Band delays Panorama

SEMI-FINAL round of the National Steelband Panorama Competition got going at 11.40 am yesterday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, in brilliant sunshine before a North Stand half-filled with boisterous, happy patrons and a Grand Stand that was practically empty of paying customers. President of Pan Trinbago Patrick Arnold told Newsday the short delay past the advertised starting time of 11 am was due to the reluctance of the first band to showcase its presentation to the small number of patrons present. President of the Republic, George Maxwell Richards and his wife, Jean were in attendance. Unlike previous years, however, the first couple’s specially enclosed area was located in the popular North Stand, where they were joined by Minister of Community Development and Culture, Joan Yuille-Williams and chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Kenny De Silva.

First band in the medium category to appear before the judging panel was Point Fortin Tornadoes, led by Junior Toussaint, playing a Victor Antoine and Jason Constantine arrangement of Jit Samaroo’s “Pan On The Road” sung by SuperBlue (Austin Lyons). It was followed by the Stephen Burke-led Tokyo Steel Orchestra offering its interpretation of Carl Caton’s “Pan In Mih Blood,” vocalised by calypsonian Blackie (Irving Blackman). Winning the day’s first loud cheers was Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille for its spirited rendition of the Ray Holman composition titled “Don’t Touch We Carnival,” sung by Kenny J (Kenrick Joseph), who was on hand to wave the band’s flag during its performance. Despite a reduction in the bands’ playing time from ten to eight minutes this year, most of the early appearances failed to utilise the maximum time, completing their arrangements in just over seven minutes in most cases.

By 2.15 pm patronage in the North Stand hand improved considerably — the facility was almost filled to capacity — while the Grand Stand’s clientele had begun appearing in ever-increasing numbers. Among the first eight bands, The Original De Fosto Himself’s composition “War 2000” was played on four occasions. First by Five Rivers Modern Symphony appearing in the fourth position, then by Sforzata, Potential Symphony and Melodiands of Arima, which gave a strong performance of the song to earn lusty cheers from the ever-growing audience. By 2.30 pm nine of the 15 medium bands had performed before the judging panel comprising Lennox London, Merle Albino De Couteau, Cuthbert Matthews, Andy Chichester, Richard Pierre, Clement Danclair and Rosalind Garnes. Alternate judge was Jeanette Johnson.

Still to showcase arrangements of their tunes of choice were Harmonites, Valley Harps, Curepe Scherzando, Belmont Fifth Dimension, Carib Dixieland and Petrotrin Siparia Deltones. Scheduled to lead off performances in the large band category which was to follow was bp Renegades Steel Orchestra playing its arranger, Jit Samaroo’s composition, “Pan On The Road.” Fourteen  bands would appear before the judges, including defending National Steelband Panorama champion Exodus in position number ten to offer its Pelham Goddard arrangement of De Fosto’s “War 2004.” Last band listed to appear was Tobago’s RBTT Redemption Sound Setters, also doing De Fosto’s “War 2004” arranged by Winston Gordon.