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Buccooneers, Sound Setters in National final
Friday, February 13th 2009, by Opoku Ware
Competing in the Medium Band category the Buccoo Point based band captured the hearts of steel band lovers with a fabulous Ken "Professor" Philmore and Mark Loquan arrangement.
The NLCB sponsored band will lead three other medium size bands who have qualified for the National Panorama final in the category.
The other medium size steelbands who have qualified for the final are the Black Rock based Katzenjammers with 439 points. They chose the Olatunji Yearwood song "Wild and Wonderful" which was composed by Alvin Daniel and Edwin Pouchet and arranged by Edwin Pouchet.
The third qualifying medium band was Carib Dixieland which scored the second highest points on the night, 445 points.
Dixieland which hails from the Carnbee/Mt. Pleasant community executed Anslem Douglas's "Brazilian Flag Woman" well on the night and did justice to pan maestro Len "Boogsie" Sharpe arrangement.
The Iron Anthony managed Steel Xplosion also eased into the national medium bands finals with 415 points. They chose De Fosto's 'Dr Jit' and the Sidney Joseph arrangement reflected an innovative style which helped propel their music on the night.
RBTT Redemption Sound Setters continued to do their Bethel community proud as once again the Winston Gordon's arrangement of Eunice Peters "First in Line" propelled them in to the national large bands final for yet another year. The Bethel band scored 440 points.
The Fort Street based Our Boys suffered a cruel blow before the start of the show when 20 of their pannists could not secure flights from Trinidad and Our Boys who were competing in the large band category came in short on the night. They scored 420 points for their Brian "Bean" Griffith and Roger Sardhina arrangement of a Griffith composed tune "Just Right".
Meanwhile, Pan Trinbago has distributed cheques to all competing Panorama bands for distribution of a $1,000 stipend to all pannists participating in the Panorama competitions. There are well over 1,000 Panorama pannists in Tobago at present. This is one of the policies introduced by Pan Trinbago's President Patrick Arnold.
Last Saturday night what was shaping up to be a glorious night for pulsating steel band music at the stadium car park was cruelly brought to an end when officers of the Fire Service Department advised Pan Trinbago officials that the stage was in no condition for the event to continue.
The night started off in fine style with all the single pan steelbands performing their selections before the national judges in the semi-final round of the National Panorama. However, when the Iron Anthony led Steel Xplosion, the first of the medium sized bands finished their presentation, it was observed that the legs of the stage were shaking and the fire officers acted to prevent danger.
Pan Trinbago officials met with the large and medium band representatives on Monday and a signed agreement was reached to reschedule the event for Tuesday night. The Panorama came off before a large crowd without a stage.
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