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The Pulse on Pan
Posted: Monday, May 27, 2002
by Peter Blood
The common thread consistently running through the evening's proceedings was that the man was a paragon of discipline in his heyday and is still respected for this sterling quality. On Tuesday, the creme de la creme of Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars turned out in their fine "dan dan" to pay tribute to the band's founder, Neville Jules, on his 75th birthday, and what an unforgettable experience it was.
Aside from learning virtues instilled by Jules, like punctuality, respect for elders, grace in defeat and humility in victory, Tuesday's function also reinforced the theory that pan is a powerful vehicle for addressing social ills and the delinquency of today's youth. It was reassuring to observe the camaraderie between the youth of today's All Stars and the elders of yesteryear.
It made me recall the successful experiment back in the '60s by Andy Narell's father in the New York ghettos when he used pan as the balm to soothe the rage of black youth. This was the experiment which spawned and nurtured Narell to become one of the world's foremost pannists and pan entrepreneurs.
For the Jules celebration, Trinidad All Stars brought out its entire stage aggregation, including the Long brothers, Dane Gulston, Nigel Williams, Jason "Stumps" Lewis, Denise and Lisa Riley, Kelvin Carmino, Johan Popwell, Terry Demas and captain Beresford Hunte.
Also there were pioneer Prince Batson and hardcore supporters like former captains Errol "Reds" Collins and John "Poison" Douglas, Leon Noel, Roy Regis, Mark Superville, Janet Joseph, Robin Ellis, Carol Ann McKell, Monique Joseph, Bukka Rennie, Peter Hale and Kelvin Scoon.
I did miss seeing old familiar All Stars faces, though, like Gerry "Uncle Jem" Jemmott, Nelson Villafana, Barbara Critchlow-Shaw and Jackie McKell, but those present had a memorable evening, most of all guest of honour and living pan icon, Neville Jules.
As he reminisced during his speech, former All Stars captain Collins recalled how stern Jules was as a disciplinarian, fearing no one in the band, especially at rehearsal time.
Junior Culture Minister Eddie Hart, himself an All Stars elder, spoke glowingly about many of the innovations Jules gave to the steelband world. He also spoke about the tradition of All Stars serenading officers on Carnival Tuesday night outside Police Headquarters on St Vincent Street, and of the days of practising the secret Bomb tune with fingers in the garret on Charlotte Street.
The nation's watchwords of discipline, tolerance and production might have well been forged by Jules prior to the late Dr Eric Williams attaching them as an instrument of nationhood in 1962, as they succinctly capture the legacy this genius of a man has bequeathed to an institution in the world of pan. It is a legacy that has stood the test of time and has been perpetuated by other great men, like Jemmott, Villafana and Leon "Smooth" Edwards.
Men of Steel
Come the Indian Arrival Day holiday (May 30), I am walking with my stomach in my hand when I attend "Men of Steel Who Cook."
Having accepted an invitation to judge the culinary fare by PRO Larry Largen at this innovative event by Starlift Steel Orchestra, I am planning to starve myself for at least 48 hours prior to the eat-out.
Through the years, we've had similar events, including "Men Who Cook," "Chinese Men Who Can Cook" and last year's novel inaugural "Men Who Cook with Wood."
But this May 30 version takes the cake, and is a first for the pan movement which, in recent times has been cooking up some truly novel and delectable ideas to entice the public back to the national instrument.
My mind boggles trying to anticipate the sight of big, hardbacked pannists, like Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Beresford Hunte, Keith Diaz, Junia Regrello, Ricardo "Batchac" Herbert, Joe Renaud, Owen Serrette and Playboyz Brian Kuei Tung or "Benjie," attired in aprons and chefs' hats over a hot stove, or arranging entrees on a silver salver.
It's expected to be an exciting day, and participating cooks will come from steelbands like reigning national Panorama champion Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, Pan in the 21st Century champions Silver Stars and Woodbrook Playboyz, World Steelband Festival champion TCL Group Skiffle Bunch, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, BWIA Invaders, Solo Pan Knights, Harmonites, Tripolians and Woodbrook Modernaires.
To make the day even more interesting, some well known "Men Who Could Eat" will judge the presentations, with prizes up for grabs to the best chefs.
Live music will be played by Starlift, Woodbrook Playboyz and Carenage's Scorpion Pan Groove. To make it truly a day of pure steel, only steelband and calypso music will be played by the DJ.
The fun-filled Starlift event, scheduled for 11 am, is free of charge and the pannists are inviting all of their colleagues and supporters to come out and enjoy a day of culinary delights.
Starlift's management reminds all that the judges' decision is final and no lawsuits will be entertained.
Starlift's style and flair at Panorama will be transferred to the culinary arts on May 31.
The Art of Pan
The talk is on: how do we protect the secrets of pan-making from the outside world? A lot of lip service and gum-bumping have taken place since it was revealed that two American technicians had perfected and patented a method of pan tuning, adopted from a local technique initiated over 30 years ago.
The plain and simple fact of the matter is that the Americans, and indeed numerous European musicians and technicians, came to the islands and recognised a gem in the rough, our national instrument. For a whole lot of reasons, they have been more proactive than we have, and have been assiduously working on the methodology of mastering this unique instrument.
For instance, take the case of Ron Kerns and Shelly Irvine, two white guys out of Ohio who started a business in 1990 and are today reaping benefits for the investment of research, time and sound business acumen. Their Panyard, Inc enterprise is a one-stop facility for pan. These guys have made so much progress that they no longer need to learn anything more from locals, as Irvine has become quite a competent tuner.
Interestingly, Panyard, Inc's tag line reads, "The World's Finest Steel Drums." Take that in yuh pwephm.
Kerns and Irvine published their first steelband chart and officially opened their business exactly 12 years ago this month. They boast in their sales pitch of "concentrating to elevate their standards of craftsmanship and revising the designs and technology of their instruments."
They continue: "We have made monumental advances in the science of the steelpan and have discovered important refinements in the geometry that set our instruments apart from any other manufacturer. It is now common for our crew to spend well over 100 hours of labour (sic) perfecting one of our finely hand-crafted steel drums. We strive to make every pan so great that we would want to keep it for a personal instrument."
This duo of panmakers proudly state: "One very important rule governs our production: Each instrument we create must reflect an extremely high degree of craftsmanship and artistry so that every new pan strengthens our existing body of work."
On the Liming Scene
Sexy lime girls, plus prizes for the Sexiest Female, Best Couple, Largest Posse, Posse From the Most Remote Area, all night, are but a few of the attractions promised by the city's newest Friday evening, afterwork hangout, Kavemar, located opposite Spektakula Forum.
This evening, Truevision Video Productions is your host and some of the live entertainment will come from extempore crackshot Black Sage, Frank George and Contender.
Other Friday afterwork liming includes the newly-opened Smackers on Western Main Road, St James; Friday Frenzy, at 7 Long Circular Road (next to Peugeot); D'Club which is run by the Army opposite Chagville Beach; D'Bocas on Chacon Street; Nari's on Sixth Avenue, Barataria; 5th Element in Arima; Atherly's by the Park on Cipero Street, San Fernando; and, the tried and trusted Martin's on the Boulevard and Pelican in Cascade.
The liming scene continues tomorrow with David George and his La Flor posse continuing their Courvoisier Saturdays at Club Ambassador, Long Circular Road. This weekend's celebrity DJs are Richard Simply Smooth, Daryl and Less Than Zero.
There is a special bonus at the door for all patrons armed with their corporate ID cards. Invitations for Courvoisier Saturdays are available at U2, West Mall; Bluegrass, LCM; Bazo Sports, Town Centre Mall; Fabis; Lipstick; Millhouse; and Club Ambassador.
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