In this edition:

1. Pan Trinbago Prize Giving Ceremony:
   Toasting the Pannists II
   
2. Pan Notes
   
3. Pan News
4. Pan Events

1. Toasting the Pannists II     [back to top]

The East Region hosted the much-anticipated annual prize giving ceremony of Pan Trinbago on Tuesday 24th April at the La Joya complex. The ceremony toasted the accomplishments of pannists from the recently concluded Panorama competition and last year's World Steelband Festival. The ceremony enjoyed a good turn out and was graced by significant personalities from the pan fraternity.

The highlight of the evening was the feature address by noted economist Lloyd Best that sought to map out a new vision for transforming the pan yard into a centre of social and economic activity that is rooted in the resources of the community. The "Schools in Pan" approach would be to make education, entertainment and business into one organic whole in the pan yard. Although this occurs in some of the more organized steel bands around carnival time, the idea is to make this structure permanent. Activities such as training (music, history and literacy) performing (mini concerts) and business (food, textiles, day care) will generate income and create employment thereby empowering individual communities.

The Minister of Culture Mr. Ganga Singh lauded the vision as the "best pan plan" that he had heard so far and pledged the support of his Ministry to its implementation. "It seems that government has little choice but to intervene in charting the future of pan and we must go in this direction because it sets out a course for positive results in the shortest possible time".

The show was very well organized and awardees received beautifully designed trophies by Gillian Bishop of the Signature Collection.

Click here for the full text of Lloyd Best's feature address.

2. Pan Notes     [back to top]

Sanch Electronics has produced the second in the series Pan Sweet Pan (2) "A Special Brew - Steel Orchestras of Trinidad and Tobago". The cd features the work of seven of our best steel pans doing slowed down versions of Panaroma favourites. Notable contributions on this series is "Jump for Joy" by Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars arranged by Leon "Smooth" Edwards, a rare Clive Bradley arrangement of David Rudder's Panama by Harmonites and an absolutely scintillating Ray Holman arrangement of "Special Brew" performed by Carib Tokyo.

The cd is an excellent source of relaxation, rehabilitation therapy and spiritual rejuvenation. The proceeds from the sale of the album will go towards the Pan Development Fund of the Strategic Plan for Pan. The fund hopes to realize a total of $TT 0.5 million. Interested persons can find out more about Sanch products by visiting the website at www.sanch.com

The entire CD listing:
1. Jump for Joy - Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars
2. Panama - Harmonites
3. Happy's Story - Birdsong
4. Special Brew - Carib Tokyo
5. The Band Plays On - Exodus
6. Picture on my Wall - PCS Nitrogen Starlift
7. Panama (Reprise) - Harmonites

Well known pan impresario, Noel La Pierre has released his long awaited debut cd - Water Flow. Like its title suggests, this cd flows like water in a lake at sunset. The music is soothing and washes over the listener to regenerate and rehabilitate. This easy-listening cd takes us through a journey of various genres - jazz, R&B, reggae, gospel and calypso.

La Pierre cut his teeth playing with renowned Invaders Steel Orchestra and Phase 11 Pan Groove for twenty- three years and is now attached to Pamberi Steel Orchestra. He has mastered the Panorama form, having performed at numerous Panorama competitions. However, La Pierre has shown a penchant for the easy listening side of the music which is most evident on his debut release.

Persons wishing to find out more information may contact TTIL Marketing Department or Noel La Pierre at www.kos.com

The entire cd listing:
1. Havana - Kenny G
2. Forbidden Love - Third World
3. Morning Dance - Spyro Gyra
4. Feel So Good - Chuck Mangione
5. Sweet Love - Anita Baker
6. Overjoyed - Stevie Wonder
7. What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Traditional
8. Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
9. Save The Best for Last - Vanessa Williams
10. Iron Bazodee - Allison Hinds & Square One
11. Redemption Song - Bob Marley
12. Pump me up - Krosfyah
13. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
14. High Mas - David Rudder

3. Pan News     [back to top]

Teague begins Artist-in-Residence at
Northern Illinois University

Liam Teague plays TTIL double second pans at his endorsement ceremony last year

TTILs endorsee Liam Teague has once again created history by being the first artist to be appointed Artist in Residence with specific emphasis on the steel pan, at his alma mata, the Northern Illinois University (NIU).

Mr. Teague will use this opportunity to conduct more research on pan, teach and to work along with his mentor Clifford Alexis, who is a Professor at NIU. Teague recently concluded his Masters in Music with a major in steel pan.

Although he will now reside in Illinois, Teague will be visiting home frequently to fulfill his endorsement engagements from both Angostura and Trinidad and Tobago Instruments. Teague left for Illinois on Sunday April 21, 2001.

Tuning Facility for the
University of the West Indies

Collaboration between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of West Virginia (UIV) has yielded the development of the UWI Steel pan Tuning Facility in September 2001. Dr. Elliot "Ellie" Mannette is scheduled to conduct a pan-tuning project for a period of six weeks at the beginning of the project that seeks to upgrade the skill levels of local tuners. The Steelpan Tuning Facility will be located at UWIs Centre for Creative and Festival Arts in an specially designed for pan tuning.

The Facility will focus on the use of optimum materials, increased productivity and consistent quality and will be patterned somewhat after Dr. Mannette's programme at UIV. The other objectives of the facility will be to provide technical support to tuners and innovators in the steelband fraternity, while conducting research "to find out the major parameters that determine the quality of the instrument and to improve and expand its possibilities."

It is envisaged that this initiative will assist in the systemization of tuning, increase collaboration between tuners and decrease the time it takes to train a tuner. According to Dr. Clem Imbert of UWI, "we know they (tuners) are competitive and would not want to give away any trade secrets. But there comes a time when they must pull together".

Sullivan appointed Manager of the
National Steel Orchestra

Nestor Sullivan was recently appointed as the Manager of the National Steel Orchestra and will take up his post from May 1st. Sullivan currently manages the band Pamberi and brings years of experience in promoting and touring steel orchestras to the job . He will be responsible for training the band in music theory and practice, developing a repertoire, engaging tour dates, and marketing and promoting the band.

The National Steel Orchestra was formed in 1998 and now has thirty members. The objective of the orchestra is to promote the culture of Trinidad and Tobago and increasing the profile of the national instrument both at home and abroad.

4. Pan Events     [back to top]

Point Fortin Borough Day

The annual Pan on the Move will take place in Point Fortin on Saturday 5th May 2001. This year's festival will be expanded to include eighteen conventional bands including, Panorama champs Exodus, BP Renegades, Petrotrin Deltones, Trinmar Hatters, TCL Skiffle Bunch, Tornadoes, Starland, Fonclaire, Tropical Angel Harps, Redemption Sound Setters, Carib Tokyo, Petrotrin Phase 11 Pan Groove, Harmonites, CSM Angel Harps and Melodians.

The bands will also receive separate appearance and performance fees totaling $8,000. and $2,000. respectively. There will also be a $2,000. for best dressed steelband. The show is scheduled to start at 4.00 p.m. and bands will start off from three separate points to avoid congestion.

Pan for Blue

Admin Manager of TTIL, Derek Armstrong delivering prizes for Pan For Blue 2000 to the Point Fortin team.

A steelband competition for Secondary Schools will take place on 3rd May. In commemoration of Point native Super Blue, "Pan for Blue" will require each steelband to play a tune from the repertoire of the artist. Trinidad and Tobago Instruments, Petrotrin and Republic Bank jointly sponsor the competition.

The aims of the festival are to reintroduce steelband music to school and the community, to establish another link between steelbands and schools in the Point Fortin area and to create a friendly rivalry among schools in the district.

All of the prizes are instruments, manufactured by sponsor, Trinidad and Tobago Instruments as follows:
1st prize - Instruments for a Five Piece Steelpan ensemble
2nd prize - A double second pan set
3rd prize - A low tenor pan

Pan on the Park

In an effort to keep the spirit of pan alive outside the Panorama season, Pan Trinbago is hosting "Pan on the Park" every Friday evening at their office grounds at Victoria Park, Port of Spain. Steelbands from all over the country are being invited to attend. The tentative bands scheduled for the month of May are as follows:

May 4th - TCL Skiffle Bunch and Woodbrook Playboyz
May 11th - WITCO Desperadoes and Pan on the Move
May 18th - Couva Joylanders and Scrunters PanGroove
May 25th - Birdsong and St. James Tripolians

The show gets going at around 6.00 pm and attendance is $20.00.

Pan Ramajay for June

The greatly anticipated Pan Ramajay which normally takes place in May, has been postponed to June due to financial constraints. The Ramajay, now scheduled fo June 29th and 30th will feature Cuban jazz pianist Ernan Lopez, Barbadian producer Nicholas Brancker and Arturo Tappin. Local orchestras will include Festival winners, TCL Skiffle Bunch among others.

Panorama 2002

Pan Trinbago has released a tentative schedule for Panorama 2002. The major difference in the structure for next year will be the incorporation of the single pan competition in the conventional preliminaries in each region.