A look at the new panyard under construction for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra by Sharmain Baboolal

-
Here is an exclusive look at the TT$14 million panyard for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra which has been homeless for several years, but which was gifted this piece of real estate at 25 Nelson Street in Port of Spain. When completed it will be the first steelband facility of its kind, anywhere in the world, occupying one and a half acres of land. Take a tour with me below:



Under construction new Desperadoes Panyard


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of scholar, educator and panist Devon Cumberbatch

-
Image
Sincere condolences to the  Pan Lara, P an Evolution, Pan Masters and   Skiffle family, and the pan fraternity on the whole on the passing of  Devon Cumberbatch . Devon Cumberbatch “I would love for the instrument to be as mainstream as the piano, guitar or violin. It may have a ways to go, being a fairly young creation, but I believe pan can progress, develop and infiltrate music of all cultures. I would love to see it as an instrument for all peoples, and universally accepted. The history of the pan is just as important as the future where it can potentially end up and blossom.” -  Devon Cumberbatch    Related content:  Meet Devon Cumberbatch - Maryland ,   Details for Devon’s funeral:   Funeral Service is on February 8th at 12pm. Viewing starts at 11am. Capitol Memorial SDA Church 3150 Chesapeake St, NW Washington, DC 20008 Devon Cumberbatch SA
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to veteran standout panist extraordinaire Caspar Durant

-
Image
 Caspar Durant Happy Birthday to Caspar Durant March 14th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Caspar Durant “I grew up in Tripoli pan yard at the corner of Dengue and Finland Street in St James from the age of six months old in 1952, and lived there playing pan with them from 1959 till we went to Montreal Canada (Man and his world) in 1967. “I started playing Tenor pan on the road for carnival in 1959, though I was only seven years old and in those days it was pan round the neck, I was able to do so because my Dad Caspar Durant Senior would hold the pan for me and chip backwards all day while I played the pan with just the strap around my neck. “As mentioned above, I left Trin...
Read more

Miami University Steel Band with Special Guest Andre White

-
Image
Andre White Andre White’s name is synonymous with excellent in Steelpan. Whether arranging popular music for a 100-person orchestra, Composing the abundance of life-force in a jazz trio or left with the instrument alone on stage, White’s music is unmistakable in impact. It’s simple to call someone “prodigy” when they begin to teach themselves music at the age of 6; when he began playing with Long-Island based ADLIB Steel Orchestra. From those humble beginnings, he has become a 3-time Champion in the Annual WIADCA Steelband Panorama, a 3-time UK Panorama and a Finalist in TNT Panorama Competitions. Recording with artists like Etienne Charles and even releasing his own album (Liberation), White adds clout to his credential as a Berklee Alumnus. In recent months, Andre won the International Pan Ramajay Soloist category hosted by Republic Bank Exodus. His talent is such that hearing him perform, even once, will change the way your perceive clarity and fluidi...
Read more

The Story of Steelbands and the Steelband Art Form in St. Lucia - UpClose!

-
Image
...The influence of pan spans a wide cross section of society quite apart from the class divisions, as pan was a stereotyped form in its early days. The steel pan and its music found work for idle hands which would otherwise be clawing at mischief at the Boys Club. This activity spearheaded under the tutorage of “Scrub”, can still be balled by testimony of person’s such as Victor Marquis who emerged from this effort. Much later his son, Ivan Smith was to mimic his level of social responsibility by doing the same at the Massade Boys’ Training Centre. “Silver tones” - Saint Lucia’s first all-female steel pan group -- photo: Lucius Alexander During the early prosperous years of the tourist industry in Saint Lucia, many steel orchestras took to the Hotels providing an inflow of cash from the highly foreign dominated industry. This practice continues today although on a smaller scale.... See complete article Relevant content: St. Lucia Steelband Panorama Winners St. Lucia National Panorama ...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to entrepreneur and panist Nevin Roach

-
Image
  Nevin Roach June 22nd When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Nevin Roach “From a young age I used to see bands in Tobago playing on the road during Carnival. However, it wasn't until around 14 when I had my first real encounter with the steelpan, satisfying my curiosity by exploring a steelpan my sister had brought home for her to practice on. I eventually played in the T&T National Panorama after which I was fortunate to receive travel opportunities throughout the Caribbean to play in other Panoramas.”   Nevin Roach In a When Steel Talks exclusive - executive producer, entrepreneur and panist Nevin Roach shares his steelpan music vision and how his "I can do this" attitude has served him and the steelpan community very well. See profile Related content: Meet Nevin Roa...
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

Long Time - by Arrow

-
Image
‘ Long Time ’ sung by “Arrow” arranged by Leston Paul - Soca Savage Arrow Montserrat 1984 2023: Tune of choice  |  Fascinators Pan Symphony   -  Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2018 Tune of Choice | Redemption Sound Setters  -  Trinidad & Tobago 2016 Tune of Choice | Belmont 5th Dimension  -  Trinidad & Tobago
Read more