WST Grammy Notes - Congratulations are in order for 2022 Grammy Nominee Andy Akiho - Award-Winning Composer, Percussionist & Panist

-

To:  ANDY AKIHO - 2022 Grammy Nominee in two Categories “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” and “Best Contemporary Classical Composition”



- as featured composer of “Seven Pillars” for the group Sandbox Percussion

- See a performance of “Seven Pillars”

- Go behind the scenes of Seven Pillars with the composer, Andy Akiho, and fellow performers


- More on Andy Akiho as a panist





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to panist and steelpan tuner Ansel Joseph

-
Image
Ansel Joseph November 1st When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Ansel Joseph With thoughtful observation, critical analysis and keen understanding - Ansel Joseph brings his over sixty years of dedication to the steelpan artform and culture as a skilled panist, lecturer, touring musician, steelpan craftsman, tuner and manufacturer. Moreover, through his vast experiences and encounters he raises the pertinent issues to the way forward and meeting the challenge of growing the Art form. See article Related content : Pan As A Developing Art Form Ansel Joseph - the Panman of Phoen...
Read more

Remembering the late Colette Modeste on her birthday - scholar, educator, panist and member of Women in Steel

-
Image
  Colette Modeste Birthday - June 27th Colette Modeste Women In Steel in Antigua, with the late legendary arranger Dr. Jit Samaroo (striped top) - Colette Modeste is second to Samaroo's left Colette Modeste, at right Related content: Educator & Panist Colette Modeste has passed Women In Steel Set to Represent New York at the 2004 edition of The World Steelband Music Festival Women in Steel -- bio The late Colette Modeste with Women in Steel
Read more

Calypso’s “Kitch” of the Day

-
Image
Calypso’s “Kitch” of the Day by Von Martin written for the “WASHINGTON POST” February 20, 2000 published at the request, and with the expressed permission - of the author If Aldwyn Roberts, the calypsonian known as Lord Kitchener, had been born in a metropolitan country instead of the island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, he might have been considered one of the greatest composers of this century.I wrote for the Washington Post commemorating “Lord Kitchener.” This was done in 2000 using material from an interview I did with Kitch in 1988. I think its a doozy. Cheers, Von But then he would not have contributed so much to calypso music. For more than 50 years, Lord Kitchener, who died Feb. 11 at the age of 77, gave calypso some of its wittiest and most infectious musical compositions. Calypso, a genre grounded in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, is both poetry in music and editorial in song. Calypso songs praise or condemn their subjects. The lyrics tell of the life of th...
Read more

‘But de judges tief!!’.... -- Revisited -- The job of Panorama Judging Realities and Myths

-
Image
Victor Prescod - Performer, Educator and Adjudicator - In the Spotlight On judging, Victor believes that one of the things that needs to be looked at is the criteria for judging.  “Many times persons fault the adjudicators for results, but the adjudicators can only work within the established criteria. And - competition is a strange thing when it comes to music. Because, there are some who say competition stifles creativity - and in a sense, it may. Once you enter a competition there are criteria. And if you are hopeful of being successful in the competition, then you need to address the criteria. What I have found is very often - the arrangers of music for pan, may not fully understand the criteria under which they are being judged. So that - arrangers are creative, so they get into a lot of the creativity which does not necessarily address the criteria...” In speaking directly to the competing arrangers, V...
Read more

Esther Batson - Women's Month - Their Voice, Their Life, Their Dreams, Their Passion, Their Story

-
Image
  "...the biggest challenge facing women in pan is the public not realizing - or not accepting them yet; although they enjoy it [pan music]. When they have their programs they do not attend... so the finance is not there. And they would attend foreigners' [performances].... They won't [attend the pan performances] because you see they can walk into a panyard and watch them practice....So that is the greatest challenge - to get the public to realize - here is an artform, and they should pay for it. So they [pan players] practice freely, until the wee hours of the morning, and get no remuneration.  -- Esther Batson Music Educator Esther Batson was one of the stalwarts in the steelband culture of Trinidad and Tobago, and adjudicated steelband competitions internationally. Ms. Batson passed away on June 18, 2010 in Trinidad. Responsible for the mentoring and development of several of the country’s noted steelpan talents, it was Ms. Batson’s initiative of cultural exchanges whi...
Read more

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of veteran composer, arranger and musician extraordinaire Wayne “Birdie” Kirton - RIP

-
Image
Wayne "Birdie" Kirton When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of veteran composer, arranger and musician extraordinaire  Wayne “Birdie” Kirton  - RIP Wayne “Birdie” Kirton  Bio Wayne “Birdie” Kirton Born on August 1st 1947 in Belmont, Trinidad and Tobago he attended Queens Royal College and was an original member of Q.R.C. Jazz Club, an original member of Gemini Brass and also a member of Rockafella Combo. He recorded with Andre Tanker, Super Blue, Dakota Stanton, Mighty Sparrow, Explainer, Swallow, Poser and many other artists. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He also arranged for Invaders USA.                                  Leave a comment Related content Wayne Kirton's - Discography
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to veteran panist Imari Bactowal

-
Image
  Happy Birthday to  Imari Bactowal December 14th To simply say that Pan is a major part of her life would be an understatement. She is wrapped in the arms of the proverbial Pan-Jumbie - with no escape. In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - panist and performing artist Imari Bactowal shares her reflections, experiences and views on Pan, and the steelpan art form overall. Related content Meet Imari Bactowal - Brooklyn, New York Imari Bactowal with Sonatas Steel Orchestra
Read more

Roach to be honoured with Caribbean Artistic Development award in the U.S.A.

-
Image
Global: Three years ago, the visionary Tobagonian Nevin Roach showcased ingenuity during the challenging heights of the COVID-19 lockdowns, giving birth to PanoGrama , the world’s first online steelpan competition. The inaugural event drew thousands virtually on Instagram, gaining popularity in subsequent years. Now, Roach is set to receive the 2024 Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) Entrepreneurial Award for Caribbean Artistic Development. At its core, PanoGrama is a testament to the power of simple yet innovative ideas. The solo competition united the international steelpan community, providing a platform to showcase exceptional talents. However, PanoGrama's impact extended far beyond entertainment and became a highly anticipated event globally. Since the inaugural event, Mr. Roach expanded the competition to encompass holistic development. He secured international television deals, reaching a potential audience of over one million, and fo...
Read more