mangrovesteelband.com

NEWS......

Carnival Village

Mangrove along with Ebony Steel Band, The Association of British Calypsonians and Yaa Asantewa form the Organisation known as Carnival Village.

Carnival Village moves ahead with its plans to improve the Tabernacle and introduce a broad based arts programme for families and the whole community. We are expecting to take over in September but, of course, after such a long period of closure it will take time to build the programme.If you are interested in hiring The Tabernacle for arts, community, or commercial use please contact us through this website.
Carnival Village is grateful to Arts Council England (London) and the London Development Agency for their support.
PREMISES
We are delighted to announce that the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea has accepted our proposal to manage The Tabernacle. We will be investing in improvements to the building. These will be funded by the London Development Agency.
We plan to run a broad based arts programme with something for eveybody. This will include music, comedy, and theatre for children. Meeting rooms and facilities will continue to be available for community use. We plan to open an exciting cafe/bar in partnership with a highly professional provider.
Although Mangrove will continue their presence at The Tabernacle and continue to deliver their education programme, Carnival Village will be developing carnival arts and practice at Chippenham Mews where a major refurbishment will take place. The Mews will also become the base for Ebony Steelband.
The Mews refurbishment will be funded by the Arts Council and some capital works to improve The Tabernacle will be funded by the London Development Agency, and our thanks go to both organisiations. .

Please Visit www.carnivalvillage.org.uk for more information

Mangrove In Antigua

While Trinidad & Tobago rightfully boasts of hosting the world's most famous national steelpan music event - Panorama - Antigua may soon be credited with holding the first truly significant international pan music event. "Moods of Pan Festival" is one of the premiere steelpan musical events in the region. No winners or losers here. Just extremely high-level entertaining musical performances by some of the best in the business globally. Moreover, top steel band music acts from the global community continue to be attracted to the event. This year's event, held from November 25th-28th featured local, regional and international steel orchestras and panists.

The Sixth Annual Gemonites'"Moods of Pan" held in the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua is easily one of the better produced steelpan music events. This year When Steel Talks traveled to Antigua to check out the event now in its sixth year. We were not disappointed with what we found, saw and experienced. When Steel Talks arrived on the second day of the four-day event. Performing this year were steel orchestras: New York's Women In Steel, Trinidad's Renegades, Grenada's New Dimension, United Kingdom's Mangrove, Antigua's Harmonites, Halcyon and Gemonites. Also originally slated to perform were Andy Narell and Calypsociation from France. Unfortunately due to traveling logistics, the festival's promoters were unable to pull that off. In addition, soloist Joy Lapps from Toronto, Dane Gulston & Arturo Tappin were among many other performing artists.

When Steel Talks was able to closely observe this production from the vantage point of the audience, artists, sponsors and promoter. What we saw was an operation that moved relatively smoothly and professionally - devoid of the unnecessary drama sometimes associated with steelpan music events... The Moods of Pan Festival has clearly galvanized the enthusiasm and support of the global steelpan community. Our compliments to Gemonites Steel Orchestra, the Antiguan government and Antiguan people for organizing this successful and special event.

Article by "When Steel Talks"

Check Out www.panonthenet.com for more info.

____________________________________________________________

Its A Hatrick

Mangrove Win NottingHill Panorama 2004

This year the UK Pan Fraternity celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Carnival as well as the 26th Anniversary of the Notting Hill Panorama, ‘Champions of Steel’ competition. The competition was a closely contested one with us retaining our title with just one point ahead of Ebony. The musical arrangement was done by the young and talented Kyron Akal.

____________________________________________________________

Mangrove Fifth Consecutive Junior Panorama Win

On monday the 9th of august mangrove juniors continued their reign of success. This was filmed by the disney channel and was aired on the Disney Channel friday 13th august 12pm.

"JUNIOR PANORAMA 2004"

This year Mangrove Junior Steelband took no prisoners when they captured their fifth consecutive Notting Hill Junior Panorama title. Arranger, Debra Romain’s solid arrangements supported by their tight playing and brilliant execution of ‘Look the Band Coming’, ensured their victory.
The players’ ages range between 6 -17 years old and they rehearse four times a week as part of the educational programme provided by their parent orchestra, Mangrove Steelband. This group of young musicians have won five consecutive Junior Panorama titles since 2000 playing the following tunes
2000 – My Time – arranged by D Romain
2001 – Horn – arranged by Gary Moustache
2002 – Mash it Up – arranged by D Romain
2003- Music in we Blood – arranged by D Romain
2004 – Look de Band Coming – arranged by D Romain

"Debby Romain Arranger Junior Panorama 2004"

____________________________________________________________

The Brian Hayes Photographic Exhibition

"Mas On The Road"

At the Tabernacle 9th August - 2nd September

for more information contact Brian Hayes on 020 7229 7593

____________________________________________________________

Band Launch 2004

__________________________________________________________

London Day 1st July 2004

Today the band played once again for mayor Ken livingstones London Day celebrations at city hall.

The band was very well recieved getting many positive comments from listeners.

What is London Day?
London Day is the day the Mayor of London pays tribute to extraordinary Londoners who have made a difference to life in the capital. The Mayor takes this opportunity to thank them for helping to make our city a great place to live.

__________________________________________________________

2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay

Mangrove performing at More London Riverside

for the 2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay

26th June 2004

The Olympic Torch Relay will passed through the Pool of London at 4.00pm on Saturday 26 June 2004. The Olympic Torch was carried across Tower Bridge and past City Hall on the 23rd leg of its journey to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The torch bearer was be 93 year old Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner. (pictured with the band above)
Mangrove Steel Band provied entertainment and 5,000 balloons were released to mark the occasion.

____________________________________________________________

Mangrove in Poland 2004......

Queen's Birthday Party 2004
23 June 2004
Over 1000 guests attended this year`s Queen's Brirthday Party which took place in British Ambassador's residence. Thanks to beautiful wheather and many attractions the guests had a very good time at the party.

This being our our fifth succesful tour to Poland this was our second visit to the capital city of Warsaw and once again we were performing for the Queens birthday party at the British Ambasadors Residence. One of the greatest attractions was Mangrove Steel Band, which came from London especially for QBP. Dynamic songs and exotic rythyms

immediatly got them new fans among the guests..

____________________________________________________________

Band Captain Justin Russell

Article by Robbie Joseph for Pan Podium 2003

Cool, calm and collected are some of the adjectives that describe Justin. He is a very relaxed person who treats each unfamiliar encounter as a challenge rather than an obstacle, generating lots of positive feelings in his own quiet way.
Born in London of Trinidadian parentage his interest in pan started in 1983 when he was nine years old and on holiday in Trinidad where his uncle, Roger Greenidge, taught him the art of playing the pan. Justin has never looked back. In the same year he played for Philmore ‘Boots’ Davidson Groove at the Notting Hill Carnival where he was given the name ‘Micro Dot’ to highlight the intensity of music in such a small player. In 1984 joined Mangrove Steel Orchestra. The following year, at the age of eleven, he played as a musical soloist for his secondary school, choosing pan as his instrument.
Justin has competed at the National Festival under 16s Soloist competition three times capturing second place in 1986 and was victorious in 1987 and 1988. He has played at the Royal Festival Hall and was very proud to perform at the memorial service for the renowned West Indian novelist C.L.R James at Westminster Hall.
Justin has very fond memories of his trip to Trinidad in 1987. He played in the semi-finals of the T&T National Steelband Panorama Competition in the ‘Big Yard’ with the celebrated WITCO Desperadoes, performing Pan in A Minor arranged by his uncle, Robert Greenidge. That same year, he played with South East Port of Spain school band in the Schools Steelband Panorama finals. In 1988 Justin followed his uncle to Desperadoes, playing Panama in the Trinidad &Tobago National Panorama finals.
As well as performing regularly at gigs throughout the UK, Justin has several international tours with Mangrove under his belt including Romania, Poland, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. As Captain of Mangrove he led the band to achieving the unrivalled distinction of being ‘Millennium Champions’ at the London Panorama, a feat that will not be achieved for another thousand years! He is now working on integrating steelpan into the music of the 21st Century with the help of the British Council.
Justin comes from a celebrated pan playing family, the Greenidges. When Pan Podium spoke to his mom, Annette, she revealed how proud she and his father were of Justin’s achievements. ‘Justin has worked very hard and his dedication to achieve is a great driving force. He is a good boy,’ she said glowing with admiration. Pan Podium agrees that Justin is a positive example for the youth of today.

____________________________________________________________

Mangrove Steelband, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe and the BBC Concert Orchestra Jubilee concert.

Article by Robbie Joseph for Pan Podium

The Mangrove Steel Orchestra from Ladbroke Grove in London featuring renowned arranger, composer and pannist Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe appeared with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Music Live Festival of Delights Parade staged at Albert Square in Manchester on the 3/6/2002. Six weeks of preparation by Mangrove with the majority of work being completed in the final week with the arrival of Len. Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe and Mike Townend, the orchestrator, had them finely tuned in time for the concert.
On the coach trip to Manchester the band members reminisced on a video of the 1987 London/UK Steelband festival featuring their captain Justin ‘Microdot’ Russell winning the soloist competition as well as Mangrove performance.
The prevailing rainy weather did not deter the BBCCO from opening the concert followed by Mangrove’s repertoire with Boogsie which included Somewhere over the Rainbow and Just the Two of Us. Boogsie and Friends which included Richard Bailey and Matthew Phillip on drums and percussion, Tim Cansfield on lead guitar, Felix and Curtis Ruiz on keyboards and bass guitar respectively continued with Niceness and I See Aysha. Whilst they were playing rays of sunshine lit up the stage as if a blessing from above. The audience fully appreciated the crème de la crème of music on offered. Boogsie’s performance was complimented by the deliverance of Maria Maria and La Bamba by Mangrove/BBCCO/Boogsie. The crowds in Albert Square loved it and their hearty applause proved it.
Mangrove and Boogsie added the cream to the pudding when they played Sadaco Samba, Jammin, ‘Unknown’ and Gimme ah Bligh. The crowds went wild with excitement. The final rendition of La Bamba with the BBCCO and the skilful execution of the players truly proved that the steelpan instrument has earned its place amongst the instruments of a conventional orchestra.
BBC organisers have hinted that they will be interested in working with Boogsie and Mangrove in another project to be hosted at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Londoners will have to wait with bated breath for the outcome of this intended venture as it would prove to be another great opportunity to hear this great composer, arranger and player being supported by a great bunch of enthusiastic and skilful pannists of the Mangrove Steel Orchestra.

____________________________________________________________

Mangrove in the Bilbao Street Arts Festival, July 2004

Article by Robbie Joseph for Pan Podium

Mangrove steel orchestra traveled to Bilbao on the 3rd July 2003 to perform in their Street Arts Festival. Bilbao was officially born on June 15th 1300 when Don Diego Lopez de Haro bestowed the "carta magna" upon local people, granting them a trading monopoly on the river estuary. The town developed along the banks of the Nervion River flourishing as a commercial port. Bilbao is also famous for its celebrated writer and philosopher Miguel de Unamano and its extraordinary Guggenheim Museum.
The Basque people, ‘Bilbainos’, love to party and Mangrove were certainly well received. Their early performance was in the shopping precinct of La Calle Ercilla and was temporarily delayed by the rain but when they got started they certainly brought the festive spirit to onlookers. As Mangrove was playing the sun penetrated the clouds and encircled the large crowds that had congregated, as if blessed by the heavenly Father. The crowds were a little disappointed that Mangrove could not play all day but were uplifted when told that they would be appearing again in the evening.
Mangrove’s evening’s performance saw them playing on a float traveling through the Bilbao town centre entertaining the huge crowds that lined the streets to witness and enjoy the sweet sounds of the Mangrove Steel Orchestra. Amongst their catchy renditions were ‘We Jammin’, ‘Maria Maria’, ‘Smooth Operator’,’ I shot the Sheriff’, and ’Trini to de Bone’. ,
Mangrove did not just bring the magic of steelpan music to Bilbao they also brought their sporting abilities when they dominated the basketball and table tennis facilities at the Alberque Bilbao Aterpetxea, where they stayed. A very physical basketball game played in the wee hours of the morning on their last day in Bilbao not only revealed their sporting prowess but the very strong brotherly togetherness that Mangrove’s family possesses.
Representing Mangrove in Bilbao was Matthew Phillip, Ricky Dickson, Justin Russell, Jason Russell, Ryan Cummings, John David, Debi Gardner, Debbie Romain, Rose Alfred and Andrew Facey. Bilbao is looking forward to their return next year.

____________________________________________________________

Mangrove Juniors

Article by Robbie Joseph for Pan Podium

Mangrove Junior Steelband Based in the Tabernacle, Powis Square London W11. Their players’ ages range between 7-17 years old and they rehearse four times a week as part of the education programme provided by their parent orchestra, Mangrove Steel Orchestra. This group of young musicians have won fourconsecutive Junior Panorama titles since 2000 playing the following tunes

1st Place 2000 – My Time – arranged by D Romain

1st Place 2001 – Horn – arranged by Gary Moustache

1st Place 2002 – Mash it Up – arranged by D Romain

1st Place 2003 - Music In We Blood - arranged by D Romain

In 2002, they competed at the British Association of Steelbands’ Pan Explosion competition for the first time where their participation presented the opportunity for them to experiment with composing and arranging their musical pieces, thus enhancing their educational programme.Their current arranger is Debra Romain who has been teaching and arranging for the past twelve years. She teaches children as young as five years and their classes are free. Ricky Dickson is also one of the orchestra’s teachers and has been involved in the Pan world for as long as he can remember. This year the orchestra has been the feature for the BBC ‘Exchange’ programme which focuses on youth activities all over the UK.
These young pannists are excellent ambassadors for youth activities in inner London.
For more information on this talented group of musicians please contact the Tabernacle on 0207-565 7890 or visit the Tabernacle website www.tabernacle.org.uk.

Members of the Junior Steelband Posing for a photo with boxer Audley Harrison

The band were performing for the the television show cbbc xchange at the BBC studios

____________________________________________________________

Band Manager Matthew Phillip

Article by Robbie Joseph for Pan Podium

Matthew started his musical career at the tender age of five, when his dad, Clive Phillip bought him a drum kit as a Christmas present. In 1983, at age eleven he started playing the tenor pan with Mangrove Steel Orchestra and has fond memories of winning the 1986 Notting Hill Panorama with practice sessions starting as early as 9a.m. He played with Mangrove at the finals of the Steelband Music Festival in January 1987 and Caribbean Times, their sponsor for the 1986 Panorama jetted off thirty of Mangrove’s players to Trinidad to play with Casablanca and three of them played with the South East P.O.S Secondary school at the National and Schools Panoramas respectively. This trip opened his eyes to the commitment to the instrument which enhanced his development in music.
He started playing for Renegades Steel Orchestra in 1989 and since then has played with them whenever he is there for Carnival. Matthew can play all the pan instruments in the orchestra including drums and percussion. When the drummer left Mangrove, his drumming career took off. He has played for the London Calypso Monarch competition and also for artistes from Trinidad including Sparrow, Rose, Baron, and Chalkdust. He has also played with the likes of reggae artiste Judy Boucher and Finley Quaye. He stated, ‘I have learnt a lot about rhythms and music in general from people like Bubbles, Trampus and Bobby Stignat.’ The renowned drummer, Richard Bailey is his drumming teacher.
A lot of his teaching has been in Calypso and steelband but he has utilised his acquired skills in other musical forums. Matthew has been manager of the Mangrove Steel orchestra for the past twelve years and during that time they have won three Panorama competitions and visited places many places like France, Belgium, Poland, Tanzania, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Thailand. They are also responsible for spreading the pan gospel by helping in the formation of steelbands in Reading and Mauritius as well as the first Scottish Steelband, Glasgow 1990 Steelband, which later split into three. Mangrove has proved on their tours that the steelpan instrument can hold its own in a conventional orchestra by including these instruments in their performances.
His performances and attendance at the China White Club in London has helped his music owing to the high level of musicianship there. Matthew sees Mangrove as a family and stated, ‘I have been able to continue the growth and development pattern of the orchestra because of the strength of its existing foundation. My personal aim for the future is to play drums in as many musical forums and events as possible. My vision for the future of Mangrove is recording and touring to a much higher than has ever been done before. My dream for Pan in general is to see the Arts Council of England start to support the steelbands that every year undergo financial hardship to attend the Notting Hill Carnival. Is Steelband at Carnival not one of the Arts of England?’

____________________________________________________________

One.Tel sponsors the internationally acclaimed Mangrove Steelband for the

Notting Hill Carnival 2000

Press Release 17/08/00

One.Tel plc announced today at the press launch of the Notting Hill Carnival their sponsorship of the internationally acclaimed Mangrove Steelband. The Mangrove Steelband, who will be dressed in the unmistakable green and purple One.Tel colours, will be one of the main highlights during the three day Notting Hill Carnival. The many hundreds of thousands of revelers drawn to the Carnival each year will be entertained by all 80 band members who will appear on a specially designed One.Tel float, playing their unique steel drum music. 'The Notting Hill Carnival is the pinnacle of the Mangrove Steelband's calendar and One.Tel's sponsorship is welcome support to ensure the crowds can take advantage of the serious sounds the band produces,' said Mangrove Steelband manager, Matthew Phillips. 'There was the added advantage that our sponsors also happen to offer cheap call rates to the Caribbean, which our band members will definitely be taking advantage of.' 'As a leading provider of telephone services to the residential market, we are proud to be involved in this high-profile consumer orientated event by sponsoring the Mangrove Steelband,' said Roland Cage, Joint -Chief Operating Officer of One.Tel plc. 'We are also especially pleased that the band members have subscribed 'en masse' to the One.Tel service!,' added Roland. One.Tel, the UK's leading alternative telephone company*, offers low cost calls at a flat rate, 24 hours a day with: * No peak rates
* No minimum call charges
* No switching phone companies.
One.Tel also offers a number of value added products to its customers, such as a 1p per minute ISP (again with no hidden connection fees, peak rates, minimum call charges, or monthly access fees) and a easy to use Home or Away Calling Card which allows customers to take advantage of One.Tel's cheap call rates whilst abroad. The Mangrove Steel Band was established in 1980 by a group of Trinidadian's living in the Notting Hill area and consists of thirty core members, which expands to eighty during the summer months. The band has a strong link to the local Caribbean community offering classes and workshops and is a member of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust. Many of the band members have over the years introduced younger family members - so the band has a varied range of ages performing.