Thoughts and ideas relating to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago , especially the steelpan and the steelband
As far as I’m concerned, Peter Tosh is a reggae star second in acclaim only to the great Bob Marley.I was privileged to see Peter Tosh on this concert tour when he visited Boston in 1983 and it remains one of my most memorable experiences. This is a video of a classic concert performance during … Continue reading Peter Tosh…The Legend Live!
From Panorama 1969 , the greatness of arranger Earl Rodney, and the power of Solo Harmonites in full display with this rocking version of Sparrow's. "Bongo".
Normally I prefer to keep my spiritual thoughts private, but often I see posts on social media ridiculing some of us who believe in a God as Creator of the universe.Admittedly, some of us , especially some of those who call themselves “evangelical Christian’s” make utterances on social media and elsewhere that make us believers … Continue reading To Believe (in God) or not.That is the Question!
I'm never quite comfortable with assigning the creation of these instruments to individuals, except in specific instances like the spider web by Tony Williams or the high tenor by Bertie marshall as examples. Early Steelband In the early days as I recall most steelbands had tuners, and these guys copied from each other. Pan tuning … Continue reading RECOGNIZING THE HEROES AND CREATORS OF THE STEELPAN INSTRUMENT
On July 1st, 2019, my friend Errol Phillips passed away.An extremely talented musician from Woodbrook, Trinidad, and an ex Starlift Steel Orchestra player, this versatile musician mastered the bass, guitar, keyboards, and particularly the tenor pan.Errol was one of the few Trinidadians I've ever known locally in New Hampshire, and I do miss him.However, we … Continue reading Merry Christmas, with Steelpan Music!
I recently celebrated my 76th birthday, and as a child growing up in Trinidad in the 1950s, I remember the sadness of children paralyzed by polio. I also remember outbreaks of measles and mumps and even chickenpox which , though not eliminated has been under control for decades, and it’s occurrence dramatically reduced.
Is Paris Burning? is the name of a 1966 movie of the same name based on the question reportedly asked by Adolf Hitler following his order to destroy the city rather than let it be re-captured by the Allies in late August 1944. The story was adapted into a feature film by the same name … Continue reading “Is Paris Burning?” A Trinidadian musical retrospective.
I would never argue about religion especially since I think religious beliefs are personal, but I do believe that most religions are a combination of mythology, history, folklore and prevailing cultural and political biases of the era when these beliefs originated.And I’m specifically speaking about the Abrahamic religions, the ones with which I’m familiar , … Continue reading God, Science, Creation, and the Universe
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of vintage calypso music, and a thought occurred to me. When we speak of the future of the art-form we should also address the music we play, it’s quality, and the most suitable music genre that the steelband can call it’s own. We have an incredible catalogue of … Continue reading Vintage Calypso and The Steelband
I have come to believe that it’s very unfair to compare panorama arrangers of today with the great arrangers of the last century.As a matter of fact, it’s even unfair to compare today’s work by veteran arrangers still with us with their past presentations, when most of us believe that their best work was done … Continue reading Comparing Steelband Panorama Arrangers , then and now.
G R JOSEPH 