Memories of your favorite steelband ..

[Poser]

i remember my steelband - Couva Joylanders ... i was standing there by the old goodshed listening to them play for the Panorama judges that night ... Mikey Fredrick ... my ole time school mate was the arranger .. and you know they are an unsponspored steelabnd ..

Zack will tell you how hard it is for an unsponsored steelband ...

ah yes .... this year ah going early to ketch ah lil play with the 'engine room'

.

[The Expatriate]

Ha ha. I have several. One of my favorite memories is being in Renegades panyard back when they were Amoco Renegades listening to them rehearse "Four Lara Four," which is a DeFosto tune. Remember that year Lara made history by scoring 375? Well Renegades beat that tune in honor of Lara and won Panorama with it. I carry that tune with me in my I-Pod. It was a great arrangement and the band executed it to perfection.

[bigzack]

Poser, where I born and grow up, I was surrounded by so many steelbands, that I never had a favorite steelband.

In one night I could have walked to:

Despers
Renegades
City Syncopators
All Stars
City Symphony
Tokyo
Johannesburg Fascinators
Casablanca
Sunland
Dem Fortunates
City Kids
Satisfiers

And ah used to be in all ah dem panyard.

So yuh see why I never had a favorite.

[The Expatriate]

I did have a favorite steelband. It is Renegades. My fascination with them was largely because of the combination of Jit Samaroo arrangements and the late great Lord Kitchener's compositions. I love all steelband arrangers and composers or anyone who has anything whatsoever to do toward the culture of pan, but Kitchener was by far my favorite composer, period. More than anyone, including Mozart, or Antonio Carlos Jobim, or George Gershwin, or anyone. To hear what Samaroo did with many a Kitchener song and gave to Renegades to play completely blew my mind. But I liked the band back when pan still had a ping pong sound too. Those older recordings are amazing.

I will love pan 'till I die. I don't know how else to say it. I spent the entire evening listening to nothing but pan tunes for 2012. There is a ton of great material out there and I bet few if any radio stations are playing these songs. Good for them. It's a shame that people cannot see the value in these things, just like most people cannot see or appreciate how seriously good classical or jazz music is. Same thing.

[The Expatriate]

i remember my steelband - Couva Joylanders ... i was standing there by the old goodshed listening to them play for the Panorama judges that night ... Mikey Fredrick ... my ole time school mate was the arranger .. and you know they are an unsponspored steelabnd ..

Zack will tell you how hard it is for an unsponsored steelband ...

ah yes .... this year ah going early to ketch ah lil play with the 'engine room'

.

Poser, you trying to send me mad? I's "Symphony in G" yuh post dey? Ah now checking it out. Good Lord.

[The Expatriate]

Bear patience, the sound doesn't come on for the first few seconds of the tune. I absolutely love this tune on pan. Pelham made me love this tune more than I already did. Go Exodus.

[Poser]

Bear patience, the sound doesn't come on for the first few seconds of the tune. I absolutely love this tune on pan. Pelham made me love this tune more than I already did. Go Exodus.

re-harmonize .. 10
melodic development .... 9
interpretation ... 10
creativity ... 10
balance ... 9
tone ... 8
rhythm ..9

let Zack carry on .. he is ah panman...

.

[The Expatriate]

Poser, any idea where I can get sheet music for calypsos? I know I can get from a website called Panyard.com but I think those are arrangements for pan. I am hoping to finding scores for original tunes and tunes that are way older than stuff that was written in the 90s, which is what they have there. In particular I want a score for Lord Kitchener's "Rainorama."

[bigzack]

Poser, any idea where I can get sheet music for calypsos? I know I can get from a website called Panyard.com but I think those are arrangements for pan. I am hoping to finding scores for original tunes and tunes that are way older than stuff that was written in the 90s, which is what they have there. In particular I want a score for Lord Kitchener's "Rainorama."

Call this place called "the steelband store".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

[The Expatriate]

Call this place called "the steelband store".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

Thanks a million, bigzack.

[snowbird]

Like Zacky.... I grow up in Belmont.... which was .....the hot bed of steel pan in Port of Spain in dem days.

The three that were closest to where I lived were (ah wuz bout 5 or 6 years at the time):

Dem Boys -just off Belmont Circular Road (ah kar remember de name ah dat side street that ran between Circular Road and Norfolk St.)

Sun Land - just lower down that same side street... but closer to Norfolk St. (boy, ah real havin ah Senior moment )

Dixie Land - In Robinson Ville.


Actually Dem Boys pan yard backed on to my grandmother's house.... so as a little child I remember when we went to visit her....you couldn't even hear yourself talk in her living room around carnival time (especially in the evening)..... it was pan fer so.... all the relatives would go over to her house.... just tuh hear pan.
...decent people didn't go into pan yards in those days

....I remember on Jourvert morning.... we could stay from her house....and watch all de band getting ready tuh hit the road... all yuh hear was people pushing pan outa de yard.... den when dey 'strike up'..... is excitement fer so.....time tuh go wid we parents and 'take ah jump tuh de corner'.

See wha allyuh does do tuh meh wen yuh start tuh tork bout Trini culture.... yuh doz put meh....right back dey.

[The Expatriate]

Like Zacky.... I grow up in Belmont.... which was .....the hot bed of steel pan in Port of Spain in dem days.

The three that were closest to where I lived were (ah wuz bout 5 or 6 years at the time):

Dem Boys -just off Belmont Circular Road (ah kar remember de name ah dat side street that ran between Circular Road and Norfolk St.)

Sun Land - just lower down that same side street... but closer to Norfolk St. (boy, ah real havin ah Senior moment )

Dixie Land - In Robinson Ville.


Actually Dem Boys pan yard backed on to my grandmother's house.... so as a little child I remember when we went to visit her....you couldn't even hear yourself talk in her living room around carnival time (especially in the evening)..... it was pan fer so.... all the relatives would go over to her house.... just tuh hear pan.
...decent people didn't go into pan yards in those days

....I remember on Jourvert morning.... we could stay from her house....and watch all de band getting ready tuh hit the road... all yuh hear was people pushing pan outa de yard.... den when dey 'strike up'..... is excitement fer so.....time tuh go wid we parents and 'take ah jump tuh de corner'.

See wha allyuh does do tuh meh wen yuh start tuh tork bout Trini culture.... yuh doz put meh....right back dey.

Dat is a nice story, Snow. I like to hear stories like that. Reminds me of some more recent times. Gearing up to leave Belmont with a mud band called "Mudder Earth" on jouvert morning. I beat iron with them ah jouvert morning. Dey vibes nice. Traditional style. No music truck crap on the road for de jouvert.

[The Expatriate]

My pan tunes for 2012 updated: I hope I did not miss anything because there are so many really good ones:

Meditation on Pan (Bob Quarless_best song so far for me)
Mystery Pan by Lennox Picou (second best song for me)
The Return of the Marsicans by Ajala (grooviest song for me)
Underdog by Jimmy Chambers
All Over by Fay-Ann Lyons
Steel Pan Melody by Choklet
De Player by Destra
Million Dollar Music by Car Wash
The Count by Debra Romain Ahmad
Pan Turbulence by Natalie Yorke
San Fernando Has Spoken by Defosto
Only One Trinbago by Gene Toney
Jump Up and Play Yuhself by Garth David
Let Pan Reign by TC Brown (love this too bad)
Boogsie Sharp by Defosto
Gie Dem Tempo by Denyse Plummer (tempo for so)
Pan Woman by Carol Jacobs
Prophet of Pan by Designer (Despers is beating this)

[snowbird]

Dat is a nice story, Snow. I like to hear stories like that. Reminds me of some more recent times. Gearing up to leave Belmont with a mud band called "Mudder Earth" on jouvert morning. I beat iron with them ah jouvert morning. Dey vibes nice. Traditional style. No music truck crap on the road for de jouvert.

Boy..... yuh want tuh hear something funny.....evern after we moved away from Belmont....we always returned over the Carnival weekend...and styed with friends who still lived in the old neighbourhood....so in effect, I was never really seperated from that aspect of carnival..... do you know....that to this day (and it has been 44 years since I have been back)....every Carnival Sunday night, even though I am so many miles away in Canada.... as I lay in my bed...... just like in the old days.... I can still hear pan warming up....and iron ringing in my ears. .... it is just one of those things I 'took with me'

the brain is a wonderful thing.

[The Expatriate]

Boy..... yuh want tuh hear something funny.....evern after we moved away from Belmont....we always returned over the Carnival weekend...and styed with friends who still lived in the old neighbourhood....so in effect, I was never really seperated from that aspect of carnival..... do you know....that to this day (and it has been 44 years since I have been back)....every Carnival Sunday night, even though I am so many miles away in Canada.... as I lay in my bed...... just like in the old days.... I can still hear pan warming up....and iron ringing in my ears. .... it is just one of those things I 'took with me'

the brain is a wonderful thing.

I hear dat. Every time around this year I get a yearning to not be here, meaning in the US. I get very very homesick. This, in spite of how bad and dangerous Trini has become. I only here in person. In spirit? Forget about it, so I know dem jumbie vibes you talkin' about.

[snowbird]

I hear dat. Every time around this year I get a yearning to not be here, meaning in the US. I get very very homesick. This, in spite of how bad and dangerous Trini has become. I only here in person. In spirit? Forget about it, so I know dem jumbie vibes you talkin' about.

Fenny eh..... how it never goes away

[guyguy]

The Best Band EVER !!!



The arranger is one of my cousin's cousin on his father's side.

[bigzack]

Like Zacky.... I grow up in Belmont.... which was .....the hot bed of steel pan in Port of Spain in dem days.

The three that were closest to where I lived were (ah wuz bout 5 or 6 years at the time):

Dem Boys -just off Belmont Circular Road (ah kar remember de name ah dat side street that ran between Circular Road and Norfolk St.)

Sun Land - just lower down that same side street... but closer to Norfolk St. (boy, ah real havin ah Senior moment )

Dixie Land - In Robinson Ville.


Actually Dem Boys pan yard backed on to my grandmother's house.... so as a little child I remember when we went to visit her....you couldn't even hear yourself talk in her living room around carnival time (especially in the evening)..... it was pan fer so.... all the relatives would go over to her house.... just tuh hear pan.
...decent people didn't go into pan yards in those days

....I remember on Jourvert morning.... we could stay from her house....and watch all de band getting ready tuh hit the road... all yuh hear was people pushing pan outa de yard.... den when dey 'strike up'..... is excitement fer so.....time tuh go wid we parents and 'take ah jump tuh de corner'.

See wha allyuh does do tuh meh wen yuh start tuh tork bout Trini culture.... yuh doz put meh....right back dey.

That street yuh talking bout have to be Earthig Road.

Sunland was almost kitty corner from Olympic theatre.

[bigzack]

Boy..... yuh want tuh hear something funny.....evern after we moved away from Belmont....we always returned over the Carnival weekend...and styed with friends who still lived in the old neighbourhood....so in effect, I was never really seperated from that aspect of carnival..... do you know....that to this day (and it has been 44 years since I have been back)....every Carnival Sunday night, even though I am so many miles away in Canada.... as I lay in my bed...... just like in the old days.... I can still hear pan warming up....and iron ringing in my ears. .... it is just one of those things I 'took with me'

the brain is a wonderful thing.

Snow gyul, keep them memories, cause the thing ent nice like it used to be at all.

Long ago yuh could ah get ah steelband tuh take yuh in town from Belmont, and tuh bring yuh back.

I have some fond memories of pan on ah jourvert morning, but ah little tear or two does come in mih eye when ah start recalling them days.

The carnival real change up now.

We have routes tuh follow just like them psuedo carnivals (aka parades) in Brooklyn, Toronknow, and Miami.

In fact, we even does call it, "the parade route".

[The Expatriate]

The Best Band EVER !!!



The arranger is one of my cousin's cousin on his father's side.

Thank you guyguy. Thank you boss!

[The Expatriate]

Snow gyul, keep them memories, cause the thing ent nice like it used to be at all.

Long ago yuh could ah get ah steelband tuh take yuh in town from Belmont, and tuh bring yuh back.

I have some fond memories of pan on ah jourvert morning, but ah little tear or two does come in mih eye when ah start recalling them days.

The carnival real change up now.

We have routes tuh follow just like them psuedo carnivals (aka parades) in Brooklyn, Toronknow, and Miami.

In fact, we even does call it, "the parade route".

Ah go tell allyuh ah story. Yuh want to hear story? When I fuss come up in foreign it was to finish my college education, so I spend six years in a row missing Trini carnival. Well I made a return visit back in 1994, this was when Super Blue had returned to the height of his powers. Well, ah nearly dead. I literally went out every single night for 'bout t'ree weeks in a row. If I wasn't in a pan yard, I was in a fete every night 'till de carnival done. Flag Party? Yuh talk 'bout wave rag and flag and t'ing.

When time to go back in foreign now, ah was cool up until it was time to pay my departure tax. Man, I had a complete breakdown at one of dem tourist shops near de departure tax counter. I was hysterical, and inconsolable, crying like a child in de airport. A cashier at the shop was in such shock at seeing me in dis state dat she couldn't even concentrate on what meh mother, who was trying to buy ah item was telling she.

Meh own mudder had to leave de counter to come back and try to calm my ass down. I couldn't even think clearly. I's meh mudder had to remind meh dat ah could come back de following year. I couldn't even think clear enough to understand dat ah could do dat, and dat all was not lost and de entire world was not comin' to an' end.

[Poser]

The Best Band EVER !!!



The arranger is one of my cousin's cousin on his father's side.

Bobby Mohammed .. (spelling?_

in 1965 ... Guiness Cavaliers came to town that year and everybody bawl ... Cavaliers won that year .. i left Trinidad in August .. you know he was down an out for awhile .. but made a great comeback .. he won the Humming Bird Medal Gold ... he was the man who 'invented' the South sound .. bas playing rhythm ... and stopping an starting ... man he was great ..

that is why I love me Joylanders ... sweet pan .. simple small band ... Winson Cumberbatch and them use to go down by Bobby to get tips .. because he was arranging and composing music for pan way back then ... i think it was in 1967 when he beat Pan Am North stars .. Zack will know .. he older than me..

.

[snowbird]

Snow gyul, keep them memories, cause the thing ent nice like it used to be at all.

Long ago yuh could ah get ah steelband tuh take yuh in town from Belmont, and tuh bring yuh back.

I have some fond memories of pan on ah jourvert morning, but ah little tear or two does come in mih eye when ah start recalling them days.

The carnival real change up now.

We have routes tuh follow just like them psuedo carnivals (aka parades) in Brooklyn, Toronknow, and Miami.

In fact, we even does call it, "the parade route".

it is really embarassing that I couldn't remember the name of ....Earthig Road.....considering I not only lived near the corner of that and Norforlk st until I was about 15..... but I also had a great uncle who had a Pharmacy on that street....and relatives who lived on that street boy ole age is ah hell of ah ting.

Zacky it is too bad that they did away with the 'community steel bands' on carnival day.... like you said....everybody always jumped...with their neighbourhood bands....becaue they took them down town...then brought them right back to their neighbourhoods.... I remember my little brother being about 7 or 8 when he played his first 'flour bag sailor mas' with Sun Land (the father of his his best friend at the time played pan with them).... my mother never had to worry about him.... she knew that just like the band would take him down town...they would bring him back

...see why I can never come home again Zacky to me all that was near and dear to may heart about T&T is gone.

Talking about pan and jourvert....do you remember those 'Bomb Competitions' in Marine/Independence Square? to me that was the best part of Jourvert.... sweet pan fer so ...I guess once Panorama made the scene.... there was no need for steel bands to compete for ..... bragging rights.

The Expatriate..... that is one funny story ....thing is, if Trini Carnival had remained the same as it was in 1968 when I left.... (no big truck DJ music..... just live steel bands and brass bands on the road)......that would probably have been my reaction upon leaving if I ever went back for Carnival.... trouble is.... the structure and style of Carnival that I remember....doesn't exist anymore.

[snowbird]

The Best Band EVER !!!



The arranger is one of my cousin's cousin on his father's side.

WOW!!!

Yuh killin meh guy..... yuh killin meh.

Boy ah hear dat pan an yuh take meh back tuh Jourvert dat year....ah cud see mehself ....spillin outa dat club onto the streets wid meh older siblings and dey posse' bout three o'clock in the morning....all ah we in we 'flour bag sailor pants' (dah wuz de wear fer Carnival Sunday night fete)..... all ah we goin dong dey road wid de steel band..... and all ah dem steel bands ponging out one tune.....'sixty seven'

thanks for the memories

[draja]

Bobby Mohammed .. (spelling?_.

He was married to a friend of mine from central........