Pan Elders tricks ‘em

They were the first band on stage on the night. They came dressed in all white with three green sashlike stripes across their shirts and looking hungry for victory.

Arranger Duvonne Stewart had the players do wrist exercises and upbeat chants before they started to deliver a musical treat to the crowd. The band executed a fantastic arrangement of Leston Paul’s “We Eh Fighting”, sung by Errol “Bally” Ballantyne. It was clear that drillmaster Dante Pantin, did a first class job with Pan Elders as they fully pleased Stewart, so much so, the arranger sent his love and thanks to the Grand Stand during the closing bars of the performance, then made the sign of the cross at the end. The crowd thunderously applauded the band at the end.

Speaking with Newsday after the victory, Stewart said yesterday: “Everything was in place since last October. Seeing that this medium band presents itself to be a retro band, we had ample time to take a song and start working from early and we took all the advantages that were in front of us and tell a story of the song through music. And I just wanted to bring love within the infighting of the song.” Asked how he felt on a personal level since he also arranged for third place winner in the Large Band category, bp Renegades, Stewart said: “My name is going to be in the history books as the first arranger to arrange for a south band and win three consecutive championships in the medium category. It is a dream and a feeling I can’t trade for anything else. It can’t be explained much by me. I always put my best foot forward and I am very, very happy.” With respect to Renegades he said all bands in that category came out and delivered their best which made it tough for a clear cut winner. “We did what we had to do to be crowned champions but the judges’ decision is final.” Pan Elders’ performance earned it 275 points and the $600,000 first prize. Second place went to Tobago band, NLCB Buccooneers with 271 points and $550,000. They played a Seion Gomez arrangement of “Bass on Fire”, composed Gomez himself, together with Mark Loquan and Gregory Ballantyne and sung by Kernal Roberts, while Dane Gulston drilled the band. On the night Gomez, Gulston, Roberts and Loquan were on stage with the band as they delivered a fiery spirited performance that left the crowd wildly cheering them on.

Gomez said afterwards: “I thought the competition was very keen, everybody came fighting their hardest and I was very pleased with our performance and the results.” He added that the presence of Roberts, Gulstan and Loquan gave the band an upbeat feeling, thus spurring them on to do their best and in the end get a good result. Petrotrin Katzenjammers and Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille tied for third place with 270 points. The latter band also copped the People’s Choice prize of $10,000.

Dressed in Indian an African ethnic wear the band, while delivering a gutsy performance of David Rudder’s “The Ganges and the Nile”, arranged by Ken “Professor” Philmore, dancers, also in Indian and African wear merged around “Mother Trinidad and Tobago” dressed in red, white and black that resonated with the crowd who applauded the scene and cheered even harder at the end of the performance.

Philmore said: “I am very happy because it was a beautiful presentation.

I was very proud of the dancers, the theatrics was magnificent and I thank the public for making the band People’s Choice. I am very pleased with the band and I think it was fantastic.” He then sent congrats to all the bands that took part on the final night of compete which placed second after the semi-final round, tapered off in the finals and tied with Courts Sound Specialists for third, with itsexecution of “I Don’t Mind” arranged by Terrence “BJ” Marcelle.

NGC Couva Joylanders, which played a lively rendition of Black Stalin’s (Leroy Calliste) “Come With It”, arranged by Kareem Brown, came with choreographed flag wavers and set fireworks up in the air, earned fifth position with 266 points.

Judges for the Medium Band category were Roger Sardinha, Lambert Phillip, Roslyn Garnes, Maria Achaiba, Martin Albino and Lorna Conyette.

Following is the final result of the medium bands competition.

PLACE...........BAND POINTS
1st...................Pan Elders..................................................275
2nd.................NLCB Buccooneers...................................271
3rd..................Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille.......270
3rd..................Petrotrin Katzenjammers...........................270
5th..................NGC Couva Joylanders.............................266
6th..................Curepe Scherzando...................................265
6th..................NOC Steel Explosion.................................265
8th..................Melodians...................................................264
9th..................Carib Dixieland...........................................261
10th................West Side Symphony.................................258