It's Showtime
13 January 2011, by Joan Rampersad

The 2011 pan calypso compilation produced by Major and Minor Productions Ltd that was recently released appears to be finding early favour with a number of steel bands throughout the twin-island Republic.

High on the list of the popular pan selections are “It’s Showtime” sung by Anslem Douglas, composed by Edwin Pouchet and lyrics by Alvin Daniell, a selection done for reigning pan champs Silver Stars, “Calling Meh” by Destra with music by Mark Loquan and Ken Philmore, that will be played by Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille, and “How We Coming” sung by Eunice Peters and composed by Brian “Bean” Griffith and Alvin Daniell.

Already, some eight steelbands will be playing the latter song, including big band Bp Renegades, as well as Scherzando, Couva Joylanders and St James Tripolians.

These bands found the above selections to have the right balance of music and jam session parts with which to “ramajay”.

The compilation also features sweet pan numbers “Momentum” – Mr Chucky (Don Clarke and Alvin Daniel), “Alien Steel Pan” - Car Wash (Dunstan “Car Wash” Lawrence) and “Panorama Retribution” – Anslem Douglas (Atiba Sherwood and Jerod Brian Williams), all with good melodic lines and catchy phrases, along with “Trini Explosion” by Yellows (Andrew “Yellows” Ferreire), “Pan in de Panyard” – Anslem Douglas (Brent “Antics” Holder), “Show Off” – Nicole Greaves (Ricardo Dennis) and “Zhess” – Dexter Keane (Dexter Keane).

“Wake Up” sung by Denyse Plummer and another Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell composition is also being looked at closely by quite a number of steelbands.

The rest of the CD includes “Pan is My Drug” – De Panman, “Pan Badjohn” – Kurt Allen), Drums of Africa” – Tony Prescott, “Jam in De ‘Rama” – Shanaqua, “We Own The Night” – Lil Bits and “Bass Woman” – Shaka Dee.

Six of the selections came out of Ibo Joseph’s JJ Music Production Studios, five from Leston Paul’s Sunset Studios, while Pelham Goddard’s Agra 9 Studio was responsible for two.