Panyard Steel Orchestra performances
of panorama selections at their best
First
thing: the
Pan in New York 2009 CD - both ‘cool’ and ‘hot’ versions - like previous
Basement Recordings steelpan music releases, is not for everyone.
I repeat - it is not
for everyone!
“Pan in New York 2009” is for the listener with discerning and impeccable taste. It is for the connoisseur of steelpan
music audio of the finest quality.
If you are used to, or are content with -
listening to cell phone audio, low level mp3s, camcorders, DVDs with mono
recordings, or even some of the high-priced products from steelpan
‘professional recording
imposters’ that butcher pan music - these CDs are not for you.
In actuality, these CDs are for the individuals who know or want to
experience the beauty and power of the 80 to 100–hundred player strong steel
orchestra performing steelband panorama music.
Great pairing provide striking contrasts: Yohan
Powell/Sonatas, Pelham Goddard/Sesame Flyers, Wilfred Kieal/Despers USA,
Keith Roberts/Pantonic, Arddin Herbert/CASYM and
Earl Rodney/D’Radoes.
Sonatas Steel
Orchestra Audio sample
A few days before the 2009 New York steelband music panorama,
Basement Recordings captured Sonatas Steel Orchestra in their
panyard in Brooklyn, New York. Sonatas would go on to win the 2009
championship a few days later. This is a 3-minute sample of the
ten-minute slow version of their panorama selection ‘Bandoleros.’
Captured also, is the grittiness of the New York panyard environs,
both sonically and spiritually. Because of the schedule and demand of
the panorama season, Pantonic and CASYM were done with minimal field
recordings approach - yet the rawness and clarity captured in yard recordings
are still stunning.
There will be a limited printing. If the past is a lesson
- don’t wait to get your copy of these quality productions from Basement Recordings.
This year, two Pan In New York 2009 CDs are being released.
“Pan In New York 2009” - the CD, will feature the orchestras performing at tempo.
The other CD,
“Pan In New York - the Cooldown Versions” will feature the bands playing at
reduced tempo (including the slow version performed by Sonatas, and sampled
for listening on this page - above), an aspect which has always been in demand over the years, so that
the arrangements as
sonically envisioned by the arranger, and performed and
executed by the steel orchestras, may truly be savored at a slower paced
performance.
Both versions of Pan in New York 2009, will feature the musical skills of
Despers USA, Sonatas, CASYM and Pantonic (all four have been Panorama champions
in their own right over the years), in addition to D’Radoes and
Sesame Flyers.
These two CD releases are, of course, a continuation of the Pan-4-Life series
from Basement Recordings.