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Brooklyn Pan Unity - More Than A Concept

A Steelpan Music Scorcher - Despers USA Rhythm and Blues/Reggae Night

Another When Steel Talks Concert Review

In Pictures

Brooklyn, New York, USA - In an unprecedented and rare display of unity, members of the steelpan fraternity came together under a single performance op at the conclusion of Despers USA’s Rhythm and Blues/Reggae Night electrifying Summer musical showcase held the second weekend in July. More on that later.

If you were not there you missed a good one. If you were there, then you already know what we’re talking about.

The event featured four of New York’s steel orchestras - ADLIB, CASYM, New York Pan Stars and the host Despers USA. The night’s music, as the title suggests, was dedicated to the music genres of Rhythm & Blues and Reggae, performed in an instrumental format within the steelband music art form.

The audience was treated to the exceptional steelband arranging talents of some of Brooklyn’s finest musicians. With the music works of Rico Hunte, Odie Franklin, Marc Brooks, and André White among others on full display, the performers captured the attention of the audience and turned the show into an all-inclusive thrilling event for the packed and fully-engaged space located on the Crown Heights–Bedford-Stuyvesant border known as Despers USA’s “Pan Loft.”

Taking in CASYM Steel Orchestra at Despers USA's Pan Loft
Taking in CASYM Steel Orchestra at Despers USA’s Pan Loft

The R&B portion of the concert was superb. Despers USA opened with a set that included Kirk Franklin’s “He Reigns,” Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” and R. Kelly’s “Feelin’ Single.” Serious stuff here. Indeed the tone was set for the night. The Despers women were dressed to the nines in all black. They were all ‘heading to the club’ and - they were providing the music!

Despers' women in the front line
Despers’ women in the front line

Odie Franklin’s arrangements were on point, thoughtful and cinematic.  And Despers USA’s performance delivered the goods. Odie is the real deal. R&B is about an emotional connection with the listener that uses the jazz, soul and gospel idioms and experiences to story-tell. Odie has mastered this. Nat “King” Cole, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield would be very pleased with Odie. We look forward to more from this rising talent in the future.

New York Pan Stars
New York Pan Stars

New York Pan Stars followed up with an impressive set of their own. Not to be outdone, they opened with the classic Stevie Wonder R&B hit “As.” Pan Stars’ rendition of this classic was soulful and spiritual. The young artists truly got into their performance. There was a clear connection with the audience. Pan Stars then unveiled a big-time performance of the Whitney Houston ballad “I Have Nothing.” The arrangement took full advantage of the great instruments Pan Stars possess.

Again, Marc Brooks’ arrangement met the challenge of delivering a well-known classic across the family of steelpan instrument voices in a manner that would not only link with audience memories, but opened and inspired the audience with new movements and colors. New York Pan Stars’ harmonies were beautiful. They punctuated their performance by closing the set with Cheryl Lynn’s “Got To Be Real.” Nothing else need be said.  The band had it going on!

CASYM Steel Orchestra
CASYM Steel Orchestra

CASYM Steel Orchestra gave a straight-up concert performance of the Michael Jackson timeless classic “Human Nature.” Playing in the third position on this night, they dropped out of warp and fell into the moment and brought everyone right along with them. In a gig that was simply loaded with what we at WST (When Steel Talks) call “Just Listen” moments, CASYM’s presentation of this song was all theirs. Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” was the follow-up. It was done in a somewhat ‘Soca-ish’ manner and went down well - but it was definitely outside of the R&B format. CASYM then ran through a playlist of many of the recent pop tunes and well-known ‘anthems’ in a *Pop medley* such as “Glad You Came,” “What Makes You Beautiful,” Nicki Minaj’s “Pound The Alarm,” “Call Me Maybe” and more.

The multi-talented Rico Hunte (who delivered an R&B/Rap number of his own later at the show) handled the arranging duties for CASYM.

Again, even though the medley was not within the R&B genre the compilation went over very, very well with the audience as you could hear them singing along to the well-known songs.

ADLIB at Despers USA's Rhythm & Blues and Reggae Night
ADLIB at Despers USA’s Rhythm & Blues and Reggae Night

ADLIB closed off the R&B portion for the night. It was a first-rate routine.  The orchestra’s arranger - the young and immensely talented André White is a bad music man. Moreover, he is delivering on that immeasurable potential WST saw in him as a youngster. ADLIB opened with Justin Timberlake’s “Suit and Tie” and locked the audience in. Then came a change of pace when they executed Bruno Mars’ monster Summer hit “Locked Out of Heaven.” The group had the crowd singing along and eating out of their hands by the time they concluded that song. They added a Liam Teague arrangement of Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s “Sunday Morning Funk,” and closed out their set with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”  A very sophisticated showing, true arrangement, an inspiring rendition indeed. ADLIB did much justice to this standard. It should be required listening by all school orchestras.


DJ Novocaine

Keeping it true in between the band performances was DJ Novocaine.  Also appearing were two veteran “Casymites” now young men in their own right performing under the sobriquet “Maximum Krew.”

The second half of the show was dedicated to the Reggae genre. Each orchestra executed multiple songs expounding the reggae format to the fullest while illuminating the spiritual nature of the genre. R&B played a major influential role in the development of Ska - the forerunner to reggae. So in many ways the marriage of these two great musical genres was natural for this show.

It was the turn of New York Pan Stars to be first on the card as they kicked off the reggae session with their interpretation of “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. This was followed up with “Come Down Father” popularized by Beres Hammond. Both the stage-side and arranger Marc Brooks demonstrated their musical versatility and mastery of the reggae genre. Clearly Pan Stars was successful in touching the audience.

It is not enough to simply play a song in the reggae rhythm or perform a song in ‘technically’ a reggae format. It is about feeling. Can you feel the music?  Can the audience feel the music?  They did.

CASYM came through next offering up Bob Marley’s classics “One Love” and “No Woman, No Cry” followed by the well-liked “Beautiful Lady” popularized by Gyptian.

ADLIB delivered “Come Over,” along with a reggae medley of “Too Experienced,” “I Was Born A Winner” and “I Feel Good.” They rounded out the set with Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved?”

Despers USA closed off the Reggae Night with their stamp on two much-loved ditties, Barrington Levy’s “Too Experienced” and “No Good Girls” from The Gaylads.

Some of the "Unity players" after the performance
Some of the “Unity players” after performing. Represented here: ADLIB, Despers USA, Sonatas/Pan Ambassadors, K.I.T. Caribbean Connection, New York Pan Stars. Pantonic, CASYM, Oasis, Steel Sensation et al

For the finale New York steelpan musicians from literally all aspects of NY Pan life came together for a joint performance of “Brooklyn” by Youngblood Brass Band. It was a phenomenal display of unity and togetherness by the NYC steelpan music fraternity. Arranged wonderfully by Despers USA’s Odie Franklin, the piece was ideal for the occasion. Never before has such a large and diverse contingent of the Brooklyn, NY players performed together.

Kern Simon at Despers USA's Rhythm & Blues and Reggae Night
Kern Simon at Despers USA’s Rhythm & Blues and Reggae Night

Ironically, the Barclays Center (Brooklyn’s newest entertainment enclave) located literally a few blocks down the road might have been amply suited for the historical nature of the performances and gathering. It was a virtual ‘who’s who’ of great young New York steelpan music talent and future leaders.

This undertaking was the brainchild of Despers USA’s Kern Simon, and his second such project, with the first coming off in July 2011. It was a creative endeavor meant to foster and demonstrate forward progress that could be achieved only through unity. A great day in Brooklyn. Mission accomplished.

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Contact Despers USA: 

Contact New York Pan Stars:   nypanstars1@gmail.com

Contact ADLIB: 

Contact CASYM:  1 (718) 735-6708    casymsteelband@gmail.com

Despers USA Steel Orchestra members
Arranger/Rhythm - Odie Franklin
Drummer - Wilfred Kieal, Jr.
Percussion - Edgar Gamory, Garvin Thorne Sr., Garvin Thorne Jr., Wayne Inniss
Tenor - Kamicha Arthur, Michelle Alleyne, Alyssa Cain, Elizabeth Fidele, Anasa Blugh, Jadi Barnswell
Double Second - Natasha Rebeiro, Tiara Cadet
Guitar - D.J. Patterson, Samuel Andrews
Cello - Justyne Simon, Sania Francis
Six Bass - Kernel Simon, Niyatta Tyson
Despers USA Steel Orchestra performs
Despers USA Steel Orchestra performs
ADLIB Steel Orchestra members
Jelani Noel, Heidi Paul, Ché Fernandez, Iman Pascall, David Pierre, André White, Malik Harris, Adja Thomas, Josiah Forbes, Nicole Turner, Joel Ramdwar, Kai Nelson, Tijani McDougall, Clarence Bryan, Natasha Turner, Kadeem Alleyne, Wendell Smith, Sheldon Thwaites
ADLIB Steel Orchestra after their performance
ADLIB Steel Orchestra after their performances
New York Pan Stars members
Tenor - Sage Harrison, Navarre Mason, Alexia Isaac, Antonio “AJ” John, Shireen Seales, Joel Eduardo
Double Tenor - Selena Antoine, Brandon Antoine
Double Second - Andrew Semple, Sparkle Demming
Double Guitar - Tamika Small, Tajet Lewis
Cello - Andrea Wilson
Tenor Bass - Brianna McNutt, David Cersier
Six Bass - Missy Rose, Kianna Carrington
Arranger/Drummer -
Marc Brooks
Percussion - Noah Smit
New York Pan Stars after their performance
New York Pan Stars after their performance

CASYM Steel Orchestra members
Tenor - Travis Roberts, Lance, Isa, Madison, Kiara, Diellan
Double Second - Sophonia, Orrin
Guitar - Sheianne Danglade
Cello - Johnathon
Bass - Lakeisha Danglade; Juquan
Drums - Jahlani Roberts;
Kyle Frederick, Daneisha Frederick, Haajar Orta

CASYM Steel Orchestra
CASYM Steel Orchestra

The “UNITY Line-up” Steel Orchestra participants

Tenor - Ryan Joseph/ Sonatas/Steel Sensation; Tristan Japsi/ Steel Sensation; Jahlani Roberts/ CASYM; Travis Roberts/ CASYM; Wayne Bernard/ Pantonic; Sparkle Demming/ New York Pan Stars; Sage Harrison/ New York Pan Stars; Wilfred “Wiz” Kieal/ Despers USA; Jelani Noel/ ADLIB; Freddie Harris, III/ Sesame Flyers; Kitaka Hypolite; Iman Pascall; Mustafa Alexander
Double Second - Khuent Rose; Kiera Scanterbury/ Pan Ambassadors; Kareem Thompson/ K.I.T. Caribbean Connection; André White/ ADLIB; David Pierre/ ADLIB; Sherwin Thwaites
Double Guitar - Matthew Best/ CASYM
Drums - Kendall Williams/ CrossFire; Sheldon Thwaites/ ADLIB
Six-Bass - Kernel Simon/ Despers USA
Percussion -  Marc Brooks/ New York Pan Stars; Odie Franklin (Arranger)/ Despers USA; Noah Smit/ New York Pan Stars

****************************************

Despers USA members accompanying the “UNITY Line-up”

Tenor - Elizabeth Fidele, Kamicha Arthur, Alyssa Cain, Anasa Blugh, Jadi Barnswell, Garvin Thorne
Double Second - Natasha Rebeiro, Tiara Cadet
Guitar - D.J. Patterson
Six Bass - Niyatta Tyson
Cello - Samuel Andrews, Justyne Simon
Percussion - Garvin Thorne Sr., Wayne Inniss, Daryl, Terrance

Repertoire

CASYM Steel Orchestra

1st -  Human Nature - (Michael Jackson)
2nd - Grenade - (Bruno Mars)
3rd -  *Pop medley*:
   ~  Glad You Came - (The Wanted)
   ~  Dynamite - (Taio Cruz)
   ~  What Makes You Beautiful - (One Direction)
   ~  Pound The Alarm - (Nicki Minaj)
   ~  Starships - (Nicki Minaj)
   ~  Call Me Maybe - (Carly Rae Jepsen)
   ~  Somebody That I Used To Know - (Gotye)
   ~  We Are Young - (Fun)

Reggae:
1st - One Love - (Bob Marley)
2nd - No Woman, No Cry - (Bob Marley)
3rd - Beautiful Lady - (Gyptian)

 
Despers USA Steel Orchestra

R&B:
1st He Reigns - (Kirk Franklin)
2nd Feelin’ Single - (R. Kelly)
3rdReal Love - (Mary J. Blige)

Reggae:
1stToo Experienced - (Barrington Levy)
2ndNo Good Girl - (The Gaylads)

 
ADLIB Steel Orchestra

R&B:
1st Suit and Tie - (Justin Timberlake)
2nd - Locked out of Heaven - (Bruno Mars)
3rd - Sunday Morning Funk - (Len “Boogsie” Sharpe)
4th What’s going on - (Marvin Gaye)

Reggae:
1st  -
Come over
2nd  - *Medley*:
   ~  Too Experienced - (Barrington Levy)
   ~   I Was Born A Winner
   ~   I Feel Good
3rd - Could You Be Loved - (Bob Marley)

 
New York Pan Stars

R&B:
1st - As - (Stevie Wonder)
2nd - I Have Nothing - (Whitney Houston)
3rd - Got to be Real - (Cheryl Lynn)

Reggae:
1st
- When I Was Your Man - (Bruno Mars)
2nd - Come Down Father - (Beres Hammond)

Despers USA’s 2013 R&B/Reggae Night Concert
Album 1 | Album 2

 
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