Montreal, Quebec,
Canada
- The words
“the show must
go on” have
never rung with
more truth and
urgency than
with this year’s
Montreal International
Steelpan Festival.
Faced with a
series of challenges
and a short
runway that
threatened to
curtail this
year’s show,
event organizer
Salah Wilson
pulled out all
stops to ensure
continuity and
that there would
be a quality
production at
this year’s
10th
edition.
View from
American
Airlines
flight upon
landing
at Trudeau
Airport
So, with the
New York vista
to our back
and rising sun
on our bow,
north to Montreal
we headed.
When Steel Talks
caught an early
6:40 a.m.
American Airline
flight
out of La Guardia
in New York
City direct
to Montreal
- and in less
than the time
it takes to
go from lower
to upper Manhattan,
we were on the
Québec island
of pan.
Yes indeed,
the beautiful
island of Montreal,
Canada would
again be transformed
into a mecca
for steelpan
music aficionados.
“What brings
you to Canada
today?”
asked the customs
officer at Montreal’s
Trudeau International
Airport.
When Steel Talks’
response was
simply - “the
steelpan music
festival.”
The officer
nodded in acknowledgement
and said smilingly
“enjoy your
stay.”
And so began
the
When Steel Talks
‘festival log’
for the Montreal
International
Steelpan Festival
2010.
Now in its 10th
year, The Montreal
International
Steelpan Music
Festival is
like no other
in the world.
Unlike the other
festivals around
the world, the
Montreal International
Steelpan Festival
is truly international
in every aspect.
This year the
Festival featured
groups from
Maine - USA,
Trinidad and
Tobago, Ontario
and Montreal.
Results
The
results
in the
two
music
categories
were:
The
Junior
Panorama
involved
two
bands
from
the
Montreal
public
schools,
and
Starlift
(Junior)
Tune of Choice:
1st - STARLIFT (Junior); 2nd – ST. MONICA; 3rd – CORONATION SCHOOL
Panorama Style:
1st - “STARLIFT (Junior)”; 2nd – CORONATION SCHOOL; 3rd – ST. MONICA
The
following
are
the
results
of the
2010
Montreal
International
Steelpan
Festival:
Tune
of Choice:
1st
– SALAH’S
STEELPAN
ACADEMY
playing
Celine
Dion’s
I’m
Alive
2nd
– STARLIFT
(Junior)
playing
the
Beatles’
Yesterday
3rd
– PAN
COALITION
playing
Flash
4th
- CCAH
STEELBAND
playing
Waving
Flags
Panorama
style:
1st
– SALAH’S
STEELPAN
ACADEMY
playing
Edwin
Pouchet’s
Battle
Zone
2nd
– STARLIFT
(Junior)
playing
Edwin
Pouchet’s
Battle
Zone
3rd
– PAN
COALITION
playing
One
For
Chalkie
4th
-
CCAH
STEELBAND
playing
Ten
Commandments
Of
Pan
|
When you think
of the steelpan
instrument -
steelbands and
or steelband
music, Montreal
is not the first
place that comes
to mind, but
that is obviously
quickly changing.
Montreal is
already known
as the home
of the greatest
jazz festival
on the planet,
compliments
of the International
Jazz Festival
of Montreal
which ironically
was beginning
the same day
of this steelpan
festival.
There are honestly
few places that
can provide
the rich culture,
scenic and educational
experiences
in a captivating,
relaxed and
historic environment,
as Montreal,
Canada.
Moreover, the
event continued
to make serious
inroads into
the must-attend
and ‘must perform
at’ steelpan
music listings
for both artists
and fans.
Crowd takes
in the 2010
Montreal
International
Steelpan
Festival
Clearly the
Festival is
already embedded
in the psyche
of the people
of Montreal.
This was evidenced
by the instant
recognition
that flickered
across the faces
of the customs
officials at
the airport,
as
When Steel Talks
responded, when
asked the purpose
of the visit,
that it was
the Montreal
International
Steelpan Festival.
It is the same
expressions
and rejoinders
that are reflective
of customs
officials in
Trinidad when
visitors land
for the annual
Carnival season.
Even more importantly,
the city officials
of Montreal
have bought
into the steelpan
festival’s artistic,
economic and
cultural benefits
to the metropolis.
Like the annual
Moods of Pan
festival in
Antigua, this
Canadian festival
has become a
signature event
of the town.
Salah Wilson
and some
members
of his family
The success
of the show
is directly
tied to its
director Salah
Wilson and his
production team.
Salah is a successful
music artist,
arranger and
educator with
globally recognized
steelpan literacy
published works
and director
of the renowned
“Salah Steelpan
Academy.”
Mr. Wilson with
the help of
his team literally
‘mounted the
show on his
back’ for 2010
and made it
happen.
CCAH (Canadian
Caribbean
Association
of Halton) Steelband
This year’s
show was not
without its
challenges,
obstacles, disappointments
and distractions
according to
Mr. Wilson both
professionally
and personally.
Furthermore
organizers were
not able to
directly address
the many steelpan
artists who
expressed an
interest in
performing in
this year’s
2010 event.
Nevertheless,
organizers were
committed to
putting on a
show and delivering
a quality product.
With Montreal
already activated
and flooded
with musicians
and fans for
the upcoming
Jazz Festival
this was a perfect
weekend for
the steelpan
festival to
inculcate itself
as part the
entertainment
musical landscape.
This year’s
show while not
as encompassing
as the organizers
had envisioned
still has to
be deemed a
success.
The show went
on and the citizens
of Montréal
came out and
the players
enjoyed themselves.
The Montreal
International
Fest has to
be one of the
top places to
go to hear steelpan
and/or perform.
What a great
way to begin
discovering
and exploring
the city of
Montreal!
The Power of
Pan...
Golden Stars,
led by Martin
Albino
When Steel Talks
witnessed many
special moments
and performances
during the festival
this year.
There was the
performance
of the Golden
Stars, a group
of seniors led
by
Martin Albino.
There was Special
Connection,
which featured
an autistic
young man by
the name of
Warren
(pictured below
in blue shirt
and black cap).
And of course
there were the
great performances
from the competing
steel orchestras.
But
for WST the
two scenes that
validated this
year as a resounding
success had
very little
to do with the
competition
but everything
to do with the
spirit of the
festival.
One was observing
two panists
- who could
not be any more
than 10 years
old - from different
groups, and
from different
parts of the
world - hugging
each other and
exchanging cameras
as they took
pictures of
each other.
The
other is the
conga line with
players from
all groups dancing
and cheering
each
other on.
The Show
Salah Steelpan
Academy
at the 2010
Montreal
International
Steelpan
Festival
Salah’s Steelpan
Academy
won their fourth
straight Montreal
panorama championship
with a sizzling
presentation
and rendition
of “Battle Zone.”
The
Pan Coalition
shows again
that Maine knows
pan. The
folks from Blue
Hill, led by
Carl Chase
heated up the
place with their
version of “Flash”
and “One For Chalkie,” the
latter a Carl
Chase-creation.
Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra
performs
at the 2010
Montreal
International
Steelpan
Festival
There was CCAH
(Canadian Caribbean
Association
of Halton)
Steelband from
Ontario which
performed ‘Ten
Commandments
Of Pan’ and
‘Waving Flags.’
And of course
there was
Starlift Junior
Steel Orchestra
who traveled
all the
way from Trinidad
and Tobago to
participate
in the festival.
They were simply
fabulous.
They performed
‘Battle Zone’
and ‘Yesterday.’
Adjudicators
this year were
Penny Lewis,
Martin Albino
and Ashton Hughes.
If you are a
college band,
community organization
and/or any steelband
performing artist
for that matter,
the Montreal
Festival is
what you want
to be a part
of. If
you are a steelpan
music lover
looking for
a great music
experience in
a great town
-
the Montreal
Festival is
the place you
want to be.
As everything
falls into place,
the festival
unfolds and
the music begins
to play, it
is a reminder
and crystallizes
for both festival
participants
as well as organizers,
what it is truly
all about.
Not just
the musical
skill sets showcased,
but the joy
and awesome
power of Pan
to bring people
and community
together, and
make everything
all right in
the end, as
the performances
and celebration
triumphantly
unfold.
Then - the sacrifices,
obstacles, disappointments
and all that
were surmounted
to make the
event a reality,
all make sense.
And that is
why we will
see you next
year, once again,
same time -
same place for
the 11th
Montreal International
Steelpan Festival.
In
Pictures
|