WST Reboot -- Cordel Byam with New Dimension Steel Orchestra - A Blast from the Past

-
Cordel Byam (second on bottom right) with New Dimension Steel Orchestra

When Steel Talks captures a young Cordel Byam as a panist with New Dimension Steel Orchestra at the 2004 Moods of Pan festival in Antigua. Cordel is destined to become a champion Panorama arranger for Grenada in a few years.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to educator, arranger and panist Krystal Nestor

-
Image
  Krystal Nestor  Happy Birthday to Krystal Nestor  March 9th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist, Krystal Nestor  “I remember standing on the road side watching and listening to a steel band and I got lost in the music. It was then I promised myself that I had to learn to play the steel pan. When I play my pan there’s not a worry in the world.” -  Krystal Nestor   Pan is simply her life. In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - panist, manager, performing artist, educator and arranger Krystal Nestor shares her reflections, experiences and views on Pan, and the steelpan art form overall.  Krystal Nestor with ADLIB Steel Orchestra - "Like Ah Boss" - Amrit Samaroo arranger Relevant content Meet Krystal Nestor - St. Lucia
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

The passing of Gary “Soup” Harrigin

-
Image
Gary “Soup”  Harrigin Condolences on the passing of Master Tuner Roland Harrigin’s brother Gary Harrigin  aka  “Soup.” He was one of the brothers who took all of Roland’s pans to Rudolph Charles to hear once completed. Gary Harrigin was also very good in the making of the steelpan instrument as well. May Gary Rest in peace. Submitted by Lyndon Spencer
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

‘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

Some accomplishments by the late great Anthony Williams as listed by former North Stars player David Maunday

-
Image
  Anthony Williams Some accomplishments by Anthony Williams as listed by former North Stars player  David Maunday Scientific Anthony Williams involved in putting pan on wheels in the late 1950s.   The placement of notes on the tenor pan in the 4th and 5th formation.   The grooving of notes on pans in a spider web pattern (more notes achieved).   Placement of notes on the six bass in fourths (a virtual lower extension of the tenor pan).   Placement of notes on their double second and 3 pan cello carries similar patterns making it easy for players to migrate from one section to the other.   Tony’s quality of tuning produced a very unique tone with his early use of harmonics.   Inventor of the 4 pan (a form of cello pan).   Anthony Williams made outsize pans (larger than the standard 55 gallon drums) using sheath metal which he tuned [into] some tenor pans, cellos and bass, some of which were used on the Ivory and Steel Recordings in 1969. ...
Read more

Merrytones Steel Orchestra - In the Spotlight - Eric McAllister speaks

-
Image
  Merrytones Steel Orchestra - Trinidad Then, Now and Beyond C. Phillips, Basement Press Corp. ©2005 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved Former captain Eric McAllister takes pride in introducing his band, Merrytones Steel Orchestra in Trinidad, to the global pan community. He presently plays the quadraphonics, a physically demanding instrument. McAllister is now part of the executive management of the band. Merrytones Steel Orchestra is a three-time winner of the Panorama title in the small conventional steel orchestra category - 1995, 2004, 2005. In the years prior to 1995 Merrytones was a large band, the category which usually fields up to one hundred players and over. When McAllister joined Merrytones in 1974 (his first panorama), the band then had a membership of about 50-plus members. Their competitive fortunes began to look up in later years, toward the end of the decade. In 1982 - in the Pan Is Beautiful II competition, they placed fourth, then took t...
Read more