 |
March 18, 2009 - Volume 1, No. 12
Sketches of Steel
Every year,
panjumbies expect to see improvements in the
steelband movement led by Pantrinbago. And, every
year there is much disappointment. Except for the
increase in prize monies and the tonality of the
instrument, there has been no serious improvement in
the steelband movement. Many steelbands are still
using the models of the past. Since the passing of
Kitchener, music choices for panorama tunes have
changed due to the young people singing ‘pan tunes’.
Some arrangers complain that they are having trouble
finding good panorama music material. Other
arrangers question why some of the judges are the
same people who have been judging Panorama for over
a decade while a few arrangers believe that most of
the judges are out of touch with panorama music. And
yet, some arrangers call for foreign judges to judge
Panorama. A thought I consider absurd. Panorama is a
local cultural event. The music stems from our
culture. What Panorama needs is local judges who can
identify with our local culture and not try to judge
Panorama with a European aesthetic. For some judges
the steelband may be viewed from their class
perspective. But, many try to be fair. I am yet to
hear panists, steelbands, arrangers and Pantrinbago
call for the removal of the canopies that cover the
pans for the final night of Panorama. Steelbands can
address the canopy issue without Pantrinbago. But,
the issue of the judges can only be addressed with
Pantrinbago since they organize the Panorama.
Even though Panorama is the most watched and
attended event of the carnival, neither the
steelbands nor Pantrinbago see the need for changes
in the presentation of the Panorama. Thus, every
year steelbands continue to cover their pans with
their racks and cloister their instruments with
canopies and other distractions. Surely, steelbands
can come up with a new model for Panorama. They did
it before when they invented the wheels for the
pans, stands for the pans and yes, canopies to
protect the pans from the burning carnival sun. An
institution must reinvent its brand to suit the
times and audiences. Otherwise, it remains stagnant.
Pantrinbago’s brand is Panorama.
For Panorama 2009, it was a beautiful sight to see
Exodus Steel Orchestra with their new model of NO
CANOPIES. I could look at my DVD and see every
Exodus panist and their pans. This is the band’s
second appearance at Panorama without canopies or
other distractions. I hope they have the courage to
stick with it. The band looked so professional on
stage on Panorama night. Other steelbands don’t seem
to understand that performing without the canopies
only enhances their look on DVD.
Today, Panorama is no longer restricted to Trinbago
as millions of panjumbies view it on the internet.
Viewers should be able to see the panists engaged in
their craft without the unnecessary encumbrances of
canopies of galvanize covering and strings/curtains
hanging down over the pans. For the traditionalists,
I urge them to look carefully at this year’s DVD
production. Some of it is dark, repetitious and
cumbersome. Most of the time cameras focus on the
front line pans and panists. Every year there is a
problem with photographers trying to take pictures
of the panists.
Due to the canopies they cannot see the panists in
the back so they try to go inside the band to take
better pictures. One can hear announcers warning
them not to enter the bands. The steelbands are
stuck in a model that was created by Bertie Marshall
to protect his Hilanders Steel Orchestra pans from
the burning mid-day carnival sun. It is time for
steelbands to think about the Exodus model. The old
model has outlived its usefulness.
The Panorama competition has been around since 1963
which is 46 years to perfect the national festival.
However, for Panorama 2009 the steelbands returned
to the empty savannah. After 46 years, Panorama and
Pantrinbago are still without a permanent home. Both
the national festival and the steelbands’ world
governing body depend on government subsidy for
their existence. This year Pantrinbago received $20
million to produce the Panorama. After promising to
build a state of the art Carnival Center, the
government (PNM) instead built a cow shed,
surrounded by tall steel beams and covered with
galvanize to house the Panorama and other savannah
activities. It was a sorrowful sight. What a Shame!
About four years ago, the government tore down the
grand stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah and
promised to build a new carnival center. Oil dollars
were flowing and money was bursting at the seams in
the treasury. But, to date, there is no carnival
center. Now, the government says that there is no
money to continue with that project. My grandfather
used to say that you can always tell how much
someone appreciates a thing by where they place it.
If Pantrinbago was a serious organization they would
suspend Panorama until the government builds the
state of the art carnival center for the national
instrument. More importantly, if the steelbands were
serious about their art they would demand that
Pantrinbago suspend Panorama until the government
builds a carnival center deserving of their craft.
It was done before in 1979.
In 2007 and 2008 Pantrinbago kept the Panorama
finals in San Fernando at Skinner’s Park. Many
steelbands complained that it was too far and
costing them money that they did not have. True,
many steelbands do not have a lot of money. But, in
reality, many steelbands who come from the North do
not like to travel out of Port of Spain. So, for
Panorama 2009 Pantrinbago decided to return the
Panorama to the empty savannah. The Crème de la
Crème (formerly Champs in Concert) was also kept in
the savannah. For some reason the winning Panorama
steelband and the King and Queen of carnival did not
appear. What champs in concert?
It is a shame that the government cannot build a
permanent home to house its national festival. So
far, I have not heard any complaints from steelbands
or Pantrinbago. It seems that the steelbands are not
concerned with the state of the place where the
competition is held. If they are, there silence is
deafening. This year, Pantrinbago published the Bomb
competition results without the names of the Bomb
tunes played. How could panjumbies tell years from
today which bomb tunes the steelbands played and who
were the arrangers? But, my compliments go out to
Pantrinbago for their updated web site. Finally,
they are providing more information and all the
names of the Panorama arrangers 1963-2009. Now
panjumbies have documented information for their
discussions. I like it. But, Pantrinbago needs to
publish all the names of arrangers for all the
steelband finalists.
I missed the semi-finals because there was no
pre-schedule (months ahead) from Pantrinbago for
semi finals. As a result, by the time they published
the date I already booked my flight. There has to be
a way for panjumbies to go to Pantrinbago’s web site
and find a Panorama schedule months ahead so that
they can plan their carnival trip. We have to wait
until the very last moment, when the local
newspapers publish the days and time for
preliminaries and semi-finals. All this is done a
few weeks before Panorama. As a result, I missed the
semi finals. It is easy to track the Panorama finals
because it is held every year on carnival Saturday
night. But, the preliminaries or semi finals can be
changed at will by Pantrinbago. I hope that
Pantrinbago rectifies this problem next year.
Panorama music for 2009 was a mixture of fresh air
and old smells. There was fresh air coming from
Silver Stars Steel Orchestra who won the 2009
Panorama, Phase II who came second and Deltones who
came seventh. Old smells came from the steelbands
who continue to play the old mode of music
forgetting that Panorama is energy. Silver Stars
beat Phase II Steel Orchestra by one point. It was
their first competition win since the band was
founded over 60 years ago. Silver Stars is one of
the remaining ‘college boys’ steelbands still
competing in the large steelbands category. *The band started in Newtown by the extended family of Chans, Youngs and Kwong Sings (Junior Pouchet came later) and consisted mainly members of the Chinese community who attended the elite colleges in the early days of the steelband movement. The other was Dixieland Steel Orchestra whose early members were Portuguese and Chinese, captained by Ernest Ferreira (Curtis Pierre came later). Silver Stars current panyard was once known as the Big Yard where Alexander’s Ragtime band launched the steelband movement in 1939. Today, Silver Stars is made up mostly of Africans, Indians, female and young panists. Today,
Silver Stars is made up mostly of Africans, Indians,
female and young panists.
I want to specially commend Mr. Donnell Thomas, the
conductor of Silver Stars steelband. Mr. Thomas is
only 25 years old. I spoke to him on jouvert
morning. He explained to me that he is first a
panist. Edwin Pouchet asked him to drill the band
and saw the influence that Donnell’s conducting had
on the young panists. Immediately, Edwin decided
that Donnell should continue to drill and conduct
the band right to the final night of Panorama. A
wise choice! There is a reason that orchestras have
conductors. Donnell was a force to be reckoned with
on Panorama night. The young panists from Silver
Stars beat a worthy adult steelband. They played to
win while Phase II played as if they already won.
Congratulations to Donnell and the young people of
Silver Stars Steel Orchestra for their well deserved
win.
I attended some of the panyards and observed some
interesting things. First, I noticed that the young
panists do not lime in the panyards. While in All
Stars panyard I saw a few of the young panists walk
into the panyard. They were very respectful to the
Elders who were liming in the front of the panyard.
In some panyards they don’t even speak to the
Elders. They said hello but walked straight to their
instruments. They stood behind their pans and limed
there. None of them ventured out into the panyard
among the Elders. If you walked into the Renegades
panyard you would observe that there are two bars
where drinks are sold, one run by the Elders and the
others by the band. The Elders lime at their bar and
the young panists gather on the other side of the
panyard. There seems to be a separation among the
young panists and the Elders in some steelbands. I
told some of the Elders that they must share a great
part of the blame for this separation which may lead
to changes in the steelbands. Some day the Elders
will pass along to their ancestors. What are they
leaving for the young panists to follow?
I don’t know why Steelbands have not introduced
history classes of the band to the young panists who
are ignorant of the steelbands’ history and the role
that Elders played in maintaining steelbands. Many
of the young panists do not know the contributions
of the Elders, some of whom went to jail, suffered
indignities from the society and/or were injured
protecting their steelband. I recommend that
steelbands display pictures in their panyards of
Elders and pioneers who gave their blood, sweat,
tears, time and money to the steelbands. The young
panists of Renegades Steel Orchestra should know
about Stephen ‘Goldteeth’ Nicholas, Brokofoot
Raymond, Tampico, Papito, Little Axe, Mr. Lee, Bold
face, Utah Blaine and all the others who preserved
Renegades for them. After all, it is through the
struggles of the Elders that the young panists have
a steelband today. Similarly, All Stars, Desperadoes
and other steelbands should educate their young
panists about the contributions of the bands’ Elders
and pioneers.
On carnival Monday I played Mas in All Stars and was
disappointed with All Stars music on the road.
Luckily, they hired Renegades steelband to play in
the band. Unlike All Stars, who played slow and
boring music and stopped every few blocks, Renegades
presented a vibrant calypso repertoire of old and
new calypsos. They had the masqueraders jumping from
the savannah to Ariapita Avenue. I did not play Mas
on Tuesday but observed that it was the same thing
with All Stars on the road. Every 10 or so minutes
the panists rested. I am sure that a few of the Mas
players may not be back next year. As usual the road
was filled to capacity with Mas. On both days, a few
steelbands dared to come on the road. The
Desperadoes steelband was small but the old
supporters were there. I jumped with them for old
times’ sake. It is sad that the murders and crime on
the Hill forced Desperadoes to come down to Belmont
for carnival where they practice on Cadiz Road. It
is now the custom that after the preliminaries the
band stays and practices on Cadiz Road in a car park
until after the carnival. I was told that the
temporary move is due to the fact that very few
people go up the Hill to hear the band during
carnival. Someone said that that could not happen if
Rudolph Charles was alive. Maybe!
The Nelson Street scene is still the same. A friend
of mine was mugged down Nelson Street on jouvert
morning around 9 AM. However, upper Nelson Street
was calm. I visited and limed with Grissom. The guys
from Grissom: Charlie Roach, Tinboy, Smally, Sharko,
Byer, Andrew, Emory, Zolup, Matt, Earl, Joey,
Smalls, Hollis, McCollin, Zamba and yours truly
limed together every day. It is amazing how the
street changes while we visiting Nelsonians are
there. Grissom cleaned up the block every day.
People were respectful and happy. They smiled as
everyone remembered a story about the old days when
Nelson Street was peaceful and old people and
children were safe and secure. Some mentioned the
love that flowed from the community which sustained
us in those bad moments. Sure, we had steelband and
gang riots among gangs like Sun Valley, Desperadoes,
Renegades, Tokyo, Invaders, Applejackers,
Thunderbirds, Lawbreakers and Silkhats. But, there
were some rules. Old people were not harmed.
Children were protected. At times, an Elder could
intervene and stop the bloodshed or fighting.
The Saturday after carnival, City Sun Valley
formerly from Nelson Street, kept a party at their
current panyard on Borde Street. It was well
attended by visiting and local Nelsonians. Sun
Valley provided most of the music followed by a DJ
who played soca music. A move is being made to bring
back Sun Valley to Nelson Street where some believe
the band belongs. The band moved to Borde Street
after it experienced some trouble with the bandits.
Some Nelsonians mentioned that the band may play a
Monday Mas for carnival 2010. I can’t wait for that.
There are many small things that Grissom could do
for their block if only they had security and
leadership, two ingredients that every community
needs to survive. I saw a willingness to maintain
their block in spite of the dire situation they
face. There are still decent people living on Nelson
Street.
My next journey took me up the Hill to see some old
and dear friends. Most people were locked down.
There were few people walking on Duke Street. I saw
no one walking on Mariquite Street. Belgrade Street
from Duke Street to Quarry Street was empty of dogs
and people. No one limed. The corners were empty.
Many of the old houses were broken down. In their
place were tall blades of grass on empty lots of
land with bush everywhere. At night the Hill is dark
and scary. No one walks the streets up the Hill at
night. Yet, there are a few people trying to live
their lives with some kind of dysfunctional
normalcy. I visited a friend who took about fifteen
minutes to open her door. When she came to the door
I asked her why she took so long. She opened her
hands and showed me over 10 keys that she carried
around because she has so many locks on her doors.
We talked about how the neighborhood had changed.
She expressed how she is so afraid of young males in
her neighborhood and that she never ventures back
into the streets after she arrives at home. She is a
former teacher and one of the remaining middle
classes in the neighborhood.
But, it is almost impossible for people behind the
bridge to change things without the assistance of
government and the protection of the security
forces. The sense of normalcy is gone. The addition
of security is a daily aspect of everyone’s lives.
People adjusted by being inside their homes before
dark. Or, they stay inside all day looking at their
cable television. If they dare to go outside it is
to downtown. Few entertain friends in their homes as
they did in the old days. It must be painful to live
on an island with sunlight all year and cannot enjoy
the breezy afternoons with a walk around the corner
or walk outside. Is must be hurtful to look around
your neighborhood and see the decay that overtook
the community, knowing that you are powerless to
change it or that your family cannot escape except
through the possibility of death. That makes it very
depressing and stressful for most people on the
Hill. Security is now a public health issue behind
the bridge.
As I walked up Laventille Road I saw a few familiar
faces peeking out of their windows. Those who
recognized me called out. Others kept their distance
and thought: “This guy mad.” There are no
communities anymore up the Hill. There was a time
when everyone knew their neighbors and shared an
unwritten love and respect for life. Now, most
houses are boarded up and rotting. Streets are
deserted in the day and especially at night time
when no one travels outside. There are a few people
still maintaining their homes. In spite of the
dangers, people from others areas move in for the
free space. Since there are no rules, people are
suspicious and silent. No one answers a question
from a stranger. There was a time when people would
direct you to the person or place for which you were
looking. Not anymore.
The kind and free-style spirit that existed behind
the bridge and up the Hill in the 60s have been
sucked from the lives of its residents, young and
old. Today, it is survival. New skills are learned
to deal with the murders among young gang members.
New weapons of protection are gathered as the young
terrorize the Elderly and other vulnerable persons.
People refuse to sit in their galleries. Some have
thick and heavy curtains to block outsiders from
viewing inside their homes. Others paint their
windows dark. And yet, people will tell you that
they know that is not the normal way to live. What
can they do? Who is to save them from the scourge
that has visited their communities?
Many see biblical notations for their plight as they
refer to prayers as a solution. Others see benign
neglect from a government that they support 100% and
received 0% but will not speak out for fear of being
labeled anti-PNM. There is no security from the
daily terror. From all evidences shown and known,
the government does not have a clue about solving it
and/or are unwilling to finding a solution for the
murders and crime behind the bridge. They answer to
different calls. One of the consequences of the
benign neglect is that the people of Nelson Street
and behind the bridge (East/West corridor) are left
out of mainstream society. They are no longer
connected to the body politic. The people who report
on their plight do not venture to their
neighborhoods. They have lost complete control of
their safety. The days when they could complain to
someone in authority and expect, at least a hearing,
are long gone. They know that they are disconnected.
The PNM government has neglected, forgotten and
failed its children in the East/West corridor.
I visited other areas in the West beyond Woodbrook
and the East beyond San Juan. There things are
different. Even though no area is safe, yet those
areas have a normalcy that is not found behind the
bridge. People walk the streets. They visit their
malls to shop. Their children feel safe and play
outside. You will find many cars in their large
homes. Some even kept inclusive parties for
carnival. I attended an inclusive party in Petit
Valley and did not think about my safety. People
laughed, talked and danced the night away. Their
doors had the normal locks for a large home. The
class lines of distinction were clear. And, while
they were not immune from the dangers of the new
Trinbago, this was the middle class who enjoyed the
best that Trinbago had to offer. Most of them were
retirees or returnees who moved back after living
abroad for many years. They have access to most of
the good things of the nation. If their health is
threatened they can travel overseas to a good
hospital. If they get bored they can travel to
Canada or New York for the summer holidays. As a
result, a few of my friends are moving back home.
Some of the old buildings around Port of Spain are
no longer around. The barracks houses on Duke
Street where Pembrokers used to lime are gone. Now,
it is the Halls of Justice building. So too are the
barracks houses on Charlotte Street where the famous
Johnny Lee & Hurricanes Combo and legendary panman
“Fisheye” resided. It is now a flea market. Strand
cinema is now a night club called Alchemy. The only
cinema from the 60s that still stands supreme is
Globe theatre on St. Vincent Street. Maybe it is a
tax write off that keeps it open. There are cinemas
in the new malls in Woodbrook, Long Circular,
Trincity and San Fernando while others were torn
down. Royal cinema is now a car park. Pyramid,
Olympic and Odeon cinemas are gone. I noticed that
Queen’s Park Café is being rebuilt. It has a new
coat of white paint and stands like a giant at the
corner of Belmont Circular Road and Queen’s Park
Savannah North. But, it remains closed soon to be
opened. That spot is prime real estate with
connections to Belmont, Cascade and St. Ann’s. It
would make a fine restaurant or café.
Most of the old buildings on Henry, Charlotte and
St. Vincent Streets are gone. In their places are
new buildings with stores and restaurants. Frederick
Street is a mess. It is overcrowded with vendors
everywhere. The People’s Mall at Queen Street is
still to be rebuilt since it burned down about five
years ago. Up to my departure, Pantrinbago only
produced a DVD of the large steelbands with a
misplacing of the names of two steelbands. They did
not produce a CD. The parade of the bands DVD was
about 45 minutes and selling for $150.00. There is
no order for those recordings. You take your chances
to get them.
The year’s Panorama left much to be desired.
Deltones Steel Orchestra got into the finals with a
new arranger, Carlton Alexander. Although they
placed 7th their arranger shows promise
for the future. His tune of choice this year was not
a good one. The tune “I’m not drunk” was too little
so most of the tune was made up of arrangements. It
was plenty arrangements and little tune. Great
arrangement too! I wish Mr. Alexander well for next
year. He is an arranger to watch if he has a good
tune. Renegades steelband is stuck in an old time
funk. No new music but the same structures of old.
No matter what they play it all sounds like
yesteryears music when Jit Samaroo ruled Panorama.
Only a new arranger (away from the Jit mould) will
solve their problems.
I applaud Exodus for their removal of the ridiculous
canopies. I like their new look. It is the future
look for steelbands on final night at the Panorama.
Desperadoes have lost the killer instinct for
Panorama. Yes, their tune was sweet and memorable
but not Panorama material. It lacked the spirit of
carnival. I hope Robbie Greenidge pays attention to
what is happening with Silver Stars and Renegades
who represent the future and the past. I still like
Phase II music. For my money, Boogsie is still the
best Panorama arranger today. But, for some reason
he could not close the deal this year. Those young
panists from Silver Stars had the hunger and zest to
win this year. Their conductor Donnell Thomas
deserves a music scholarship. He understands the
instrument.
I saw many changes in the carnival due to a new
generation of masqueraders and panists. The
steelband movement is changing and yet it is
standstill. The panists are younger and more female
panists are playing the national instrument. Some
steelbands consist of mainly female panists. Panists
are no longer connected to a steelband by tradition
but by ability to win a Panorama. If a steelband
continues to lose then they face the threat of
losing their crack shot panists to another
steelband. The traditional allegiances that held
steelbands together are disappearing. Some
steelbands can’t get enough panists to make up a
large band. Ask Skifflebunch, Panknights, Casablanca
and Harmonites. I know many old panists who never
joined or played for another steelband after they
left their band or their band became defunct. While
some young panists remain with their bands win or
lose, for others their loyalty has been transformed
into a loyalty for winning.
The young panists have great skills but they lack an
historical perspective of the steelband movement. It
may not be entirely their fault because the schools
are not teaching the history of the steelband
movement. Where does a young panist go to understand
the history of his instrument? Who teaches her about
the pioneers of her steelband? Where does she go to
see pictures of the pioneers of her steelband?
Pantrinbago should be setting up steelband history
workshops for young panists of the pioneering
steelbands.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of
Panorama, Pantrinbago should be planning a
Sketches of Steel commemorative ceremony in
honor of the steelband movement. I urge Pantrinbago
to start gathering pictures of the early steelband
and pioneers and place them permanently in their
Hall of Fame. A Hall of Fame should provide
information about the inductees and their
contributions to pan. I often wonder why Beryl
McBurnie, Lennox Pierre, Canon Farquar, Albert Gomes
were not inducted into Pantrinbago’s Hall of Fame.
Their love and protection of the steelbands in a
time when it was not popular or socially acceptable
to do so should be enough for their place in
Pantrinbago’s Hall of Fame.
The government lost a great opportunity to use the
steelbands to encourage young people to harness
their time and skills for good. No, the steelband
will not save the nation form its murder spree. But,
it could encourage more young people to use their
time wisely by playing the national instrument.
Sports and music are two equalizers for social
mobility. Most young people are serving their nation
well. As I walked the streets and visited
communities I met many decent and ambitious young
people with good values. But, a nation is not
assessed by the many that are making it but by the
few that gets lost in the shuffle. A country with a
small population and so much money must do better
for its most vulnerable citizens. The problem lies
mainly with the East/West corridor urban youth who
are lost in a sea of senseless crime, poverty,
family breakdown and murders over URP and drug turf
wars. The challenge for Trinbago and its decent
citizens is to get those young people back into main
stream or face the oncoming turmoil that will visit
the nation in the next wave.
*This information was provided to me by Dr. Kim
Johnson
Portfolio of Pantrinbago:
Panorama
Pan Jazz
Pan Down Memory Lane
Pan in the 21st Century
Bi-annual Music Festival
Stay Blogged |
|
P.S. If readers don’t understand any of the
carnival or steelband terms used here, please go
to the
Port of Pan ABC at pan-jumbie-com.
Otherwise you may contact this writer. Thanks
for reading. |
<<
back
| |
