About USSA
In 1950, Rudy King played a tenor pan (then known as the ping
pong) at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY. Since that time,
steelband music has been a staple in New York City. In 2001, the
summer in Brooklyn wouldn't be the same without the melodious
sounds of Steelbands in the air as bands rehearse for panorama.
However, for too long that has been the only way for steelband
lovers to experience pan in New York.
With the formation of The United States Steelband Association (USSA),
there is finally an organization that is acting in the best
interest of steelbands. USSA was founded and is managed by members
of the steelband fraternity. The organizations that have joined
forces are: Pantonic, Sonatas, Adlib, Despers USA, Pan Rebels, Dem
Stars, NY Nutones, Sesame Flyers, Caribbean Youth Panoramics,
Tasso USA, Invaders, Pan Ambassadors, Harlem All-Stars, Marsicans,
Pan Ivory, Moods Pan Groove, Utopia Pan Soul, NY All Stars and
Brooklynaires. They have agreed to form a cohesive bond with the
purpose of elevating the world's awareness and appreciation of the
steelpan, the only acoustical musical instrument invented in the
20th century.
This Double CD of NYC Panorama 2001 is the first of a series to
be produced by USSA. Look out for future releases including
"Reflections in Steel", NY Panorama 2002 and our 2002
Christmas CD.
New York, USA A stunning display of musical mastery in steel
unfolded at Reflections
in Steel 2001 at the Whitman Theatre, Brooklyn College in
Brooklyn on Friday 21 December 2001.
Once again, its hats off to the USSA for this pioneering event
that showcased the premier pan orchestras in the US in a fresh,
new Christmas production that was daring and visionary.
New York Panorama 2001 champions Pantonic, along with Sonatas,
Adlib, Despers USA, Pan Rebels and Dem Stars, were charged with
illustrating the versatility and range of the Steelpan in a
multitude of musical settings, each by performing four selections
comprising one tune of choice, one Sparrow-composed calypso
(Reflections in Steel 2001 paid homage to the calypso King of the
World, the Mighty Sparrow a.k.a. Slinger Francisco), one Christmas
carol, and one Parang piece.
Pantonic steel orchestra was extremely energetic and lively,
leaving little doubt as to why they are the 2001 Panorama champs,
while quite noteworthy and not to be outdone, was Pan Rebels’
novel twinning of their panterpretation of the Christmas classic Have
yourself a Merry Little Christmas with the vocals of soloist
Michelle Williams, and What’s Going On with trumpeter
Gary Rogers. Their parang piece re-introduced (and reminded the
more knowledgeable in the audience of) the box bass as an integral
part of parang music. Despers USA were crisp, clean and tight in
their arrangements, Adlib’s attention to detail stood out with
their exquisite dynamics, while Sonatas refreshing jazz-panterpretations
demanded notice and acknowledgement of the overall best
arrangements. Dem Stars rounded out the all-star pan cast with
distinctive and enjoyable performances of their own, with the only
non-pan performance coming from the evening’s honoree the
Calypso King of the World himself, the Mighty Sparrow who graced
the stage with his royal presence.
Garvin Blake, ace jazz pannist raised the bar in expectations
from the Steelpan with his scintillating solos, panterpretation
and searing renditions that left the crowd almost delirious with
delight as they savored the sounds. The crowd’s reactions to the
entire evening’s events left no doubt patrons were in total awe
of their experience at Reflections in Steel 2001 from the musical
morsels meted out.
The much heralded Basement Recordings-produced USSA Panorama
2001 concert CD and Video were on sale at the show, and were
snapped up by eager patrons who had their appetite whetted and
sated for more of what they heard and saw at Reflections.
Not only is the Reflections in Steel 2001 concert
another notch in the USSA’s belt, but it is yet another
ground-breaking and historical occurrence in the history of the
New York steel orchestra scene, as the successful staging of a
musical event that featured 99% pan music without the traditional
backdrop of Labour Day festivities and outside the Panorama arena,
had never even been conceived, much less pulled off.
The steelband concert proclaimed that which is well known by
many, but to which the masses worldwide are now being awakened –
the steelband is indeed the premier musical instrument of the 20th
century, and is making its thundering declaration of this in the
21st. |
Concert
Review
