Saturday, February 28

This is a video of people "chippin'" along with the band. Notice how they're all stepping in time to the music. People will follow along with a band all day, maybe 5-7 hours, walking upwards of 2-3 miles.




2 views at Castara, Tobago. First is the view from the beach towards the Northeast on the Carribean side of the island. Second is in a cool bar on the beach.

Friday, February 20

Thursday, February 20th. (and some Friday too)
The Panorama finals are this Saturday the 21st. There are 8 finalists in the large band category. Phase II will be playing last that night. That is the best place to play. Phase II has a history of winning when they play last. That was the case when I came here the first time in 2006. Also Ray Holman is drilling (rehearsing) the band. He is an exceptional pannist, composer and arranger too. So far, they’ve won when he works the band.
This year however some rules have changed. Actually they change all too often. But for the finals this year the large bands can only have 100 players. That’s down from 120. In the ‘70s there were as many as 200 players in a band. The problem is that there are about 50 or more people in the band playing the tenor pan. We can take maybe 25 or 30 to the finals. That means 25 or more people will be told they can’t play. I may be one of those dropped. I don’t know when they’ll make the decisions. That could happen late Friday night. It’s a bit scary not knowing, but I’ve learned here that nothing is certain.

I’ve moved into a new place. The one I had been staying in was already booked for Carnival week. I’m staying at the house of one of the members of the band. It’s about a 10 minute ride out of town. It’s very basic; a room with a bed, a bathroom and shower out back, (cold water only) a limited kitchen. My host is real nice, we’re becoming good friends, and the price is good. To find a room at Carnival time is tough and very expensive. I miss the convenience of being able to walk to the panyard.

I’ve been focusing on playing more and more but I do try and get out and see things. I took a boat to a rather deserted corner of the island to a small beach. Very calm and quiet. Otherwise I really cannot travel alone much. Also there is the issue of the rain. The day I took the boat to the beach began with a lot of rain. People had to convince me to go, I was that reluctant. I’m glad I did though, the rain cleared up very nicely. Other events have also been too rainy to go see. At the Junior Panorama, where youth steelbands compete, it was raining all day. At the Single Pan competition, (OK, long parenthesis: Single Pan is what used to be called “Pan round the Neck.” When pan was first developed, people would walk around town with a single pan held by a strap around the back of their neck. If you wanted lower voice instruments, you had to make them from a single pan. Conventional steelbands nowadays for example, use 6 barrels for a bass instrument. Now back to the original sentence) it was also pouring rain. Today, downtown, is the “Old Mas” (that’s the old traditional masquerade styles) but it rained so hard my roof started leaking. If it clears up I’ll try and get there.

Still, it has been difficult to go see things. Mostly, I can travel during the day. I can get a taxi or a “maxi-taxi” to almost anywhere. It’s cheap and I know how to ask where they’re going. But night time is different. Nobody has ever told me it’s OK to travel alone at night. Most people are full of warnings to be cautious. Crime is high and foreigners are targets. I’m not usually one to believe such talk; people so often speak of dangers in other countries. But this definitely is different. I’m mostly at the mercy of others being interested in going somewhere and available to do so.

Wish me luck Saturday.

Ted

Saturday, February 14

Here's a long one. This is a sort of newsletter I email to friends about what I'm doing. I put this here for curious strangers.

Feb. “Friday the 13th,” ‘09

Hello all.
Another attempt to keep those interested involved, and those uninvolved interested.

Highlanders steelband did advance through the preliminary rounds. So they are done competing. Though they hope to come out and play for Jouvert. That’s the official opening of Carnival, at 3am Monday. A lot of steelbands get on floats (modified truck beds) and roam the streets playing. Highlanders might play Sting’s “Fragile.” Those of you in my community band will know what I’m talking about.

Phase II came in 1st place in the Panorama Semi Finals. That’s both good and bad. Some say that we work harder when we’re not in first place; and that we might get complacent if we are. We’ll see. Boogsie Sharpe (he’s the composer, arranger and leader of Phase II) came back today (Saturday) to work the band and to try some new parts. Ray Holman (also a top composer and arranger) has also been drilling us.

Some words about Phase II. As I said in the last letter they’ve won the Panorama National Competition 3 times in the last 4 years. The band competes with 120 players. We play an 8 minute (it used to be 10) arrangement of a tune that is required to meet a number of musical criteria; key changes, theme development, etc. However the most notable thing is the style; the type of music, the way it is played, the intensity and energy in the performance. Here’s something I wrote to myself about playing in this band:

There’s just NOTHING like it! When that band gets cookin’ it just takes you by the gut and there’s no stoppin’ it! I’ve never really been one to take my anger and bad feelings out in my music. Not like this at least. I’ve always been a little too cerebral I guess. But here you play as hard as you can, and then some. You pound the crap out of your pan. And getting the “crap” out is exactly right. This is very primal (I usually hate that word) in that it goes right to your gut, your soul. Not your spiritual soul so much as the core of your being. It’s more than just physical. It gets down underneath all the layers of craziness (crap) that we keep covering ourselves with. There’s no halfway, no beating around the bush, no holding back, take no prisoners!

And yet it’s not just loud and fast; it’s very creative music, full of imagery and lyricism. Some bands/arrangers here do the loud, fast exciting music, but to my hearing, they don’t have the depth that this band/arranger has. That’s why I come here!

Weather
I know most of you, especially those of you in the cold north, won’t have much sympathy, but the weather hasn’t been very cooperative. I’ve mentioned before, it rains most days here. It’s not supposed to. It’s the dry season. But things are weird. It limits what I can do. I don’t have a car and have to get around by walking or finding a taxi. It’s wet and it’s hot. Before I came here I was thinking, “Boy, I could use some heat right now.” Now I’m thinking, “Boy, I could use some cold right now.” You have to appreciate what you’ve got!

Friday, February 13

This is an article from Tuesday's Guardian newspaper. It tells of Phase II (the band I play in) coming in first place in the semi-final competition. It also has my picture playing!
http://guardian.co.tt/news/entertainment/2009/02/12/phase-ii-tops-panorama-semis

Monday, February 9


The crowd around us! Of course That's Machel Montano, one of the most popular singer/performers here in Trinidad, who performs the song, Magic Drum, that Phase II is playing.

Obama things are everywhere! Hats, shirts, sneakers...
The Panorama Semi-final were last night (Sun). Phase II played 7th in the large band category. There were of course the small and medium band to perform before the large. Overall there were about 30 plus bands in yesterdays round.
Phase II is immensely popular and the crowd around us as we went around the track towards the stage was wild and crushing into us. We were all in racks of instruments so we were fine. The band plays their tune as we go, preparing for the big moment. Very exciting!
The results are not out yet as band from other regions of the country still have to play.
Check the Panorama scores and info link on the right.
This colorful gentleman played in my rack at the semi-final competition.
I don't know how many people (outside my family of course) are actually checking this blog. But my internet access is not what I thought it would be. Surprise! Anyway, I haven't gotten many photos or videos. There are very few opportunities. Most of the time I'm either busy playing and can't readily stop and play photographer. Or I am unable to get anywhere for something to see. There are many reasons for this. One is the crime rate is high (2 murders a day) and so I don’t want to travel alone. There are some places I can and do go to, some stores, errands and such, but mostly any sightseeing is limited. Actually, that is the main reason. It all comes down to not being able to travel without others. And most of the people I know here have to work and cannot accompany me places.
So as I get more things to post I will.

Wednesday, February 4

pan instruction

One of a couple of videos I took of an arranger giving out parts for Highlanders Steelband. This one of someone learning the 4 pan part.This video is of the arranger "drilling" (rehearsing) the background pans (not the melody pans) and giving out some notes and rhythms. Would you be able to get the notes he's giving? How about remembering the parts later. Notice that these are kids mostly.


Marc helps Tanya (7 years old?) learn her part in Highlanders Steelband

Sunday, February 1

Sorry about the video and sound quality. Mostly you hear all the other pans practicing around me as I took this. This is someone taking the bass part from the arranger in Highlanders Steelband. Notice the arranger (on left) pounding the side of the pan with a drumstick.
highlanders steelband. This girl learns fast.
Nice shirt! This gentleman is captain of the band

Back again in '09

To anyone who actually looks and is interested, I'm back in Trinidad. I'll be playing with Phase II Steelband again as well as with highlanders Steelband. I'll post some photos and hopfully some videos as we go. I'm open for questions if anyone has any.