Caribbean Day at North York Seniors Centre

​Thankful to be invited to perform at the North York Seniors Centre.

Would you believe I did something in my performance I have NEVER done before...Sing.​ I'm not sure where the bravery came from but while I was performing it felt right so I went with it *blush*

I also invited my father to come along on this performance. He's always full of surprises and guess what, he certainly did surprise us all. In his pocket was his harmonica. :) He played a few songs and received cheers and a round of applause. Who knew a rendition of Danny Boy could cause such a reaction.​

Steelpan and harmonica, what do you think dad, it could work right?

House of Music, House of Food!

Went to Hot House and was jammin to some jazz chunes by Jazz Zone, the house band. These guys are some talented catz. Would love to take a knock on my pan with them.

Suzette with Jazz Zone

Suzette with Jazz Zone

Carnival Time Again on the Road with Afropan Steelband

It has been almost 2 decades of me either playing pan or "going down the road" with Afropan Steelband -Imagine that! I remember the Caribana of '92, in my new LA Gears, chipping down the road for first time with a steelband, holding on to the steelpan rack jamming to Second Imij's "On The Count of Four" - remember that chune?! After an entire summer of hanging out at Afropan's panyard, listening in at rehearsals, attending BLOCKOS, socializing and holding a pair of sticks & "knockin" on a pan for the first time,  I knew I had join this group and play pan.

20 years later, as I watch the next generation of players I see the strange hairstyles, funky clothes and fresh shoes but realize the music maintains. There is still that happy vibe one feels when those notes hit your soul and you are taken to another realm to just be one with the music.

At the end of the day, all the energy, hard work and huge build up for a moment to share the music, the vibes and the culture with the world are totally worth it.

suzette_caribana_parade_2012.jpg

Culture Days @ the Library

Hooray! I was accepted to participate in Culture Days, " a collaborative coast-to-coast-to-coast volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities". 

Acceptance letter confirming I will be giving a workshop on the Steelpan.​

Acceptance letter confirming I will be giving a workshop on the Steelpan.​

Pan Alive 2012 Trailer

Thought this was pretty cool!​

Ontario Steelpan Association presents Pan Alive 2012. Friday August 3rd, 2012. Show starts at 7pm. Visit www.panalive.com for more info.

Upcoming Event-AHEN

When I started playing the steelpan (over 15 years ago), my very first performance on stage was for a showcase of steelbands at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. A band named Panatics performed and a there was a female pannist playing in the front line with an energy unmatched by her fellow musicians. I was enthralled. She jammed like her life depended on it and played with a passion like I had never seen before. That pannist's name was Jamea Zuberi.