It’s not often that the night air of Edgewood Park is filled with a crowd’s shouts of “Tequila!” Monday was one of those nights.
The Pantastic Steel Orchestra, a steel drum and percussion band, sparked those cries at a free outdoor concert in front of Edgewood Park’s ranger station sponsored by the Friends of Edgewood Park (FOEP). The 12-member band is all-female (with the exception of guest conductor Kenneth Joseph) and hails from New Haven’s Neighborhood Music School.
The tunes had a generally jaunty summer theme, with an emphasis on numbers the crowd could dance to. Besides The Champs’ “Tequila,” other songs on offer included Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in the Line”, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” and “Hava Nagila.”
Bill Holodak (foreground, in red) and other audience members applaud the band.
Several of the approximately 50 concertgoers said they heard about the concert through FOEP, which operates an email list and Facebook page. Enroue Halfkenny, who lives nearby, said the concert was a good opportunity to show support for the park.
“I like steel drums, and it’s a chance to get out in New Haven and let the kids run around,” Halfkenny said.
Ann Lozon and Kim Rogers were seeing the group for the second time. They were at the Pantastic Steel Orchestra’s concert last year in the park.
“It was great in the rain, so it’ll be even better in good weather,” Rogers said.
Many in the audience brought their families and used the concert as a social occasion.
The concert appealed to Rogers in particular because it brought together “local music, local park and local people.”
For a sample of the Pantastic Steel Orchestra’s sound, click on the video below.
Jacob Cohn Photo
The Pantastic Steel Orchestra.