Pan prelims on the Promenade, a tough call for the judges
Wednesday, January 27 2010 (Newsday)

Pan took over lower downtown on Sunday, from South Quay to Abercromby Street in the east bordered by Richmond Street in the west.

A total of some 21 bands — 16 small conventional and five medium-sized bands — played their hearts out to convince the judging panel that their performances were good enough to earn them a place in the semi-finals of Pan Trinbago’s Northern Region Panorama.

The big show takes place January 31 at the Queen’s Park Savannah, when those chosen will continue to play in order to make it to the finals, come Panorama night at the same venue.

The major significant factor of Sunday’s performances by the bands was, the majority of players were youngsters ranging in age from 15 to 30 years.

Among the 16 small bands that performed. Much to the pleasure of their very scattered audience were Laventille Serenaders playing “This Melody Sweet” by singer Baron; Pandemonium with “Musical Fire” sung by Anselm Douglas; Blue Diamonds playing “Lying Excuses” — a tune by calypsonian Slinger Francisco, better known as the Mighty Sparrow.

Other entertaining performances came from St James North Stars with “Play De Pan”, a tune sung by Karen Eccles; the Codrington Pan Family, playing “Pandemic” by Shanaqua.

Also, Highlanders, Crescendoes Musical, Panatics and Merrytones, each played the tune “Pan War” which was sung by Emmanuel ‘Oba’ Sinnette.

Among the five medium-sized bands that performed, included Humming Bird Pan Groove from Cocorite, which performed “Pan in De Mas”, a tune by David Rudder.

One of the five that stood out was Courts Sound Specialist of Laventille, which played “Surrender”, a tune sung by Destra Garcia.