That infamous steelband clash on the Coffee! In the nineteen sixties, Southern Marines Steelband of Marabella was the classic community band; at carnival just about everyone in the community was involved and band was also supported by the local craftsmen and businessmen. The panyard was a busy place on Sundays before carnival; after the well … Continue reading HANDEL’s LARGO , AND A CLASH OF STEELBANDS!
Tag: steelband
specifically about the traditional steelband
A Steelband Jamboree!
In my humble opinion what the art form needs is to stop pretending that it’s an alternative to the concert stage orchestra and return to its roots as the driver of what used to be the world’s greatest street party.In the global context the steelband (not the pan itself) will always be seen as a … Continue reading A Steelband Jamboree!
AN UNFORGETTABLE PANORAMA PERFORMANCE FROM THE EARLY DAYS
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".
Reviewing and Renewing the Steelband/Carnival Connection!
Let us really do something for pan! The think is, whether we wish to accept it or not, there’s an historical and cultural nexus between the carnival and the steelband, and that’s the lens through which most of the world see the steelband. Because , if we know our cultural history , it was the … Continue reading Reviewing and Renewing the Steelband/Carnival Connection!
The beauty of a skilled steelband bass player featuring Kwesi Moore.
The closest I've ever got to playing the bass in a steelband was the tenor bass ( I also played the cello pan ), but I've always loved the bass section, admiring the beautiful, fluid movements of a skilled bass player, and the powerful sound of the bass as it vibrated in your body. For … Continue reading The beauty of a skilled steelband bass player featuring Kwesi Moore.
Steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago , Pan Trinbago , and money
The inescapable fact is that the steelbands of T&T and its representative organization Pan Trinbago have no choice but to find alternative sources of income besides dependence on government subsidies. Looking objectively at Pan Trinbago's main event the Panorama , we can see that there is no way it can be cost-effective , when we … Continue reading Steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago , Pan Trinbago , and money
It’s not an “Afro” thing , it’s a “Trini” thing !
The steelpan and its culture belongs to Trinidadians, all Trinidadians, and of course Tobagonians. We cannot on one hand refer to the instrument as our national instrument , and yet have it claimed by or even identified with one ethnic group that makes up less than forty percent of the nation's population. It is therefore … Continue reading It’s not an “Afro” thing , it’s a “Trini” thing !
G R JOSEPH 