> ISSUE 10 WINTER 2004/2005
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TARA BAPTISTE The nursing pannist! WOODBINE STEELBAND DAVE EDWARDS MIRANDA HOHENKIRK A Bright Spark for the Future PAN SONATAS The oldest steel orchestra in New York, Sonatas has garnered respect among the fraternity PAUL DOWIE Founder of the Croydon Steel Orch’ ZR 2 STEELBAND RASPO Reading All Steel Percussion Orch’ FOREST GATE YOUTH STEEL ORCH’ This group of young and aspiring musicians hails from the London Borough of Newham KERON VALENTINE GRAFTON YEARWOOD STERLING’S ANGELS Playing heavenly music GCSE’S AND THE STEEL PAN Many schools now embrace steel pan as one of the main instruments for many pupils is an indication that steel pan is finally taking its place in the pantheon of school music. COURTS SOUNDS SPECIALIST OF LAVENTILLE STEEL ORCHESTRA Music is Life!
contents 16
BAS Awards Ceremony Dinner & Dance ‘04
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JEANETTE ‘Kisskadee’ CONTANT
New talent Kiskadee is hitting the R&B scene with her West Indian fusion.
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Notting Hill Carnival PANORAMA ‘04 Champions of Steel WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 03
> EDITORIAL
> WHO’S WHO
> Welcome
PANPODIUM
Tara is joint manager of their family band Stardust with her brother Adrian and sister Rhonda. She is responsible for arranging their gigs and looks after the financial matters of the band whilst assisting Adrian and Rhonda with the musical arrangements. She also lends her help to the Mas making side of Stardust which is also a Masquerade Band; in fact Randolph always boasted that he was the only steelband manager/arranger who also made Mas.
Editor Robbie Joseph
2004 was a very busy year for BAS and Pan. The steelpan artform’s growing success in the UK and Europe can be attributed to the instrument’s musical participation in the different forums. We now look forward to our annual programme of events which includes Pan Explosion to be held in Portsmouth this year, Pan in Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square Pan Jamboree, Panorama and our fifth annual Awards ceremony. Our member bands continue their tours to countries worldwide promoting the gospel according to pan and the hosting of the WSMF 2K5 UK in London during May/June 2005 is yet another landmark achievement for steelpan in the UK. This issue marks the fifth anniversary of Pan Podium and sees its continued efforts in putting pan on its rightful podium gaining momentum. BAS and Pan Podium take this opportunity to wish everyone a bright and prosperous 2005. Pan 4 Life
Writers/Contributors JFreddy Wilfkirk, Dave Edwards, Vanessa Clarke, Jeanette Contant, Paul Dowie, David Henry, Victoria Jacquiss, Lionel MacCalman, Richard Forteau, Grafton Yearwood, Felix Joseph, Mary Genis Photography: Response Photograpic and Franco Chang Layout & Design: Indus Digital Services Published by: BAS BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF STEELBANDS The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W112AV Tel: 020 7565 7813 - Fax: 020 7565 7810 E-mail: panpodium@aol.com robbie@panpodium.com Website: www.panpodium.com The views published in Pan Podium are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. All material contained in this publication are the copyright of Pan Podium. No material written or photographic should be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. No liability will be accepted for any errors which may occur within the magazine.
Robbie Joseph - Editor
World Steelband Music Festival UK 2005 Witness the Mastery and Excellence of the Steelpan
First time to be held outside Trinidad The event will be hosted in London between 28/5/05 - 04/06/2005
For more details contact steelbandfest@yahoo.com or visit www.panpodium.com.
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TARA
Baptiste > THE NURSING PANNIST Tara is one of the rare examples of children who follow in both their parents' footsteps. She is a qualified nurse and this calling came from her mother who is a midwife whilst her musical skills with the steelpan as an arranger and pannist derived from her father, the late Randolph Baptiste. When asked about her initial involvement with the steelpan she replied, 'I GREW UP IN THE PANYARD AS MOM HAD TO WORK NIGHTS AND AS DAD HAD TO LOOK AFTER US THIS SOMETIMES MEANT THAT WE WERE TAKEN TO THE PANYARD WHICH WAS OFTEN. I STARTED PLAYING WHEN I WAS 10.' She gets great enjoyment from playing the steelpan and looks forward to Panorama because of her cultural heritage and also the musical challenge it presents. One of her treasured moments was in the 1987 Panorama when Stardust came third beating Ebony, Europe's finest. In fact her father was a founder member of Ebony before leaving in 1983 to form Stardust.
When questioned about her vision for Stardust she replied, ' I would like to continue the valuable work Dad started with Stardust ensuring that we obtain a more established panyard to accommodate players and develop their musical skills.' She continued, 'The Steelpan fraternity in the UK must channel their efforts into the development of the instrument and its music rather than being focused on short term financial gains, as this investment will ensure long term growth of the art form and its greater recognition in world music.' She has very fond memories of playing in the National Steel Orchestra led by Frank Rollock at the Queen's Jubilee in Buckingham Palace. She had never played in such a large and demanding orchestra before but the experience boosted her playing skills as well as her confidence. She prefers to play rhythm pans because of the dexterity of these instruments and is proficient with the guitar, double seconds and three pan cellos. Tara is a very quiet and modest person who is the sort of individual who gets the job done rather than talk about it. She is young, willing, capable and full of enthusiasm. A member of the new breed of pan musicians who will take this instrument to further realms of stardom and its rightful Podium.
WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 05
> BAND PROFILE
> CD REVIEW
Annette Baidoo who is a team leader at the Woodbine Clubhouse, manages the band and assists when necessary by playing the double guitars, one of the project workers plays the bass; the other pans are played by Robert, Debra, Simon, Janice and Sandra. Other regular participants are Irfan and Jerry. Even though some of the service users are unable because of their disabilities to either hold the sticks or play the pans, they show their support and enthusiasm by playing the maracas or other percussion instruments. The band flourishes under the tutelage of Freddy from Wilfkirk Promotions, responsible for promoting steelpans in East London, South East London and Kent. They continued to grow stronger as can be observed by the dedication, enthusiasm and support offered by the whole team (management and staff ) at the Woodbine Clubhouse.
THE WOODBINE STEELBAND IS NOW ASPIRING TO PLAY IN THE 2005 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL AND IS ALREADY BEGINNING TO TAKE THE RELEVANT STEPS TO ENABLE THIS TO HAPPEN. EVEN THOUGH THAT IS QUITE SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, THE PLAYERS ARE EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIME WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION. By Wilfkirk Promotions email: wilfkirkpromotions@btopenworld.com
Woodbine STEELBAND Their steelband was established in 2000 and began with them hiring steel pans and a venue for practice. After a year or so a decision was made to acquire the Centre's own set of pans owing to the great interest and commitment showed.
> THE WOODBINE CLUB IS A DAY SERVICE FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND IS LOCATED IN THE EAST END OF LONDON
This set comprised tenor, double seconds, double guitars, cellos and a six bass. By 2003, it was confirmed that the cellos presented too much of a challenge to the players who all have learning disabilities. 06 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
> CD Review A decision was then made to replace the cellos with a single second and single guitar pan. The band then began to gel and has played not only for similar venues but also hospitals, local councils and for various Mayors in London. They have played for the Kent County Council in their 'Celebration of Ability' presentation and continue to get bookings for other local events. Even though their repertoire is not extensive, the visible dedication of the players aptly makes up for that. At present, they are working on improving that repertoire by the use of user-friendly music sheets during performances.
Rachel Hayward PAN ON THE RUN
A collection of ten of Ray Holman’s compositions which spans from 1970 with, ‘Socking It to Steel’ to his 2001; ‘Heroes of The Nation’. Rachel has really done Ray proud with her musical interpretations. The CD aims to present Ray’s music in a form which is accessible to everyone, yet retaining the compositional and rhythmic integrity of the originals. It will help in the steelpan’s journey to become one of the mainstream instruments with its players and music receiving the acceptance and credit it deserves. This CD is yet another great tribute to an outstanding musician.
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> WHO’S WHO
> WHO’S WHO
MIRANDA He took up pan in his thirties when he worked at an Inner London school and was taught by Gerald Forsyth. Fifteen years ago, he set up and led the first steelbands on Tyneside with Ken Paterson. He plays most of the pan instruments and sees his role as a facilitator and has fronted NTSB since it inception. He enjoys performing which allows him to interact with audiences.
Hohenkirk A Bright Spark for the Future
Dave retired from teaching eight years ago and now works solely with steelbands conducting weekly sessions, short projects or one day introductory workshops across the region and beyond, as well as leading NTSB at rehearsals and performances. He has been closely involved in the Steelbands North project training 20 or so young leaders and is pleased that most of them are still actively working as tutors as well as within their own bands. HE FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT STEELBANDS IN NE ENGLAND HAVE TO BE PRIMARILY ENTERTAINING AS WELL AS TRUE TO THE CULTURE AND AT THE SAME TIME READY TO DEVELOP INTO THE FUTURE.
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DAVE
Edwards 08 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
Good soloists and small bands are some of Dave’s favourite pan sounds but the full exuberant music of a large steel orchestra really gets him going, his favourite is WITCO Desperadoes for their overall sound, driving percussion, and arrangements. He has never been to the Caribbean but listens to his extensive collection of steelband cds regularly as well as lots of other music, noting potential pan tunes. He also plays several stringed instruments. Dave thinks pan is the ideal instrument for the development of young musicians, understanding the theory and language of music. He always relishes the moment when his players evolve from just playing to developing their own style, improvising, arranging and generally becoming well rounded musicians, able to offer something to individuals and the community through their expression and artistry on a fantastic instrument. Having retired once he is in no hurry to retire from pan, but is keen to ensure that there are others around who will carry on when it’s time to hang up his sticks.
Miranda Hohenkirk became interested in the steel pan after being introduced by her father, Freddie, a pan musician with Nostalgia steel band, and a steel band teacher in local schools in the London Borough of Newham. As well as having played with the Pantonic steel band she became one of the youngest players in Nostalgia, also playing the tenor and the double second in her father’s steel band combo. Her journey this far is an inspiration to all pannists.
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Miranda attended the Edmonton County Secondary school where she opted to do GCSE music – first using the trumpet as her main musical instrument and later, changing to the steel pan. She was the only child who chose the steel pan as her main instrument and spent two years composing two pieces to meet the certified requirements at GCSE level. The examination required her to record the music and also to produce a music score sheet. These were all recorded at school, two performances on the pan and another on the trumpet. She attained an ‘A’ pass grade.
This result spurred Miranda to pursue the GCE ‘A’ Level in music where she was required to perform a twenty minute recital on the steel pan as well as a written exam which tested her knowledge in world musical genres and listening skills. Miranda passed her ‘A’ level in music and with two additional ‘A’ level passes, was able to secure a place on the B.A. degree in Music at Middlesex University. Her specialist music teacher appointed by Middlesex University is Eversley Mills of Metronomes Steel Band. MIRANDA BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE MORE QUALITY STEEL BAND TEACHING IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND MORE SCHOOL STEEL BANDS OFFERING TUITION TO A WIDER RANGE OF THE SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATION. SHE IS KEEN TO ENTER THE TEACHING PROFESSION AFTER HER GRADUATION.
WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 09
> BAND PROFILE
PAN
> BAND PROFILE
Sonatas
Pan Sonatas, the Steel Orchestra with the most titles in New York, added Panorama Champs 2004 to their collection. Yohan Poppewell took them to the top with a hot, sweet and jumpy arrangement of DeFostos “War 2004” after a fifteenyear drought.
As the oldest steel orchestra in New York, Sonatas has garnered respect among the fraternity. Since its inception in 1971, they have maintained a high standard of discipline and provide encouragement to other orchestras. Their legacy is intact, standing tall among musicians with a bold logo “Class is Class”. With a pure energy for pan, Yohan Poppewell entered the arena and challenged these young musicians to excel in a variety of musical styles. After arranging the first tune “When Ganges Meet the Nile”, Yohan succeeded in capturing the players’ spirit and left them wanting more. Captain, Ainsworth ‘Chuffy’ Cust, realised that they had found an arranger with classical style and ability in Yohan. His strife to improve the arranging and versatility of the orchestra came with Yohan’s All Stars mentality that instilled the confidence these gifted musicians needed to put on a winning presentation. The message of vicecaptain, Damion Wiltshire is “respect the youth and help open their minds to the disciplined art of pan”. Having started at the age of twelve,
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Damion encourages the membership to continue playing pan and ensures that the orchestra operates on a strict code of conduct and ethics, important elements of success. Their secretary, Maurina Lester, has been with the band for twenty-four years and admires their commitment to education and music. She echoes these sentiments
“WE LOOK OUT FOR OUR MEMBERS, WE ARE SERIOUS WITH OUR YOUTH AND WE KEEP THEM AWAY FROM STREET ACTIVITY”. This fosters confidence in parents and ensures a strong membership. With two of her own children in the orchestra, Maurina dedicates time to scheduling wholesome activities and working on a plan to help the kids learn music. Sixteen-year-old drummer, Joshua McPherson, joined the orchestra in 1996. He exhibits strong leadership skills and encourages all young musicians, to stick to their instrument and do positive things with it. His goal is to arrange music in the Clive Bradley style and demonstrated his
potential by arranging, “From Beyond” Defosto 2005, which was played to rave reviews at a recent fundraiser. While his home community, a Latin section of the Bronx, NY, is not receptive to the musicality of the steelpan, Joshua dismisses this peer pressure and forges ahead finding comfort, support, music and friendship with Sonatas. With the easy style of manager, Mack Scott, Sonatas is a well-managed group of dedicated musicians with a total love for the steel pan. The joy of being the reigning pan ambassadors in New York is evident in the beaming faces of these young gifted musicians. The global steel pan community congratulates Pan Sonatas on their 2004 victory, urges them to continue being exemplars and hails them with a vibrant arrangement of “How Great Thou Art”. Contact Sonatas at chuffy61@yahoo.com
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> WHO’S WHO
> WHO’S WHO
The vocally strong singer/songwriter has just finished recording four of her new tracks with international Los Angeles producer Maestro John Barnes. During her recent visit to John Barnes’s Hollywood studios Kiskadee also collaborated with artists who have worked with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston … and the list goes on. In 2003, Andy Whitmore, co-producer of Atomic Kitten’s recent top ten hit, Ladies’ Night, produced two of Kiskadee’s songs.
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When ‘Here Forever’ was first aired on London’s LBC Radio, the talent team was gob smacked. ‘Absolutely fantastic… Stunning, Stunning stuff..’ (Anthony Blackburn of Blackburn Sachs Agency), ‘Wow!’ LBC Presenter, Dr Pam. Kiskadee has this amazing Stevie Wonder vibe about!’ Andy Whitmore, UK Record
JEANETTE
Producer.
‘Kisskadee’ CONTANT
Kiskadee’s father, the late Michael ‘Natsy’ Contant from Trinidad was a steel pan manufacturer and her mother from Guyana is an accomplished violinist. The family formed the Rainbow Steel Band and the band played for several years throughout the UK, in France and Switzerland. During her teens Kiskadee began to further develop her songwriting skills. Some of her early work was featured in a stage production of Dick Whittington at the Royal National College, Hereford. She toured Romania as part of a World Music group just after the revolution and formed a successful steel band duo with her husband, which has performed widely over the last five years. She has produced songs for other artists but now Kiskadee is embarking on her solo career.
“I really feel my West Indian roots,” says Kiskadee. “Calypso, Reggae, Soca, Soul, R&B. I grew up with them all.”
New talent Kiskadee is hitting the R&B scene with her West Indian fusion. Born with little eyesight on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent; Kiskadee grew up in an area where she was part of only a tiny West Indian minority on the island. From early on, the family of five created ripples with their music. It was not unusual for Kiskadee herself to be featured in the local 12 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
press even as a young child, grabbing headlines such as: “Young Singer Reveals Amazing Versatility.”
Kiskadee recently performed at the British Association of Steelbands 4th Annual Awards ceremony where she made a terrific impact with her “Xmas in London” rendition. She certainly lives up to her namesake with her sweet and powerful voice that captivates her audience always leaving them wanting more. Read more about Kiskadee by visiting her website www.kmm.info or email her at music@kmm.info. WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 13
> BAND PROFILE
> WHO’S WHO
I started playing pan at my secondary school in Dulwich taught by Eustace Benjamin. After trying the violin, trumpet and cello; the steel pan was next and I never looked back.
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PAUL Dowie My first pan was the cello. The band visited the south of France to play in a “Carnival of Carnivals” where we also appeared on television.
I joined the London Schools Steel Orchestra led by Gerald Forsyth and drove him mad because I wanted to change pans every other week to learn them all. From this experience I learnt a lot about the structure of the steel band and the role of the different pans and how the music works. After playing with LSSO for a couple of years, I joined Lambeth Youth where I stayed as a dedicated and committed tenor and double tenor player for ten years. During this time the band travelled and gigged extensively across the country from Newcastle to the Channel Islands. I played in my first panorama with Lambeth Youth and have not missed one since. In my early days with Lambeth I had to make a decision on my future career. I did not enjoy my brief stint with the Tax Office and it was Ricky Decairos who said “why don’t you become a steel band teacher?” So after a few months of apprenticeship with Ricky, I got my first job teaching at Woodside Junior School in Croydon. Since then I have taught at primary and 14 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
secondary schools in Lewisham, Wandsworth, Bromley and Guildford. After leaving Lambeth Youth I played with various bands including Melodians, Ebony, London All Stars and Glissando. This gave me the experience and insight on how bands operated, differing arrangers’ styles and the opportunity to travel to France, Belgium and Sri Lanka. In 2000, Frank Rollock invited me to play with Ebony in the WSMF 2K in Trinidad where I had a truly magical experience in the home of steel pan. It was also in 2000 that I founded Croydon Steel Orchestra. CSO is made up from three area steel bands of children that either live or go to school or college in Croydon with ages ranging from 10 to 18. The area bands all learn the same pieces of music throughout the year and then come together for our big annual steel pan extravaganza at the Fairfield Halls every summer and for panorama, carnival and other various events. My time and energy is now focused on bringing CSO to the fore front of the British steel band arena and strengthening the world of pan.
ZR 2 STEELBAND After participating at Notting Hill Carnival with Nostalgia in 1996, Steel and Brass with 80 players in 1997 and the Swiss Percussion Project with 60 players in 2001, David Henry decided to undertake another steelband project. He started this project in November 2003 with 35 pan players from different steelbands in and around Zürich to go to the European Steelband Music Festival, which was to be held in London in October 2004. The project was called Zürich Renegades, because he wanted to try to capture some of the explosive, dynamic, flamboyant and magical playing spirit of the Trinidad Amoco Renegades.
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It was a great success. The players did everything that was expected of them. The power and energy of the rhythm section kept the band grooving in perfect harmony. Each concert, from the first in Porrentruy to the last in Cudrefin left the audience spellbound. One woman at a concert said, 'If I was blind I would'nt believe they were Swiss people playing! It sounds like a Trinidad steelband.' The European Steelband Festival/World Steelband Music Festival finals in London was postponed to May 2005, but Zurich Renegades managed to play at different concerts in Switzerland including The World Music Festival in Porrentruy, the NordFest in Oerlikon, Zürich, the ZüriFäscht, Zürich and the Männedorf Steelband Festival. The project ended with the Steelband Festival in Cudrefin in the French part of Switzerland.
ZR 2 Steelband wishes all readers a wonderful 2005!
The players had so much fun and were complimented by all kinds of music lovers and top musicians that they decided to do it again this year under a new name and with a partly new repertoire. So the band is now called ZR 2 steelband. This time, apart from a few soca songs, they are going total salsa that which should create a real dynamic dancing atmosphere at concerts. Apart from concerts in Switzerland, they plan to perform in Germany, Italy and London next year. WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 15
British Association of Steelband
Awards Ceremony
Dinner & Dance 2004
On Saturday the 4th December 2004, the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury was the venue for the 4th British Association of Steelbands Annual Awards Ceremony. The event was established in 2001 to recognise and celebrate the contributions of individuals and groups within the steelpan community. Since it's inception, the event has grown in stature and is fast becoming a focal point in the UK community's calendar.
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Guests included Mr Ashton Forde, Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London, London Notting Hill Carnival Limited Directors - Roddy Crozier and Chris Boothman, Dr Andrew Ramroop, Mr Russell Henderson, founder of the Russell Henderson Steelband, which played at the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1964, ensuring that steelpan music was the first recognised music to be played at what is now the largest Carnival in Europe and possibly second only to Trinidad and Tobago. Guest of honour, Rudolph Walker, made a speech covering the initial arrival of the steelpan in the UK by Boscoe Holder which led to 'Operation Britain' and the formation of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) who played at the Festival of Britain on the 26th July 1951. He emphasised its evolvement to become an important ingredient in the fabric of cosmopolitan Britain today. He highlighted the artform as the perfect machinery for bringing together the UK's diverse population and for reflecting and promoting the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. It was an evening filled with entertainment supplied by Ebony Steelband, RnB/steelpan player, Jeanette 'Kisakadee' Contant, daughter of the late Michael 'Natsy' Contant, Robert Clarke and Friends, Aydenne Simone, Panecktar Paranderos and Samuel Dubois with DJ Sugar K (Unique FM) dishing out some rather catchy numbers that had everyone on the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. Martin Jay of Choice FM 96.9 was the M.C. on the night assisted by Listra Joseph.
> BAND PROFILE
> Awards were presented to: Anniversary Celebrations: FORESTGATE STEEL BAND celebrating 10 years of promoting steelpan in the UK NEWCASTLE TYNESIDE STEEL BAND celebrating 15 years of promoting steelpan in the UK SOUTHSIDE STEEL BAND celebrating 25 years of promoting steelpan in the UK NOSTALGIA STEEL BAND celebrating 40 years of promoting steelpan in the UK LONDON NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL celebrating 40 yrs of Carnival in the UK Competition Winners: SAMUEL DUBOIS BAS Pan Explosion Soloist winner 2004 EBONY STEEL BAND BAS 2003 Pan Explosion winners 204 MANGROVE JUNIOR STEEL BAND Junior Panorama Champions 2004 MANGROVE STEEL BAND National Panorama Champions 2004 STARDUST STEEL BAND Randolph Baptiste Inspirational Award Contribution to the promotion of Pan: CLYDE DIAS Promotion of steelpan (community) TOUSSAINT CLARKE Promotion of steelpan (nationally) TERRANCE NOEL Promotion of steelpan (internationally) IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT ENJOYED BY ALL WHO ATTENDED AND EVERYONE IS NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S EVENT. For further info please visit our website: www.panpodium.com
Special Awards: RUSSELL HENDERSON
READING ALL STEEL PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA > The name RASPO commemorates the very first steel band to play in the UK in 1951 at
Lifetime Achievement Award 2004. In 1964, Rhaune Laslett-O'Brien organised a 'festival' to help combat the devastating effects of poverty and deprivation in the Ladbroke Grove area. She called Russell to ask if he could play but her first words were 'we can't pay you' - his immediate response was 'what time - we'll be there'. Russell appeared out of a side street with his steel band, The Russell Henderson Steelband and the people followed him until nightfall. The community has never looked back. This event is now called the Notting Hill Carnival and has become the largest Carnival in Europe.
the South Bank’s Festival of Britain featuring TASPO - The Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra. Since its inception in 1999 RASPO - Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra performs regularly at festivals, carnivals, parties, corporate events and on national television. The RASPO Youth Steel Band is made up of young people aged from seven to late teens. Advanced players over fourteen join the RASPO Hummingbirds playing at weddings, functions and evening events. Members of this group also train as workshop assistants and help to organise RASPO related events and activities. Their ‘pan yard’ is located upstairs the Central Reading Youth Provision (CRYP) home to regular band rehearsals & weekly steel pan and percussion workshops.
The RASPO Project encourages players to become advocates of steel pan music and carnival arts.
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In October 2004, they hosted the fifth celebration of World Music and Arts, an annual multi-cultural family event providing an opportunity to enjoy performances from a range of young people and take part in cultural music and dance workshops. The event also featured stalls, exhibitions and displays.The purpose of the event was to recognise and celebrate the creative achievements of young people. The celebration offered encouragement to the next generation of British-born African, Caribbean and Asian young people to continue exploring and developing their creativity, and their understanding of cultural diversity.
> Contact For further info please contact: Mary Genis at CultureMix Arts, P O Box 2766 Reading RG30 1RF Tel 07973 251919 Email mary@culturemix arts.co.uk
RASPO comes under the shelter of Culture Mix Arts, which is a project management organisation promoting the development of arts, music and cultural diversity in the Reading community. WINTER 2004/2005 | PAN PODIUM > 19
> BAND PROFILE
> WHO’S WHO
Hailing from Benares Street, St James, Port of Spain, Keron follows in the footsteps of many outstanding pan aficionados from that area. Like his neighbour, mentor and role model, Len Boogsie Sharpe, he has a natural talent for music. Keron is the resident musical arranger for Kool and the Gang steel band based in Benares Street and joined Playboyz steel orchestra in 1999 after leaving Modenaires.
Forest Gate
KERON
Hailing from the London Borough of Newham, Forest Gate Youth Steel Orchestra was founded in 1994. In 2000, they became a charity and also twinned with the Carib Tokyo Steel Orchestra in Trinidad forging a cultural exchange program to ensure that their development and education of the artform continued its growth pattern.
Valentine
Newham Youth Services and Arts and Leisure departments have sponsored and supported Forest Gate in recent years. This bond with their local Borough Council will see Forest Gate evolve into the Newham Steel Orchestra in 2005. Their music teachers include Robert Clarke, Gary Moustache, Alan Baptiste, Marcia Brown and Nadine Nyapadi.
Keron uses the exposure to Boogsie’s musical style to develop his arranging skills and is proud of the fact that Pan has always played a major role in his life. At age twelve, he played in a quartet at the Carifesta 5 with Joe Beetle and was also selected to attend the Republic Bank Pan Minors scholarship program at the University of the West Indies where he achieved grade 2.
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Their current manager, Felix Joseph, has played a major part in the establishment of the orchestra. His organisation’s aim is to develop young people’s sense of identity and development as well as an appreciation of African/Caribbean heritage and traditions through music, dance, drama and song. They have performed at the numerous charity concerts and appear annually at the Tilbury Festival and Notting
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Hill Carnival. In 1998, they performed at the Windrush Concert held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank commemorating the arrival of the first Caribbean settlers to Britain in June 1948. They played at the BAS’ ‘Trafalgar Square Pan Jamboree’ in 2001 celebrating 50 years of Steelpan in Britain and have competed at the BAS Pan Explosion competition on several occasions and were awarded the Newham Silver Award for Creative Artists in 2000.
THIS GROUP OF YOUNG AND ASPIRING MUSICIANS WHOSE AGES RANGE FROM 14-17 HAS CERTAINLY SHOWN THAT THEY TAKE THEIR ROLE AS CULTURAL AMBASSADORS VERY SERIOUSLY THROUGH THEIR PERFORMANCE, ENTHUSIASM, POLITENESS AND GOOD NATURE.
Keron attended Fatima College where he studied Business Management at A levels and now wants to continue his studies at university to attain his degree. When questioned about his studies and music he replied, ‘ This winning combination will make me a stronger person as I will be able to address my music and also ensure that the most efficient and effective management methods are employed to take it far into the future.’
This young and gifted pan musician sees attitude, discipline and appreciation as major factors to be addressed in the development of the artform. He acknowledges current achievements through the invaluable work done to date but thinks that there is much more to achieve. Keron notes that respect for both the instrument and its musicians are key elements in achieving and maintaining acceptable standards.
HIS VISION IS TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO INTO THE ARTFORM TO ENSURE ITS CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEIR MUSICAL SKILLS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THEIR CALLING IN THE MANAGEMENT ASPECT OF THE ARTFORM.
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> EVENT PROFILE
In 1964, Rhaune Laslette the organiser of the inaugural Notting Hill Children's Neighbourhood Festival invited the Russell Henderson steelband to perform. Steelband music was the first recognised form of music to appear at the Carnival and in this iconic year of Carnival, Sterling Betancourt who appeared at that inaugural Carnival appeared with his steelband, Nostalgia, as a guest orchestra. At 78 he is still carrying his tenor pan around his neck.
On the 29th August 2004, Horniman's Pleasance, Kensal Road, London was the venue for this annual national steelband musical battle. Seven steel orchestras with over 500 pan musicians who practiced for hundreds of hours played thousands of pan instruments on the night; all vying for the prestigious title of the Notting Hill, 'Champions of Steel'.
Notting Hill Carnival
Panorama ‘04 Champions of Steel
This year the UK Pan Fraternity celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Carnival as well as the 26th Anniversary of the Notting Hill Panorama, 'Champions of Steel' competition. Panorama has been running since 1978 and has been kept at a number of venues including The Scrubs.
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Birmingham School of Pan, one of the guest orchestras entertained the crowds in the Park before the start of the competition whilst Nostalgia completed their trek down 'the drag' bringing the crowds to the judging point to initiate the start of this hyped up competition. With five of the seven steelbands choosing to play De Fosto's, 'War 2004', it was certainly a musical war on the night. Stardust, Ebony, Southside Harmonics, Real Steel and Mangrove chose to play 'War 2004' whilst Croydon opted for 'Ah pay meh Dues' with Glissando playing 'Jamboree'.
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> WHO’S WHO
The competition was a closely contested one with Mangrove retaining their title with just one point ahead of Ebony. Their musical arrangement was done by the young and talented Kyron Akal in the absence of Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe who was still recuperating from his life threatenting operation. Ebony's arranger Anise 'Haffers' Hadeed who holds the world record as the only arranger to win National Panorama thirteen times with nine consecutive wins delivered a musical masterpiece as always to enable them to attain second place. Glissando under the musical direction of world recognised veteran arranger Rudy
'Two Lef' Smith had the crowds wanting more of his sweet and tastefully arranged, Jamboree. Leroy Clarke, the young and gifted arranger from Plymouth took Real Steel to fourth place with his musical arrangements. This is their third appearance at the National Panorama where they have showed great consistency and musical ability. In fifth was Southside Harmonics with their established musical director, Eustace Benjamin giving them that musical as well as morale boost after their absence from this competition in 2001 and 2002. Paul Dowie, musical director of Croydon Steel Orchestra with his young and talented players has only been in this competition since 2003 and has certainly
> Winning Order - Panorama ‘04 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Mangrove Steelband - 280 points Ebony Steel Orchestra - 279 points Glissando Steel Orchestra - 265 points Real Steel Orchestra - 240 points Southside Harmonics - 229 points Croydon Steel Orchestra - 216 points Stardust Steel Orchestra - 196 points
instilled a great sense of competitiveness in his players who achieved sixth place in this year's competition. In seventh position was Stardust, over the past twenty years, they have appeared at every panorama competition except in 2001 when an unfortunate accident with their float prevented their participation.
This influx of young UK pan arrangers has brought and will continue to bring new life and enthusiasm into this competition. We now look forward to the wealth of steelband music yet to come in this competition.
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Grafton YEARWOOD
Grafton was born into a steel pan environment that was central to his family's economic base. In the early seventies, his father "Biggs" was a pan tuner in England - at a time when there were very few individuals in that profession.
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The young Grafton, however, was not interested in the art of pan making, and harvested his talents in the "sound system", the music field that attracted youths - and was very popular among black British young men. After numerous invitations from Biggs to join the industry, he became involved in pan making around the mid 1980’s on the sinking and construction side learning his skills from Biggs, and later from Dudley Dickson, another top pan tuner. Having engaged with the construction aspect of the pan making art, Grafton became an apprentice tuner in 1989, to Dudley and Biggs respectively.
double second, to concentrate on his tuning. As the demand for quality pans grew, Grafton found his skills were more and more in demand, not only in London but UK wide. It was around this time that he decided to branch off on his own, manufacturing the full range of pan instruments. He continued to rely on Biggs as a mentor, in areas he felt his father's strengths predominated.
In 1988, Biggs and Grafton formed the Pantonic Steel Band with Grafton becoming a player. In the early years of his tuning career, he only tuned for his band, Pantonic, but as his skills developed, he went on to making pans for other individuals and tuning for other bands. In 1994, he stopped playing the
Since then, he visits Switzerland twice yearly, to supply and blend pans for the Swiss market. Over the years, Grafton has been tuner to many of the top bands in London i.e. Nostalgia, Mangrove, Eclipse, Metronomes and - of course Pantonic. Happy Drum are also agents for Peterson Tuners in Illinois, USA.
In 1991, he joined forces with Dudley and the "Happy Drum" company was formed. It was then that he began working in Switzerland with Martin Grah - one of Switzerland's band leaders.
> Contact Interested in acquiring one of Grafton’s pans then phone him on 07801 497794
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> BAND PROFILE
> CD REVIEW These days Sterling's Angels meet every Saturday for rehearsal at their 'panyard', which is Eliza's home. Karin leads the band in Sterling's absence as he lives in London but he uses each one of his stays in Switzerland to teach them a few new tunes. They have a repertoire of about 50 tunes arranged by Sterling in the traditional calypso style.
Sterling’s ANGELS playing heavenly music
The history of Sterling's Angels begins with the friendship between Elisabeth 'Eliza' Pfafflin and Sterling Betancourt. During the 1989 Zurich Carnival Sterling was playing in Zurich Niederdorf together with the Swiss band Sandfloo and Eliza approached him and said, ' I can hear that you are the one who is carrying the band'. From that statement Sterling confirmed that she could be a pan player and she became one.
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Soon after their encounter Sterling visited Eliza's hometown, Oetlishausen near Hohentannen in the East of Switzerland and played regularly for her at her big parties. Every time Sterling went there he brought a steelpan and before long he was teaching the kids in the village and a steelband was formed. In 1995 at Sterling's huge 65th birthday party in Hohentannen the steelband was given the name, Jolly Jumpers. After a few years Jolly Jumpers broke up but a few 26 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
kids still came to practice when Sterling was in Switzerland and by 1999 a new steelband arose consisting of six players, Romana, Doris and Karin Stark, Janine and Sabrina Bichsel and Roman Rothlisberger. They rehearsed intensively as they were scheduled to play at Sterling's 70th birthday party in London in March 2000. Sterling and Eliza gave the name Sterling's Angels to the band at her kitchen table over English tea and toast as he always addressed them as his angels.
Pan Sticks FOR SALE contact: Felix Joseph Tel: 020 8478 8773 Mob: 07808 847 974
Sterling teaches his Angels all their tunes by ear, thus the reason for their weekly rehearsals. They always aspire to improve and perfect their playing techniques to be rhythmically and technically correct but it is equally important for them to touch hearts and give rise to emotions with their music. The objective of getting the band to sound as a whole demands a lot of the young musicians, as they have to listen intensively and respond to each other. Most importantly, they have to play from the heart, as Moritz Hauptmann said; 'Where hearts are missing there is no music'. The Angels have now produced a CD, 'Live Nice' which comprises of twenty tracks of different genres of music. This will be a pleasant memoir for all the players to cherish in the distant future.
> CD REVIEW
Sterling’s Angels LIVE NICE!
This CD is a collector’s item for all steelpan connoisseurs. Sterling Betancourt MBE is responsible for the musical arrangements of all 20 tracks. These four young pan musicians from Oetlishausen, Switzerland have put together a very nice selection of music ranging from Scarlet Ribbons, Blue Moon, Red Red Wine and Guantanamera to Talk by Crossfire. One hour and seven minutes of pure musical entertainment. The album is a Real Steel Production by Yves Maino.
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> SPECIAL FEATURE
A GCSE Music student has to perform [as a soloist, and as part of an ensemble], compose and take a listening test. The exam boards issue strict guidelines for how to mark the performances and the compositions, and pupils may use any instruments they choose. The listening test, in which six or seven pieces of music from different genres and ages are given to them, students are required to identify and comment on such things as tempo, dynamics, instrumentation etc. This represents approx 30% of the total marks, but may vary from one exam board to another.
GCSEs
and the Steel Pan Increasingly steel pans are being used in the UK school curriculum > and in GCSE and A level exams. Traditional musicians have aired concerns about this. They are concerned that some schools are using steel pans to fulfil their National Curriculum statutory requirement, to the detriment of the orchestral instruments. In 1987, Victoria Jaquiss, was the first teacher in Leeds to use steel pan as the main instrument for her 16+ pupils. This was the last year before the GCE O’ level, 16+ and CSE amalgamated into GCSE. She may have been one of the first in the country. From 1987 to the present day Leeds school students have been, in slowly increasing numbers, taking GCSE music with the steel pan. With the proliferation of pans in Leeds schools, inevitably they have found their way into the exam world. However, given the high standards which very many pupils achieved in Yrs 7 to 9 [ages 11-14], one might have expected a corresponding rise in exam candidates taking steel pan as their main instrument. The problem may be that some boards and some teachers were uncomfortable handling music that has been taught in the aural/visual method, as to date there hasn’t been any offered teaching guidelines for the instrument. 28 > PAN PODIUM | WINTER 2004/2005
This is a shame because it may have deprived a number of talented and enthusiastic pupils of 1. Taking steel pans to a higher level, and 2. Obtaining a good GCSE grade in Music. Where Leeds schools have consistently entered steel pan players for GCSE Music they have used any number of teaching and learning styles from repeating notes heard, to playing notes shown to them, to reading notation, either traditional western or more often the Foxwood Songsheets.
Students are also required to write one or more compositions for the exam, preferably in more that one style. Generally, they spend two years writing a number of compositions, which form their composition portfolio. Students who can notate their compositions do so. Traditionally, steel pan music is not written down, but the exam boards do accept a recording and a written description of how the composition evolved. Today, most GCSE exam boards allow a certain amount of flexibility so that the solo soprano [tenor] player, just like the solo flautist may have piano or other accompaniment. They are also required to play the selected tune to a certain standard.
Every piece of music is assessed for its degree of difficulty for the average musical 16 year-old student. Extra marks are then awarded on top of the score already given for accuracy and interpretation. How to decide how much to give a performance in terms of all these components is done at moderating meetings where representatives from the exam board and music teachers meet together formally to agree their criteria. They do this by listening to representative samples of previous years' pieces of music
THE FACT THAT MANY SCHOOLS NOW EMBRACE STEEL PAN AS ONE OF THE MAIN INSTRUMENTS FOR MANY PUPILS IS AN INDICATION THAT STEEL PAN IS FINALLY TAKING ITS PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF SCHOOL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Children in the late eighties and the early nineties who were using pans as their main instrument for school music exams, had no idea that they were pioneers. For them, playing the steel pan was just the natural thing to do, and an extension of their playing in the school steel band. A great advantage of using steel pans as their GCSE Music examination instrument is that, children in school steel bands can improve their playing skills through the many assemblies and gigs they would have played. Consequently they are nearly always better than other instrumentalists. However there are some drawbacks to this scenario. If kids are drawn to GCSE music because they play in a steel band, they may be disappointed by the ‘listening & appraising’ side of the course. GCSE music is however a well-balanced course in which pupils learn about other styles of music. It is knowledge they can draw upon in the future; knowledge which can inform and support their pan playing.
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> BAND PROFILE
> BAND PROFILE
The band has always been in the fore front of youth development and supports the Success/Laventille Composite School since 1983 by lending them instruments.
Courts
SOUNDS SPECIALIST
Players from Newcastle, England performed with the band at the 2004 Panorama finals and also on the road for Carnival. The management was so pleased with these players' deportment that a lavish farewell party was organised for them. They now look towards the future with confidence as they continue to make their sponsor, community and country proud of the role they are performing in developing well rounded pan musicians as Messrs Sheldon James, Anthony 'Pan Jumbie' Williams and Ben Jackson to name a few. Pan Podium supports them in their future quests.
of Laventille Steel Orchestra Music > is Life! This orchestra was founded in November 1975 by a group of young pianists from the Eastern Quarry Community who at that time played road music with Tokyo Steel Orchestra.
These young men included Hollis Andrew, Richard Harris, Lennox Lewis (now deceased), Anthony Bruce, Peter Jacob, Temple Charles and Richard Forteau - their first captain who gave the band its name, Sounds Specialists, as they were originally called. They started as an 'ole time or pan-round-d-neck' band and participated in their first competition for the 1976 Carnival held at the WITCO sports club in Champ Fleurs where they played a Kelvin ‘Zuzie’ St Rose's arrangement of Kitchener's ‘Flag Woman’. In 1977, Pan Trinbago introduced the single pan category into the national panorama competition and Sound Specialists having gained the Readymix sponsorship played a Forteau's arrangement of Shadow's ‘Jump Judges Jump’ that took them to the semi finals. Their best showing as a single pan band came in 1980 when they played a Zuzie St Rose's arrangement of ‘Stalin's Play One for Me’ and emerged fourth at the finals.
Pan Trinbago signalled its intention to rejuvenate the Steelband Music Festival and Sounds Specialists competed at the festival in July of 1980 as a conventional orchestra.
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Due to the economic down turn in the eighties, the band lost its sponsorship from the Readymix Company but this did not deter their quest to be one of Trinidad and Tobago's top steel orchestras. They participated in every competition organised or sanctioned by Pan Trinbago and was a finalist in the first edition of Pan Ramajay, runners up in the inaugural Pan Chutney competition, is the defending Champions of the Pan Paranda competition, winner of the inaugural Neville Jules Bomb competition, winner of the Berger Las Lap competition on two occasions, winner of the Nicky Inniss Bomb Competition on three occasions, a finalist at the Steelband Music Festival in 1998, finalist in the inaugural Republic Pan Fiesta held in 2003, winner of the best steel orchestra for 2002/3 in the Laventille Steelband Festival and placed fifth in the medium bands category of the 2004 National Panorama finals. THEY GAINED SPONSORSHIP FROM COURTS AND ENSURED THAT LAVENTILLE, THE COMMUNITY OF THE BAND WAS INCLUDED HENCE COURTS LAVENTILLE SOUNDS SPECIALISTS, HOWEVER AFTER TWELVE YEARS, THE BAND AND SPONSOR AGREED TO A NAME CHANGE AND THE BAND IS NOW KNOWN AS COURTS SOUND SPECIALISTS OF LAVENTILLE.
Subscription Form The British Association of Steelbands Name Organisation Address
Postcode Telephone Email UK £3.00 - Overseas £5.00 I enclose a cheque/postal order for the sum of £ made payable to BAS. Annual Subscription - Please send this form to: British Association of Steelbands, The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AV
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