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‘NYU Steel Concert 2012’ - in Pictures

New York, New York - The late great Andre Tanker, (Trinidadian songwriter and musician) would have been thrilled to see and hear his song “Ben Lion” being performed at an American university thousands of miles away from his land of birth. And similarly, the great and legendary calypsonian Roaring Lion would have been equally moved by the care, clarity, outlining of historical context and respect paid by Josh Quillen, an American music professor and performing artist, to Roaring Lion’s genius, works, culture and impact.  Quillen explained who the Roaring Lion was and the importance of his music works to the audience on hand, before a delivery of a version of his composition “Song of Peace” by NYU (New York University) Steel.

The event in the 13th-floor Percussion Penthouse by NYU Steel showcased a larger aggregation than last December at the same venue, a fact happily pointed out by Quillen, and also evidenced by the band’s set up.  There were more instruments this time around, including two six basses.

Throughout the evening’s concert, several of the players rotated on the various voices of steelpan instruments in the band - from the tenors, to double seconds, guitars, cellos and six basses; also, they naturally took on the ‘engine room,’ rhythm section and drums.  The NYU percussionists do focus on just a couple Pans, but the program encourages them to experiment and become fairly adept with other instruments in the steel orchestra.

Original compositions by the legendary panist and arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe (Sarah and This Feelin’ Nice), Joy/Power from Cliff Alexis and Chant penned by Pan virtuoso Liam Teague in honor of his father - were all part of the repertoire from NYU Steel.  It was screened in the intimate setting of the Penthouse where parents, family and friends got to experience up-close and personal - literally, as they were seated mere feet away from the band - various voices in the steelpan instrument family in musical chorus at times punctuated by soloists.  As is usually the case, several in the audience were unfamiliar with the steelpan, and even more were surprised by the musical capabilities of the instrument so very ably explored and displayed by the NYU musicians.  In between pieces, musical director Josh Quillen told the audience he always considered it a privilege to be associated with the steelpan artform.  He also ensured that a brief, concise but accurate history of the instrument was shared with them.

Still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, New York shows its resilience and indomitable spirit as events, and the community in general, move forward. On the day after what many consider the music concert of the decade, 12-12-12, held at Madison Square Garden for Sandy relief - the New York Knicks were about to put a whipping on those Hollywood Lakers at the same Garden, while simultaneously at (8:00 p.m.) just a few blocks south in New York’s Greenwich Village, NYU Steel prepared to lay out a performance that was both entertaining and historically significant. Indeed, the show unfolding before NYU parents and friends of the students was but one of the signs that the Big Apple was moving back to normalcy.

The New York University steel orchestra under the musical leadership of director Josh Quillen has improved and grown every year. In a city where the steelpan instrument and Pan culture are taken very, very seriously – of which Mr. Quillen is acutely aware – he has skillfully and competently developed a legitimate steelband performing unit within this prestigious music and performing arts and percussion studies program.  It is primarily the outcome of the initiative of Professor Jonathan Haas, director of the NYU Steinhardt Percussion Program and whose vision and determination birthed the steelpan ensemble at NYU.

There is an aura about this program which ensures that NYU’s Program in Percussion Studies will be one of the major steelpan music programs in America in the very near future. Steelband is not an option but a requirement of all percussion program majors in NYU’s Percussion Studies Program.

Armed with knowledge of and practical experience in the steelpan family of instruments and voicings, one can only imagine what the future will hold for artistic endeavors and creations regarding the steelpan instrument, from the past, present and future members and graduates of this program. In fact we are already seeing major dividends such as in panist, composer and rising arranger Kendall Williams currently pursuing his Masters in Composition at NYU; his arrangement of “It’s Showtime” featured at the end of and closing the almost 60-minute music showcase.  NYU Steel’s delivery of the piece (with Williams himself on drums) allowed a tantalizing glimpse into what will be its full performance in longer form at the orchestra’s April 30, 2013 concert.

A tradition with NYU Steel has been the inviting of audience members to not only get up and dance to the final number, but also on stage additionally interspersed among the players, allowing them to be immersed in the steelband experience.  This concert was no different as Josh Quillen once more extended the same encouragement to those present.  In such a welcoming forum, and with customary smartphones and other recording media in hand, it goes without saying that guests departed with warm, receptive and impressionable memories of the overall evening.

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‘NYU Steel Concert 2012’ - in Pictures
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