http://www.panonthenet.com/press/openpractice2005.htm

New York Steelbands Open Practice Sessions To The Public
Miracle Instrument Dominates Urban Live Music Performance Scene


Rarely can the past, present and future converge to a single point;
however - such is the case in the New York steelband music culture,
experience and history. The steelpan is the only music instrument
invented in this century and it has bridged the generation gap. It
has found a comfortable home in both the young hip-hop and I-pod
generation, and the generation of the past. Indeed, it is not
uncommon to find three generations from the same family together in an
ensemble or orchestra.


On any given day you can find music educators from the world's finest
institutions observing and studying these urban steelpan masters
executing their craft. They are busy creating in broad daylight what
will be future music masterpieces that will become legend, and will
foster debate and conversation for the ages.

Imagine being afforded the opportunity to observe and study the likes
of Michael Jordan, Picasso, Mozart, Beethoven, Thelonious Monk - up
close and personal in their prime - daily - for free.

Every night between now and Labor Day, you witness some of the
greatest musicians of our time performing in the panyards of Brooklyn.
The New York City steelbands are currently preparing for that musical
extravaganza known as Panorama. It is one of the biggest music
spectacles in this hemisphere.


Nightly, hundreds of musicians come together at their respective
outdoor practice areas/panyards located throughout central Brooklyn
neighborhoods (Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Bedford Stuyvesant).
This year thirteen steel orchestras will participate in the NY
panorama competition, with others opting to prepare for the J'Ouvert
celebrations.


In New York, household names like steelpan music arrangers Clive
Bradley, Pelham Goddard, Arddin Herbert, Yohan Popwell, Jit Samaroo
and Robert Greenidge among others, ring like Beethoven, Bach, and
Mozart or Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones and Dr. Dre. of their eras and
respective music genres alike - with as much, if not more stature,
talent and cultural significance. And ironically, like its humble
beginnings the instruments represent the aspirations and voice of a
people not normally seen or heard.

Interpreting and generating hauntingly beautiful, intellectually
stimulating and rhythmically challenging music that tell various
stories, is the norm of the day in these urban steel orchestras.

The mere existence of the NY steelband orchestras and movement defies
logic, time, and environment. In spite of the hostile economics,
environment and social stigmas, the steelbands continue to survive
displaying a brilliance and remarkable resiliency. In spite of all
their supposed business savvy, we dare say that neither Martha Stewart
or Donald Trump could run a steelband in New York - if given the same
resources and social conditions that management of the respective
orchestras have to work with, and constant obstacles they face -
including bad finances; inconsiderate, hostile and contemptuous
authorities, and a non-existent housing environment.

Pan yard - a toxic dump or lot behind God's back that no one wants,
that the pan man will transform into an outdoor urban Carnegie Hall
through vision, imagination, sacrifice and sheer hard work.



Pantonic's 2005 'panyard' before it was transformed. See picture,
above, for the practice space,
as it appears now..

Of course upon this transformation, the lot will now have value and be
taken away from the pan man, by the very people who previously viewed
it with utter disdain. Example: Pantonic Steel Orchestra, for two
seasons in a row, has transformed properties that were complete
eyesores and dumping grounds. In 2004, they did this with the work of
the pan players themselves; and paying for necessary improvements.
The end result was a prime property which they had to give up. It now
generates hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in rent for the
owner. They have just done the same thing again for 2005, and the end
result could be the same.

But - for the days leading up to the panorama competition - the
bonafide, the curious, and the new steelband music fans all find
themselves at the respective New York panyards, most oblivious to what
it took for some of the bands to arrive at that point. Now, the focus
is strictly on the creative process of the art form, resulting in
musical masterpieces emanating from these instruments through the
dexterity of their players and genius of the arrangers and tuners. It
is a once-a-year experience, so don't miss it.

Find the locations of the panyards here.
http://www.panonthenet.com/press/openpractice2005.htm