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All Stars out front
T&T Express, by Gary Cardinez, Tuesday, January 29th
2008
Reigning Panorama champions Neal and Massy All Stars
edged past their fiercest competitor, Petrotrin Phase II
Pan Groove, on Sunday night emerging leaders of the
large conventional band category.
Both large bands had tied in the preliminary rounds but
this time All Stars gained 468 points, a clear
difference of seven and a half points from their nearest
rival.
All Stars looked the part of a band that came on stage
to do a job; they looked very disciplined; setting up
their pans in under fifteen minutes.
As players took the count for Leon "Smooth" Edwards'
arrangement of "Thunder Coming" it was pure energy and
showmanship with a fantastic bass line throughout the
seven minutes and forty seven seconds performance.
Pan lovers also revelled to the sounds of several other
classics at the Queen's Park Savannah as small, medium
and large conventional bands squared off in the semi
final round.
At 3.30 p.m in the medium band category Carib Dixieland,
from Tobago was on stage playing "Puncernelly" arranged
by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe. In just their third Panorama
competition Steel Xplosion, also from the sister isle,
is showing their colours. They intend to give the
defending champions Courts Laventille Sound Specialists
a run for their title.
This band caused ruction in the stands with their
rendition of Brian "Bean" Griffith's arrangement of his
own composition "Get Down". The only female arranger of
the day, Michelle Huggins-Watts, was up next with HCL
Valley Harps with their version of "Celebration Time".
Defending champions Courts Sound Specialist, of
Laventille showed they were not going to relinquish
their hold on the title as they played.
Four bands from Tobago played in this category and three
made it to the finals.
At about 6.30 p.m. Solo Pan Knights banner appeared
heralding the start of the large band category. Fourteen
bands faced the judges with eight moving on to the
final.
At about 7.10 p.m. Sagicor Exodus took the count from
Pelham Goddard and took the audience through eight
minutes of "Puncernelly". This band's appearance and
style remind us of the Steelband Music Festival and they
played to both the eyes and ears of the judges.
Just under an hour the musical genius Len "Boogsie"
Sharpe took the audience and judges on an eight minutes
musical magic ride with his "Musical Vengeance" as Phase
II pannists went into action.
Another Tobago band, RBTT Redemption Sound Setters,
caused a reaction with their rendition of "Puncernelly".
The first band from the South/Central region, Tropical
Angel Harps, was very exciting and up-tempo with
Clarence Morris' arrangement of "Latin on the Court".
Debutant in the large band category Silver Stars gave a
good showing of themselves with Edwin Pouchet's
arrangement of "Thunder Coming" and got a standing
ovation.
TCL Skiffle Bunch took the savannah by storm with Ken
"Professor" Philmore's arrangement of "Time to Break
Away" making way for defending champions All Stars.
bp Renegades followed with Amrit Samaroo's arrangement
of "Thunder Coming" though the band sounded good the
players who are now on tour in France were sorely
missed.
At 11.40 p.m. Witco Desperadoes came to the stage with
hordes of supporters and for eight minutes and eight
seconds treated the handful of supporters with a musical
treat as they played Robert Greenidge's arrangement of
"Ten Commandments of Pan".
The competition came to an end at 12.23 a.m. after NLCB
Fonclaire played Darren Sheppard's arrangement of
"Heat".
The national Panorama final comes off on February 2, at
Skinner Park, San Fernando where eight bands in the
medium and large categories will compete. |
