J’ouvert road march

Moving out now. Higher Levin got a light practice in front the mass camp while the engineers hitched up the trailers. Sound check was good when the camp leader came through so the police escorts lined up and they headed out.

They marched, ran, skipped and rolled up Bedford to the parkway where hundreds of people awaited their arrival and cheered them on. They stopped traffic as they road through and horns honked to celebrate their passing and let them know they supported them.

When the band made it to Eastern Parkway (to be from here on out referred to as “the parkway”) their mass camp players flooded into formation behind them, giving the band its rich and colorful complement.

At GrandArmy plaza the band stopped to play for the crowd. For a long while the party scene built up. New comers came and attached them selves to the mass camp and when the crowd was large enough they started moving again.

Turning down Flatbush ave. the road march be officially began. Higher Levin had the crowd bazodee, energized and chip chipping down the road. Hordes of new fans tried to hop onboard the floats just to say they were down. Other were content just dancing near the truck, with each other and some even whining on the cops. Higher Levin is creating some good memories and a great experience for many.

Higher Levin Played a mass of this year’s hottest road songs including “Planacing” which mad the crowd go absolutely mad!!! They jumped, sang and planced left to right and right to left without want to cease. When the band did stop the crowd kept going.

The atmosphere went from dark to light in a matter of seemingly seconds. When light fully broke and the sun was shinig. It seemed like more people came out the wood works! It didn’t stop anyone it only fueled them more becuase they knew the sun didn’t make the party over! So they kept chip chipping down the road and the band kept banging the pans with the stroke of their wrists. And they moved as one down empire blvd to meet the judges with their womderfully twisted tunes, colorful mass camp players and their fans.

One fan couldn’t resist the call of the pans he jumped for the truck, slipping security to play the pans. He danced, played and enjoyed the bond of the steel to his wrists before having to jump ship when security caught him. Other fans gave thumbs up and mouthed great Job while other whined down to show appreciation.

As they appreciated the the judges the mass player, the king and queen made their way forward and the band backed them up. The crowd loved them!

All done. 9am j’ouvert over. The band is done their hands are tired legs sore and bellies empty. All they want are their beds. In place of that they sit and lean on each other the bass pans and rails of their float. Their journey ends here on nostrand and parkside. And they still have to pack up.

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J’ouvert 2010

Brooklyn! Westindian people! Are you ready!? I said are you ready for J’ouvert!? It’s time again this year to get on bad! (Trinidadian jargon for partying all night long)

Higher Levin is doing it again this year along with Roy Pierce and associates Mass Camp and C.A.S.Y.M steel orchestra. The bands are prepping up now, building their flatbeds, fine tuning their steelpans, adorning their costumes and waiting for their fans and followers to arrive.

Higher Levin and all the other bands meet at their mass camps and head out for the foreday morning road march at 3am. Fans be there or be square.

Please know that J’ouvert is NOT on Church Ave. The bands start at their mass camps travel up Linden to Bedford, north to Eastern Parkway then south down Flatbush to the judges on empire.

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Higher Levin J’ouvert send of bbq Fundraiser

Saturday August 21st 2010 come join Higher Levin Steel Orchestra along with guest bands C.A.S.Y.M., Pantonics and Natural Expression.

We are raising funds for equipment, new drums, sticks, mallets and uniforms. Available for purchase to enjoy along with the sweet pan sounds are Jerk chicken, BBQ Ribs, rice and peas, macaroni pie, corn soup, phlourie and much much more.

Once your done eating we have darts games, basketball shoot competitions, a football (American style) game, hoolahoops and Mass Camp registration.

Come listen to the the greatest Steel orchestra in New York free.

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Higher Levin and Roy Pierre & Associates

Announcing:
Higher Levin Steel Orchestra has been selected again this year, 2010 as Roy Pierre & Associates Mass Camp’s Band for New York City’s J’ouvert in Brooklyn, New York.

This will be Higher Levin’s and Roy Pierre & Associates second year collaboration. Roy Pierre & Associates are a 13 time J’ouvert Wining Mass Camp!

The band and mass camp will be leaving for the J’ouvert Party March Monday, September 6th at Midnight. They will be chipp’n down de road, up Nostrand Ave to Eastern Parkway over to Flatbush Avenue South to Empire Boulevard toward the official J’ouvert Judges.

Come support Higher Levin and route for them at the judges stand and enjoy the foreday morning party in the heart of Brooklyn. Costumes, great music, great sounds, great vibes!

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Higher Levin Steel Orchestra

Higher Levin is a SteelPan Orchestra. It is more than the pet project of it’s founders it is a band of members who are music lovers, musicians, friends, family, teachers and supporters.

Higher Levin Steel Orchestra was formed out of junior high school students from Meyer Levin JHS. Each band member began playing the steel drum from as young as 14 years old the band now having members from 14 – 35 years old.

Higher Levin is a group of American West Indian kids playing their soul’s music every night. The drums call to them like a second heart beat. They can’t resist the urge to sing a song or dance a dance. Their hands guide them to practice everynight in the rhythmic patterns of drum notes. They aren’t alive until their drum sticks hit the steel of the pans and from there … there world outside the band’s formation doesn’t exist. It’s just them and their fellow band members.

To be so young and hear them play so well you’d think your at the philharmonic of steel pan orchestra concerts.

To Listen to their hands play the sounds of their hearts and tunes of their home lands is truly an experience that is mesmerizing!

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Roti & Kuchela

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VENDOR RIVALRY Animae Caribe’s 2009 Most Oustanding Caribbean Animation Award Winner

Proud Of Caribbean achievements

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