Web Posted - Tuesday November 30, 2021
When Steel Talks

Historic Day for Barbados Celebrated with Steelpan Instrument

Pride of Nationhood: Declaration of the Republic and Installation of the President of Barbados

The National Youth Steel Orchestra of the Republic of Barbados

Bridgetown, Barbados, W.I. - Barbados replaced Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as head of state, forging a new republic with its first-ever President, Her Excellency Sandra Mason (the former Governor General), and severed its last remaining colonial bonds nearly 400 years after the first English ships arrived on the Caribbean island.

....Several artists, including Barbados’ 100-plus-player National Youth Steel Orchestra, performed as part of the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony events to mark the birth of the new Republic of Barbados on November 29, 2021.

Web Posted - Sunday November 28, 2021
When Steel Talks

Pan In Motion Meets the Challenge of Performing in the Age of COVID

performances by: Steel Sensation, Pan Evolution, Garvin Blake, Frankie McIntosh & Josh Quillen

Steel Sensation

Brooklyn, New York, USA - ....Pan In Motion, the brainchild of Kendall K. Williams whose stated mission it is to “promote Steel Pan while creating opportunities and providing resources for those with a love and passion for the instrument that will enable them to make their visions become reality,” has taken the charge in providing innovative and creative solutions to navigate this 'new normal' performing environment. 

 In this regard, Pan In Motion streamed a pre-recorded collection of performances featuring some of Brooklyn’s outstanding steelpan musicians and orchestras. This project was labeled Homegrown 2 with performances by Steel Sensation, Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, a solo by Josh Quillen and a duet by Garvin Blake & Frankie McIntosh.

Web Posted - Saturday November 20, 2021
When Steel Talks

“Ah Goin’ An’ Party Tonite” | Lord Nelson | 1982

Original vocal version - composer:   Clive Bradley

Lord Nelson (in blue, with saxophone)

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “When Despers began playing on Panorama night 1982, people actually booed. But when the chrome tenors hummed through the first few bars of “Party Tonight,” the crowd fell silent. The melody settled in the cool Savannah night air like the marijuana smoke that preceded it. Though arguments will probably persist well into Bradley's retirement, for a few minutes that night everyone was seduced by Despers, and Bradley's arrangement. It was also the first time he had arranged one of his own compositions (lyrics by Lord Nelson) for Panorama.” -- Knolly Moses

Web Posted - Saturday November 20, 2021
When Steel Talks

“In My House” | Emmanuel “Oba” Synette | 1999

Original vocal version - composer:   Emmanuel Synette

Emmanuel “Oba” Synette

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With sweetness in his voice Emmanuel “Oba” Synette broke out in 1999 with monster Pan anthem “In My House.” This piece gave the incomparable Desperadoes Steel Orchestra their 9th Panorama title immediately followed by a 10th, with “Picture on My Wall” (also sung by “Oba”) in 2000.

Web Posted - Friday November 19, 2021
When Steel Talks

Happy Birthday to Opera Singer/Performing Artist Anne Fridal - November 19

Opera singer Anne Fridal (right) with the late Clive Bradley

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to Anne Fridal.

Anne holds the distinction of being the first woman to have sung with almost every major steel orchestra coming out of Trinidad and Tobago. These steel orchestras include Phase II Pan Groove, Renegades, Desperadoes, Trinidad All Stars and Exodus. She also performed with New York’s CASYM Steel Orchestra.

Web Posted - Friday November 12, 2021
When Steel Talks

Pantonic Steel Orchestra - “In My House” - New York Panorama Performance

Clive Bradley - Arranger

Pantonic Steel Orchestra with arranger Clive Bradley on stage at the 1999 New York Panorama

Brooklyn, New York, USA - This is the championship performance of Pantonic Steel Orchestra on stage at the 1999 New York Panorama, playing “In My House” arranged by the master himself, Clive Bradley.

Web Posted - Thursday November 11, 2021
When Steel Talks - Reboot

To Hell and Back to Pan

Veterans Day Embraces 2 Trinis who served in Vietnam and elsewhere

Global - ....Veterans Day is officially observed on November 11.  So, it’s the memory of the Vietnam War and how Gerry and I both fought it as soldiers of the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One).

....It has been 50 years, and only now we reminisce about our experiences. We can jumpstart and even further improve our goal to satisfy readers’ interest in what we have to say about our sprawling commentary on Pan in the early period of the Behind the Bridge story of our experiences prior to our migration to the United States.

....For me, the war will never be in remission. It’s an indelible tattoo on my mind. I spent eight days in a hospital upon my return home from the war.

....They had me recuperating at the US Naval Base in Chaguaramas. There, I was fed more Thorazine. 

The Brass gave me a break and I stumbled through Port of Spain, where I reconnected with Neville Jules and Leon “Smooth” Edwards at the Henry Street panyard.

They saved my ass. Jules thought I was a vagrant.  You drunk? No.  Looks like you on drugs?  Ain’t no dope I ever smoked, you know that, CAP.  Never smoked.  Thorazine, courtesy of the Military Base.

Web Posted - Wednesday November 10, 2021
When Steel Talks

Pantonic Steel Orchestra - “In My House” - (‘Panyard’ version - Video)

Clive Bradley - Arranger

Pantonic Steel Orchestra with arranger Clive Bradley

Brooklyn, New York, USA - In 1999 master arranger Clive Bradley makes his triumphant return to New York after a seven-year absence. Mr. Bradley will lead Pantonic Steel Orchestra to their first Panorama championship.

Here, Basement Recordings captures the panyard performance of the orchestra’s Panorama selection, “In My House.”

Web Posted - Sunday November 7, 2021
When Steel Talks - Feel the Music - Live the Experience

Metro Steel Orchestra - “Dingolay” - (‘Panyard’ version - Audio)

Panyard Recording

New York, USA - Shadow’s “Dingolay” as arranged by the late, great Clive Bradley, is considered by many to be one of his great masterpieces. The year is 1992, and Metro Steel Orchestra, under the musical guidance of Bradley, has won two consecutive New York Panoramas.

Web Posted - Friday November 5, 2021
When Steel Talks

Congratulations to Antigua & Barbuda’s Halcyon Steel Orchestra upon its National Conferment Honour

Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - When Steel Talks (WST) extends congratulations to Halcyon Steel Orchestra on the conferring of a national honour on the music organization – the ʽInstitutional Award: The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (Gold)’ for distinguished and outstanding contribution to culture through the development and advancement of steel band and steel pan music. 

The award is among several to be given out during the country’s 2021 Independence Celebrations.

Web Posted - Friday November 5, 2021
When Steel Talks - Exclusive - Reboot

A Chat With Clive Bradley - Master Arranger, Composer, Producer - Up-Close!

An exclusive 2000 interview with the late great steelpan music arranger Clive Bradley

Global - Over the course of approximately a little over two decades, members of WST (When Steel Talks) interacted closely with the late Clive Bradley in various capacities - i.e., musicians, players, engineers and journalists. The following is one of a series of WST interviews with Clive Bradley that gives further and deeper insight into the man, his life and his music.

In this exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - musician, writer, composer and arranger Clive Bradley shares some personal philosophies, experiences, thoughts on the pan, music and the human condition.

Web Posted - Wednesday November 3, 2021
When Steel Talks

Congratulations to panist & performing artist Tiajuana Hernandez on her Bachelor of Arts degree

Tiajuana Hernandez

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - When Steel Talks (WST) extends congratulations to panist & performing artist Tiajuana Hernandez on receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Web Posted - Tuesday November 2, 2021
When Steel Talks

Beyond Kissing Babies - Shaking Hands, Visiting Steel Orchestra Panyards and Broken Promises

The Death March of New York Pan and Culture

Eric Adams & Tony Joseph

Brooklyn, New York, USA - ....From 2014 to present Eric Adams has served as Brooklyn’s Borough President. His fortunes have gone very well politically in that period. And unless there is an unforeseen upset Eric Adam will become the next mayor of New York City in a day or so. Conversely, the fortunes of the New York steelband community has gone south in that same time period, becoming progressively worse. Indeed, there is enough blame to go around - from sleazy and corrupt promoters of pan events; envious, inept, distrustful, and short-sighted band leaders, and, of course, traitorous politicians.

Will the neglected New York steelband community finally benefit from Eric Adams if he becomes Mayor of New York City, where they didn’t while he was Brooklyn Borough president? His promises went unfilled since then; so what’s in store for the steelband art form’s community and future in New York?

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