Beyond iron & steel | Personal tour
Nigel Campbell meditates on the power of music and community in Trinidad’s panyards, especially in the electric lead-up to Panorama — the biggest steelband showcase in the world
Vance Umphrey: “Living a dream” | Snapshot
American musician and educator Vance Umphrey on the love of steelpan that brings him to Trinidad Carnival year after year — as told to Attillah Springer
In the Groove: Phase II at 50 | Backstory
Trinidad & Tobago’s Phase II Pan Groove, founded by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, celebrates its 50th anniversary in August. Nigel A Campbell looks back at the pioneering journey
Stories of steel — the future of the steelpan | Panorama
Carnival is the season of steelpan. But behind the Panorama stage, the future of T&T’s national musical instrument will be shaped by administrators, craftspeople, arrangers, and educators — like these men and women profiled by writer Sharmain Baboolal and photographer Mark Lyndersay
Need to know | Events calendar (Jan/Feb 2019)
Essential info to help you make the most of January and February across the Caribbean — from jazz in Haiti to reggae month in Jamaica to a film festival in Barbados
Playlist (Nov/Dec 2018) | Music reviews
This month’s listening picks, with reviews of the latest by Millbeatz; Jonathan Scales Fourchestra; Anthony Joseph; and Lyfe Az Rose
Jeanine De Bique: “It doesn’t matter where you come from” | Own words
Jeanine De Bique, Trinidad-born classical singer, on the influence of her upbringing, and why Trinis “could do anything” — as told to Caroline Taylor
Port of Spain: the story of a city | Backstory
A childhood encounter with a touring steelband began Stephen Stuempfle’s connection with Trinidad. Now the US scholar has written an illuminating history of Port of Spain in the era before Independence. As Judy Raymond learns, Stuempfle’s research has only deepened his love for T&T’s capital
