Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 6 min ago
Sharpe comes in for some stick
Published: 2 Sep 2009
Silver Stars Steel Orchestra captain Edwin Pouchet says he disagrees with Humming Bird (Gold) recipient and pan arranger Len Boogsie Sharpe's comment that “pan is dying.”
Minutes after he collected the award for his contribution to culture on Independence night at President’s House, Sharpe, dubbed the Mozart of Pan said, “Right now, steelpan down on the ground, nobody respects us.” Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold was also told by Sharpe: “You and your crew should step down and take a rest. We need people with business qualification to run the organisation like any other business.” Sharpe also suggested that businessmen run the affairs of steelpan. Yesterday, Pouchet, who led Silver Stars to victory in the 2009 Panorama championships, said, “I disagree that steelband dying. Pan is here to stay. Maybe in a different format, but pan is here to stay.” He said he understood what Sharpe was trying to articulate but found it needed clarity, He added: “I agree with the part about businessmen should be running Pan Trinbago. He is right but he is saying it wrong. He should say “Pan Trinbago should be run like a business.”
Pouchet said panmen and pan aficionados were fully qualified to run Pan Trinbago's affairs. “It is not panmen who are judging the Panorama competitions...Calypsonians are running their business, so why can’t panmen do likewise?” he said. “I have businessmen playing in Silver Stars. I have people like doctors and lawyers. When he says businessmen, is he excluding panmen? Panmen are not dummies. There are people from all walks of life playing pan today.” Pouchet agreed that Pan Trinbago needed to be shaken up. “Recently, I spoke to Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold and he said he wants to run the organisation in a more professional manner. I told him applications should be sourced from pan people,” he said. “The offices should be made to people who are pan players. There are players who have the requirements for the job. “I agree with Boogsie things should change. Pan is not dead. It is far from dead.”
Secretary of Pan Trinbago Richard Forteau said he, too, disagreed with Sharpe’s statement. Reviewing the Independence Day Parade, he said there was a plethora of pans on the parade. Forteau said: “We had a military parade. Almost everyone had the steelband as part of their musical ensemble. We have Pan In The Communities Project taking steelbands like Despers, Tokyo and Renegades to rural areas like Cedros.” Forteau spoke about the development of the G Pan—developed by UWI lecturer Dr Brian Copeland and his team. “The same man was given a gift of the G Pan last time.” Copeland received the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for his innovation.
Forteau took a jab at Sharpe. He said: “He is supposed to be working at UTT. Ask him how many times he has gone to work? The people who are complaining about pan being dead should go to work. If one is drawing a salary, one should be going to ensure it lives,” Forteau also said Pan Trinbago was responsible for advocacy. Director of Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz Brian Kuei Tung said, “I don’t believe pan is dying in the least.”
Am I missing something
Am I missing something here?
Every time I pass the Pan Trinbago Headquarters construction in Trincity (on the southern side of the highway), my belly hurts to see that monstrosity of bricks, steel and concrete just sitting there in an unfinished state for so many years.
Boogsie right! People with sense need to take over the running of pan in TnT.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
boogsie looked like he was
boogsie looked like he was under the influence during that ceremony, sweating like crazy and after that behaving like a madman
Maybe Boogsie aspiring to
Maybe Boogsie aspiring to become we next President.
Maybe he forgot to taake his
Maybe he forgot to taake his metformin or insulin before he got there.
LOL.
That man is at his nastiest when he looses, he is still smarting from being beaten by Silver Stars/Pouchet, and the fact that he could not sneek in the extra players at Panorama.
LOL.
Although it did look like
Although it did look like Boogsie was on "something," and the event was not the appropriate place to make these comments, I do understand his comments and fustration. The present Pantrinbago administration needs to step down and let professional businessmen run the show. It needs to strive to be a self sufficient "for profit" entity that is not dependent on the Government. As we continue to "spin top in mud" here in T&T, the rest of the world is running away with we ting!
Pianoman
PAN IS ART. Art does not
PAN IS ART. Art does not die. I don't know what the phrase "Pan is dying" means. But I can say based on facts that while the steelpan instrument has improved tremendously, the steelbands and panists are stagnated.
Fact #1. There is NO steelband performing ART center.
Fact #2. There is NO steelband ARCHIVES for pan music.
Fact #3. There is NO steelband proper HEADQUARTERS for Pantrinbago.
Fact #4. There is NO definitive steelband HISTORY book COMMISSIONED by Pantrinbago.
We shall be having this conversation again next year. Why? Because it takes a change in the thinking of panmen to change the course of Pantrinbago. After all, Pantrinbago represents steelbands. Therefore, steelbands have the ability to change Pantrinbago if not the will to do so. But, the fevidence shows that they like things the way they are. STOP THE GALLERYING!
Let's face the facts. pan is culture inTrinbago, not art. Art develops, not culture.
are you saying all pan men
are you saying all pan men are stupid.? we all agree that pan trinibago needs to be shaken up. it have lots of educated and talented people playing pan. Pan trinibago should be run like a business. Edwin Pouchet is right.
Pouchet, may I remind you,
Pouchet, may I remind you, your band Silver Stars did not have anyone in it Carnival Monday evening. Not sure about carnival Tuesday, maybe decide not to come out. Panorama champions, can you imagine, nobody in the band, if you see people you can check all of them easily. Pan does not have the support and its getting worst. This is carnival time by the way. Many hotels should have at least a small band playing for the public and guests throughout the year. This way many pan players will have an opportunity to develop their skills better for competitions and making some money at the same time.
Anytime someone, in this case its Boogsie, tries to encourage change, many get personal,etc. Boogsie you made your statement at the right time, everyone was there to hear your cry. Boogsie travels he knows. Americans,Europeans and Japanese are reading the music and can play the panorama arrangements easily if they are scored. Check the foreigners playing for big bands during panorama. Patrick in the USA
We want Pan dey. (Well, for
We want Pan dey. (Well, for some, maybe not the political one!) Are we afraid to hear the truth? Why do we want to pong this great pan icon, Boogsie because he say what on he mind? Why allyou feel he make ah offkey remark?
Pan not really dead, but has been kidnapped.
You hear it playing in the Bahamas tourist places, in Jamaica, in the movies etc and you hear no mention of Trinidad and Tobago. Ah fella tief it and patent it quite in America, ah doh know if he get through, but this is 'way pan reach'. You go America and ask anyone way the 'steeldrum' come from and they will tell you Jamaica or Bahamas or simply 'Caribbean'.
Instead of ponging Boogsie, Pan Trinbago should take stock and lead the charge to make sure it is introduced into the curriculum of every school in Trinidad and Tobago. Take example from Grant's Memorial Primary school on Coffee St in San Fernando: their sound of sweet steel resonates throughout that part of the Southern capital.
As for those snide references to the 'something' the man on, well, that's entirely irrelevant to the point he was trying to make.
Pan is the only musical instrument invented in the last century, from scrap throw away metal, and it was done right here. Boogsie is simply saying, in a place where people are bound to pay attention, that it's time we bring it alive and give it its rightful, glorified place in our nation.
As for Boogsie, very few can touch him in his craft. He's a panman supreme, and nobody could take that away from him.
Every proud Trinibagonian should be bellowing: 'We want pan dey', alive and kicking throughout the year and not only during carnival time.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Binda Hey Ram I got to
Binda
Hey Ram I got to smile. You just cannot miss an opportunity to mention Panday in some form or fashion. Apart from that, I agree with most of your comments. I myself have wondered for a long time, why is it that PanTrinbago or for that matter Pan orchesters, could not be self sufficient. I believe for years that Pan Trinbago should of been self sufficient, in that they would be able to fund Panorama and other functions without taking subventions from the State. I have had some heated discussions with many panmen about this topic. Many believe that it is a right to receive financial subventions from the State.
In regards to other comments, Diabetes is not a laughing matter. It may be that Boogsie'S Blood Sugar was low at the time of his comments and it may be that he did not articulate his comments. In general his comments bears many truths to it. Probably, there should be a stipulation, that to win Band of the year you must have a playing steelband in your band. In addittion, Carnival Monday should be Pan Day( this one is for you Ram)that is to say all bands that are involved in Panorama should produce a masquerade band and be judged on that Pan Day.(It is all about you Ram)
The big mas bands can still parade on Carnival Monday and receive prizes as is necessary. Hey Boogsie, pan is not dead but the evolution of Pan into the business world is at snail place. At one time Silver Stars used to be playing at various parties throughout the country. They had a plan of creating small ensembles to fulfill their various engagements. Question, why are there no steelbands at the All-Inclusive fetes or for that matter any Carnival Fetes. Probably next year we may see some steelbands at UWI, Trinity and or Yorke fetes. Are you guys going to pick up the challenge?
On my last visit to San Francisco Carnival I was pleasantly surprised to see a Brazilian Steelband in the parade. Yes, all the Caribbean Bands had DJ's. Am I missing something here? Pan is alive and the brothers in " Jonestown" despite their love for you and your talents, will tell you so Boogsie. Hey anyone for Panorama Saturday in Brooklyn?
Thanks Bro Binds, your blog
Thanks Bro Binds, your blog is enlightening. I'm glad to see people (like yourself) agree on the greatness of pan. That's our banner man, that's our identity, whatever ethincity we may claim. When I was a lil boy, jour ouvert was full of pan on this little rural one road town. Now it's DJ. If I could help it I'd introduce pan in every single school. Boogsie, Samaroo, Professor Philmore, are all greats. You watch Youtube and see 'Just The Two Of Us' where Robert Greenidge ramajaying on the pan. Top of the day to you, bro Binds.
ajfyzabadbutlertown