Antigua & Barbuda,
WI
-
Hardly a country in the world can say
that it has not been impacted in some
way by the severe downturn in the economy
within the last twelve months.
With several businesses reeling from the
effects of this still-ongoing
circumstance,
business associates and
financial supporters of even acclaimed
and fairly entrenched events have had to
trim their budgets, and the events in
turn have felt the body blow delivered
as a result.
One
example is Antigua and Barbuda’s highly
anticipated Annual Moods of Pan (MOP), for many years a three-day
festival and coming off with assistance
in part from the twin-island’s business
enterprises and even the
government. In 2008, event
organizers Gemonites Steel Orchestra
unveiled a tenth anniversary celebration
of their Moods of Pan concert series -
topped up with a power-packed and
talented cast of steel orchestras and
artists who delivered world-class
steelpan and cultural performances over
the three-night period in the country’s
capital of St. John’s.
The November
28–30, 2008 Moods of Pan 10 had a gala opening night
with a new component called “The
Cool & Smooth Gemonites Moods of Pan
2008 Leroy “Jughead” Gordon 25-A-Side
Steelband competition,”
which featured six steel orchestras in
competition, and in memory of the national
cultural icon after which it was named -
Leroy “Jughead” Gordon.
Eventually won by the National Youth Pan
Orchestra which trounced their fellow
pan musicians (the country’s ‘veteran’
steel orchestras) - this group had been
musically steered by the youngest
arranger in the competition, then
18-year old
Khan Cordice.
Music lovers
returned that Saturday night for show
openers Trinidad & Tobago’s
internationally famous Skiffle Bunch
Steel Orchestra, who gave way to the
evening’s main attraction, the immensely
popular “Five
Alive”
steelpan group competition, as well the
appearance of
Calypso King David Rudder
and his band.
More
musical excellence continued under the
stars on Sunday, the final evening.
Billed as “Another Side of Pan,” music
lovers gorged themselves on a talented
musical menu card.
There were performances by the legendary
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe; a powerhouse
aggregation consisting of world-famous musicians including
percussionist
Ralph Macdonald, panist and arranger
Robert Greenidge, saxophonist Arturo Tappin, musician Etienne Charles and
more; comedian Sprangalang, and renowned calypsonian Black Stalin
and Skiffle
Bunch, who brought the curtain down on Moods
of Pan 10.
|
Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra |
Ralph Macdonald & company |
But with the economic downturn, the
organizers this year found it extremely
challenging to overcome its almost
devastating effect on Moods of Pan 2009. The
result is a scaled-down version of the
concert series unfolding on one night
only, instead of the customary
three-night affair.
|
Gemonites Steel Orchestra |
Black Stalin |
But
the members of Gemonites Steel Orchestra
have always ensured that the best in musical and
cultural talent takes center stage in all
their productions over the years, and
with so many seasons as the event
organizers under their belt, one can bet
on Gemonites making this sole night
representing the eleventh edition of Moods of Pan
in their concert series count.
With a proven show card featuring the
likes of panist Andy Narell and
calypsonian Lord Relator, cultural icon
Paul Keens-Douglas and more in store for
music lovers, the host - themselves
veteran musicians and past Panorama
champions - Gemonites Steel
Orchestra, is expected to join the line
up.
One
night or three nights - expect Gemonites Steel Orchestra to
pull out all the stops to showcase a
fabulous night of music - especially
with just one evening to pack it all in!
As steelpan and culture enthusiasts get
ready for what is guaranteed to be a
memorable and fabulous show-stopping
Sunday night this November 29, When
Steel Talks takes the global steelpan
community on a pictorial journey (below) back to
last year’s final star-studded night
called “Another Side of Pan.”
In Pictures
Contact:
Patrick “Stone” Johnson
-
stonenrico@yahoo.com
-
1 (268) 727-6633
Articles, Video & Pictures - Moods
of Pan 2008
Related Articles on Antigua
& Barbuda: click
here
www.PanOnTheNet.com/Antigua
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