Glorious Day for Pan at the Farmers' Market

 
Sun cam out early today heralding a glorious day for pan playing around the Bay. Most appreciated at this Farmers' Market in El Cerrito where Harry Best was doing his thing.

Cardinal Calypso Goes Blue for Spring Show

Just wanted to notify you guys about our spring show if you want to/have time to come down and watch. It's May 11th from 7-8:30pm at Toyon Hall on campus: we'd be excited to have you and you guys. If there are other people in the area that you think would be interested feel free to invite them. Below is a blurb I made for people who have had us play for them this year so feel free to forward the info and the flyer to whomever.

Gracias!

Akwasi

We wanted to present you with an opportunity to come see us perform in our biggest show of the year from 7:00 to 8:30pm on Friday, May 11th! This year, the show is called Blue Pan Group (steeldrums are actually called steelPANS... and we like puns) and will feature most of our new repertoire from this year (including an original piece), Blue Man Group themed skits for comic relief, and random blue and non-blue antics. Also, if you're a fan of decorations, costumes, and random giveaways... you might enjoy the show. This is our chance to present all of our work - in a more informal way - to the Stanford community and all else who want to come and listen.

It will be held in Toyon Hall (in the dorm lounge), 455 Arguello Way, Stanford, CA 94305: see map

There is limited parking in the back (at the end of Buckeye Ln) and on nearby streets (Serra and Escondido). Parking is also free on the the weekends (weekends start at 4pm on Friday). It will be free for anyone with a Stanford ID and only $5 for those without. RSVP is not necessary, but please notify us if you are planning on bringing a large group of people; Toyon has space for about 200 people and we want to make sure people can be comfortable.

Please forward the attached flyer below to people in your dorm, department, school, colleague groups, friend groups, and/or emailing lists that you think would be interested: it's a show for everyone so invite anyone you want! It should be known that if the show were a movie, it might be rated PG-13: only in terms of language - there may be a couple clips of limited curse words. 

Feel free to check out clips of our last spring show, Discalypso, on our site and/or Facebook page and/or Youtube channel. 

Facebook event.

If you can't make it to the show, there are a plethora of campus events at which you may catch us playing one of our sets. You can be updated about them on our site as well (click on the gig to see details and check if it is open to the public): http//:cardinalcalypso.stanford.edu

Hope to see you there!

Akwasi Abrefah - Emma Sagan - Adam Genecov

Co-Presidents - Cardinal Calypso

Pan Pan! by Harry Best

2CanPan Duo of Moraga CA

Husband and wife duo Yvonne and Mike light up the Moraga Farmers' Market with some sweet pan playing Jimmy Buffett's Volcano.

Best of Brisbane

Harry Best plays 1-yr-old Birthday Party celebration in Brisbane Sunday April 29.

Spice Man at the Dock

Paul Snagg at the St. Francis Yacht club Opening Day Sunday April 29.

Harmonics sighting!

Paul Snagg and Peter Best of the Harmonics in Redwood City Health Fair April 21.

Andy Narell and Our Boys Retro

Sharon Baird and Our Boys on the Road for SF Carnaval

 Sharon Baird will be leading the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband on the road in the San Francisco Carnaval Memorial Day weekend. Parade starts at 10am on Mission Street.

 Come out and join for us for a day of steelpan music on de road for the SF Carnival with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan along former members from Our Boys Steel Orchestra, Bruce, Sharon, Ollison, Skiffle Bunch and The Coffee Boys member, Terry Kinsale Figuera, Chabot Panhandlers member Anna Talamo, along with lengendary percussionist Val Serrant, Zwadie - Grenada, Hugh Humphrey - T&T, Carlyle Garrett - St. Vincent, Harry Best - St Lucia, La Mantia (Liz) - Cali and a host of others. De truck will be on de road, with pulsating steelpan music for yuh to wine yuh bumcy, play yuh self or shake yuh tailfeather..de choice is YOURS. T-Shirts will be on sale for $20.00..pic's to follow soon. dey nice. YOU MUST BE IN SHIRT IN ORDER TO JOIN DE BAND, so get yours early.

Steel Jam in May

Steel Jam @ Beringer Vineyards   & Marsh Manor Center   May 3 & 5 Public Performances
Gary & Otto during drum solos at Beringer VIneyards.     Recent Bookings:   San Francisco Yacht Club's "Opening Day" celebration. Rock Wall Wine Co.'s Wine Luau & Open House. Beringer Vineyards. CBRE Seaport Centre Earth Day Luncheon.   Steel Drum History Lecture & Concert at The Veterans Home of California.   Private graduation party.   Private birthday party. Upcoming:   Steel Drum History Lecture & Concert at Laguna Honda Hospital, May 2.   "Heritage Night" celebration at a Bay Area elementary school on May 16. "Hillsborough Kitchen Tour of Homes" on Fri., May 18. Performance for the CA Retired Teachers Association, May 21. Interactive steel drum facilitation for Legal Aid of Marin event, June 1. Oakland Zoo's "Walk in the Wild" Annual Fundraiser, June 23.	At the San Francisco Yacht Club's "Opening Day" celebration:	Mary (above) at a California Academy of Sciences performance.
	Catch Steel Jam this week at:   Marsh Manor Center, Thursday, May 3, 6-8 PM as part of their "Live Music on the Patio!" series. (Florence St. @ Marsh Rd., Redwood City.)  Click here for more info. News clip regarding our previous appearance at Marsh Manor Center, (Palo Alto Daily News):                                                 AND... Beringer Vineyards, Saturday, May 5, from 12-5 PM.  Usual tasting fees apply. (2000 Main St. in St. Helena). Check Beringer's website for more winery info. Beringer guests (below) dancing to Steel Jam.     Hope you can come on out to have a listen or do some dancing! The summer party season is just around the corner and Steel Jam can help solve your entertainment needs. A small graduation party, a company picnic for hundreds, or a conference for thousands--Steel Jam makes the entertainment a success! We also offer fun, hands-on, interactive sessions for team building, parties, fairs, festivals, etc. Email me for details and rates. Bring on the summer! Mary Spalding Link to Steel Jam's website Watch video here of a 1-min. clip at a Google picnic performance.
Cell:  (415) 823-4601 Email Link: mary@steeljam.com

Pan Tune Up Time! Call Joe Kelly!

It's that time of year just before the gigging season gets in full swing. time to get that annual tuneup on your pan. Joe Kelly has opened shop for the season and is ready to make your pan sound like new again. Call him at 415 672 3846.

Holly's Gone!

To Holly:

Farewell pan soldier
I know we’ll meet again
someday
and I will know you
By the way
you hold your sticks
By your signature licks
And I’ll embrace you
Once again
And we’ll be jammin’
As we did in our last meeting

Our Boys USA reunion celebration was a blast!

Our Boys USA got together for a reunion performance this past Carnival weekend. The event was hosted by Ashkenaz Cultural and Community Center in Berkeley. Led by Sharon Baird the group played a firey set that left the audience wishing for more. Click on headline to see photos or go to link below:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1909697176713.107660.1070356950

PanMan Leroi Boldon celebrates 75th

Bay Area veteran PanMan Leroi Boldon reached a milestone Monday in celebrating his 75th birthday. A small group of family and friends gathered at Leroi's home in San Jose to celebrate the occasion. Leroi has played with the SF Panhandlers and with Our Boys USA. He has also written tunes for Crazy and Jeff Narell. Leroi says he is looking forward to writing some new music for pan in the coming months. Bon fete Leroi!

Steel Jam in June

	Steel Jam @ Beringer Vineyards, Macy's and Oakland Zoo! June 1, 2011 Newsletter
	(Steel Jam @ Staff Appreciation Lunch at Pleasanton Nursing & Rehab Center.) At a Glance: Sat., 6/4, Beringer Vineyards, 12-5 PM. Sat., 6/4, Macy's, 2-4 PM. Sat., 6/25, Oakland Zoo's "Walk in the Wild," 5-8 PM. Also on the Calendar: June 1: corporate event at the Argonaut Hotel, San Francisco -- through Cappa & Graham, Inc. June 2: Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Holiday Inn Express Suites in Elk Grove. June 10: Staff Appreciation Barbeque at San Carlos Elms. June 11: Vineyards at Marsh Creek event -- through Oye Productions. June 26: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Cruise, (Tiburon Rotary event). Recent Steel Jam Events: --Performed at the "Xactly Comp Cloud 2011 User Conference," through Bay Music & Entertainment, (5/23). --Performed at Simi Winery through Wine Country Piano Music, (5/22). --Performed at the U.S. Travel Association's "International Pow Wow" conference for over 1100 tour operators and event planners from around the world, (5/22). --Performed for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Mixer, (5/25). --Performed at Mission San Jose Elementary School, (5/27). --Performed for private parties in Oakland, San Jose, and Kenwood.	Steel Jam previously at Beringer Vineyards:	Steel Jam (above) at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Mixer.
		Steel Jam's public performances in June: Sat., June 4, 12-5 PM, Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena-on the Promenade. Mary Spalding, Otto Huber & Julia Harrell of Steel Jam return to perform wine-sipping and toe-tapping music on the beautiful grounds of Beringer Vineyards. Usual tasting fees apply. Click here for Beringer location and info. Also Sat., June 4, 2-4 PM, Steel Jam (Christin Hablewitz & Brian Andres) perform at Macy's at 1300 Stoneridge Mall Road in Pleasanton. (2nd Fl., Men's Bldg., next to Tommy Bahama's.) (Steel Jam is sponsored by Music Plus Events.) Sat., June 25, 5-8 PM, "Walk in the Wild" at the Oakland Zoo. Enjoy the Zoo like never before! Now in its 19th year, this fundraiser is one of the Bay Area’s premier events. 100+ restaurants, caterers, bakeries, wineries, and brew houses will be set up throughout the Zoo to offer samples while you listen to Steel Jam and enjoy the Zoo. This fun, adult-only event usually sells out so purchase your tickets early at the Oakland Zoo's Website. Hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Memorial Weekend Holiday! Now that the summer party and picnic season has finally arrived--(HOORAY!)--please contact Steel Jam to add our festive steel drum music to your parties, picnics, and special events. A small graduation party, a company picnic for hundreds, or a conference for thousands--Steel Jam makes the entertainment a success! We also offer fun, hands-on, interactive sessions for team building, parties, fairs, festivals, etc. Contact us and we'll prepare a quote to fit your needs. Mary Spalding Link to my website Watch Steel Jam video on YouTube here (of Google, Inc. company picnic performance).
	Tel: (415) 731-3550/Cell: (415) 823-4601 Fax: (415) 731-9735 Email Link: mary@steeljam.com

Our Boys Carnival Masquerade Fete Friday!

Went to a short rehearsal today with Our Boys and friends and...the band is smokin'. Veteran pan players like Sharon Baird, David Reid, Terry Kinsale Figuera, Kenrick Wharff, Liz La Mantia, Dexter Bruce and Jim Munzenrider of the SF Panhandlers were working up a hot set for Friday night at Ashkenaz. Don't wanna miss it. Check out the poster for details. See you Friday night cause Carnaval is Bacchanal!

Cardinal Calypso Breaking the mold

There's something about Stanford's Cardinal culture, young intellectuals giving the impression they don't take themselves too seriously, but with a standard of performance that reveals a strong dedication and commitment to excellence.

I dropped into Toyon Hall this evening to catch about four tunes of the CARDINAL CALYPSO SPRING SHOW, Discolypso, and left there really stimulated and impressed with the group's performance. I would have stayed longer but I couldn't figure out the parking situation. So I stole a few minutes in a 'service' designated spot and sneaked in to catch the show.
The approach was innovative if not creative, and with a colorful variety that captured the audience's attention. The pan program and repertoire here has really grown from the early days of 'Under the Sea". Looking forward to their future performances. These guys are breaking the mold.
Follow Cardinal Calypso here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cardinal-Calypso/106620806083662

Shabang Opens Outdoor Season at Sam's

We're back at Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay on Sunday May 1, 1-5pm for the opening of the outdoor music season. Come join us on the patio; or take a walk on the beach as you enjoy the sounds of Shabang's steelpans.

Best and Bruce at Whole Foods San Rafael

Come check us out at Whole Foods San Rafael, 1-4pm Saturday April 30. Acoustic trio: pans and traps. Weather looks good. Should be a lot of fun!

Cardinal Calypso Spring Show

Ever heard disco on steeldrums?? Here's your chance to get a taste!
Come start the weekend with a delightful and diverse set of music! You can hear everything from traditional pan pieces from Trinidad to pop songs of the decades to original pieces performed live for the first time!

	Friday, May 6 · 7:00pm - 8:00pm
	Toyon Hall 455 Arguello Way, Stanford, CA 94305

here's the link to the event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116693941746526