Strike Up

Marc Brooks is a pannist and arranger who's made a name for himself arranging for the Brooklyn Panorama competition and as one of a trio of arrangers known as "The Three Amigos", arranging for Skiffle in San Fernando, Trinidad. In this episode, we discuss his background, how the trio came to be, what it takes to arrange for a steel band and how to keep the infrastructure in tact over time within a pan community. 

Dan Sadler has been playing pan since 14 and teaching since 15. He's performed in the London Panorama since then with different bands and has developed his own style of teaching, rooted in the rote method and classic calypso music. Join us as we chat with Dan about how he developed this style and how effective it is with his students. 

As director of the NYU Steel Band and a long-time player and educator of the steelpan instrument, Josh Quillen is a seasoned veteran on the Brooklyn pan scene and knowledgeable advocate. Join us as we have a winding discussion that touches on everything from the history of the slave trade and its impact on the world we live in today, to how we as advocates and ambassadors of the instrument (especially those of us not from Trinidad & Tobago) can show our respect and support to the instrument, people and culture without culturally appropriating it or allowing it to become lost due to land disputes and political considerations.  

Amanda Duncan is a professional pannist and educator with an extensive background with steelpan. She is the percussion and steel band director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. During this episode, she talks about her path to pan, her experiences with Panorama and how she incorporates that into her teaching at the high school level, and how she's managed to gain the respect for the instrument that it deserves from her students, fellow faculty, parents and administrators.  

Andy Narell is one of the most famous steelpan artists of all time, having made a name for himself with his unique style of caribbean jazz, along with a deep knowledge of the instrument's history that he uses to educate new generations of players through traveling clinics and performances. After five years of work, Narell has finally finished his steelpan sample library, which has sampled a variety of instruments in the steelpan family using Ellie Mannette crafted instruments. Along with the library, he will be releasing an album of music called "Like a Child" that he recorded using these sampled pans. This episode discusses his life and career along with an in-depth explanation about this new library of steelpan samples. 

Purchase the library at: ilio.com

Learn more about Andy Narell and purchase his music, including his new album, Like a Child, at: andynarell.com

Hailed by one critic as the "Paganini of the steelpan", Liam Teague has become a household name among pannists and beyond for his ferocious playing style, innovative compositions and ability to inspire through teaching as director of steelpan studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU). On this episode, Teague discusses his upbringing, how he was mentored by the late, great Cliff Alexis and Al O'Connor, and how new compositions for steelpan can help push the instrument to new heights. 

Japanese-American steelpan builder, tuner, educator, pannist and arranger, Yuko Asada, discusses her life and career, some of the difficulties associated with pan building and tuning, and how steelpan is represented in Japan. 

https://yukoasada.com/

https://www.niu.edu/music/faculty/asada.shtml

https://pan-mag.com/

https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/PAN-Players-Unite-by-panmagazine/69162113.WFLAH?ref=explore-for-you-recently-viewed

Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin is one of the most prolific names in pan today, having played, taught and studied in multiple countries, learned from the very best in pan, helped coordinate the world's first Virtual Steelband with over 600 players, sells steelpan sheet music online and has even arranged for Panorama in Trinidad. Learn how she balances all of her activities along with her thoughts on different aspects of the pan world. 

Ryan Roberts is a steelpan builder, tuner and pannist, based out of Morgantown, West Virginia. He's most known for being the last apprentice of legendary steelpan pioneer, Dr. Ellie Mannette. Find out about his experience learning under Mannette and what to expect when you place an order for steelpans to be built. 

Andre White is one of the most popular pannists and arrangers on the scene today, having won accolades at New York, London and Trinidad Panorama. In this episode, we chat about the perception of pan in mainstream culture what it will take to progress it with the next generation of arrangers, pannists and pan lovers. 

Managing Editor Sachelle Thomas hosts this week's episode with her guest, Kezia-Anna Williams, pan lover and foodie, as they discuss the best panyard food to enjoy when traveling to Trinidad and Tobago. 

Ethnomusicologist, Dr. Kayleen Justus, discusses her life in steelpan, the benefits of teaching the rote method vs. sheet music, and the current state of steelpan in the U.S. and abroad. 

Strike Up host, Ted Goslin, speaks candidly about his journey with steelpan and how it helped him find his life and career path. 

Wanda Atkins is a steelpan player and supporter with a rich family history in pan, having originated from Trinidad and Tobago. She took it upon herself to organize the first-ever French Panorama competition, which brings together bands from all over the country, complete with renowned steelpan judges and a cast of all French arrangers. We discuss her motivations for starting this complicated, yet exciting endeavor, and the challenges that French steel bands currently face. 

Tracy Thornton is a world-renowned steelpan artist, composer, arranger and clinician, most known for his electrifying Pan Rocks projects, including two recording sessions with famous rock stars and pan players from multiple countries. In this episode, he'll discuss his life and career along with tips for how to make it as a solo steelpan artist in the music business.   

In this first episode of Strike Up, we introduce the hosts, Ted Goslin and Sachelle Thomas, discuss the state of steelpan and some of the key players and events involved in shaping the world of steelpan as we currently know it. 

Strike Up is a weekly podcast by the editors of PAN Magazine, an online publication for the global steelpan community. Each episode will cover the latest trends and most important topics that impact the steelpan world, including education, performance, tuning and controversy, we'll cover it all. Be sure to tune in every Wednesday for a new episode.