Solo Harmonites Steel Orchestra will be going to Panorama 2012 with a new Arranger in the person of Mr. Seion Gomez.
Peter Kanhai - Administrative Manager Solo Harmonites
Dec. 05th 2012
Global
“GYPSY” MUST ACCOUNT
I hope Pan people are looking at what the Trinidad & Tobago Minister of Culture, Winston “Gypsy” Peters, is doing with taxpayers’ money. Is he giving it away to friends and family?
Winston “Gypsy” Peters must tell John and Jane Public why he is getting down on Pan people, while financing - to the tune of $1.2 million dollars - his son Colin Jackman’s misadventures with soca. The recent International Soca (substitute ‘Comedy’) Awards was a disaster. “Gypsy” must account. HE MUST TELL THE PUBLIC WHY he keep pelting taxpayers’ money behind this event, but on the other hand, pressuring Pan people. My spies tell me he is on a collision course with Panmen over cut-backs in the assistance to small steelbands and single-pan bands.
Over to you, Madame Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
_______________
MUSICAL EARTHQUAKE TO SHAKE T&T
A musical earthquake is about to grip Trinidad and Tobago as over twenty pan songs have fallen from the various studios. There is a lot of lacourey surrounding Alvin Daniell’s collaboration with Edwin Pouchet. Word is that they are coming with ‘Tempo’ [Gie Dem Tempo]. Pan Buzz is anxious to hear this one, as I rate Maestro’s ‘Tempo’ as the bar. After such a sizzling song, ‘It’s Showtime,’ this year, it will be tough to climb that Everest.
Earl “The Loveman” Brooks is yet to release his bomb. When he last spoke to The Buzz, he promised something special.
Spoke to the brilliant Natasha Joseph of ‘Something Different’ fame; she sits on the sidelines this year. What a disappointment! Natasha rose to stardom with the Panazz Players, and has gone off the boil. However she is back after flying under the radar.
The bogey man, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe has returned to his old self, after waging a venomous, but foolish, campaign against Pan Trinbago honchos. His tribute to his mentor Pat Bishop should improve his stocks in the Pan fraternity. My spies tell me he is focused like a laser light, with eyes on the top prize. I tell you Panorama 2012 is going to be hot, hot, hot.
_______________
“BOLT” loses a leg
Thunderbolt Williams is under the weather these days. The popular Despers Pan personality is stricken with diabetes, and has lost a leg. However the spirit of this indomitable Pan soldier is high, as he looks to make a comeback on the world wrestling stage. Pan Buzz spoke to the pan icon of The Hill (Laventille) and Despers elder - who promised to be in the thick of things for Panorama 2012...with Despers of course.
With a contribution that spans some 50 years to Desperadoes, Thunderbolt is determined not to roll over and die. “I intend to go as long as the Master says,” he signed off.
_______________
ANNUAL PAN BUZZ AWARDS
Nominations have closed for the Annual Pan Buzz Awards and pretty soon judges will deliberate. Results for all the categories will be given within the first week of December. The judges’ decision is final, and anyone toting feelings will be ignored. The categories are:
Arranger of the Year
Pan Song of the Year
Top Ten Pan Songs
Allan Gervais Pan Heroes Award
The International Pan hero Award.
_______________
Wherever you are in Pan’s world, keep loving up The Pan.
