Exodus widens Panorama lead

Exodus stretched its lead in the National Panorama semi-final competition, having amassed 458 points, eight clear points ahead of WITCO Desperadoes. After the preliminaries, there was only one point separating them, but Exodus sounded a warning on Sunday as they made their intentions clear of retaining the title for another year. The band’s execution of Winston (The Original De Fosto Himself) Scarborough’s “War,” as arranged by Pelham Goddard was done to precision. The bpTT Renegades too, had a clean and tight performance earlier, but suffered from having to play first in the large band category. They scored 428 points with arranger Jit Samaroo’s interpretation of Superblue’s “Pan on the Road.”

But it was WITCO Desperadoes which managed to get the rhythm sections in the packed North Stand to stop beating and listen to their rendition of Shadow’s “Cocoyea,” arranged by Clive Bradley. With cocoyea all round, the band mesmerised the patrons for eight minutes. However, there were some anxious moments on the night, when arranger for Petrotrin Phase II, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, went on stage to take charge of the band’s performance. Boogsie was recently released from hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. However, with one hand gripping the upright of a pan rack, he conducted the band as he waved his baton in the other hand. They pleased the judges and climbed to third position with 447 points.

Also making a favourable impression were the RBTT Redemption Sound Setters. The Tobagonians played a Winston Gordon’s arrangement of de Fosto’s “War,” which earned them 438 points and fourth place in the competition. Trinidad All Stars and Skiffle Bunch were tied with 436 points for fifth position. All Stars played de Fosto’s “Ah Pay Meh Dues,” arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards, while a Liam Teague arrangement of de Fosto’s “War” was the choice of the Southerners. Judges for this leg of the competition were Jocelyn Pierre, Lorna Conyette, George Sambrano, Victor Mc Gill, Victor Prescod, Audley Timothy and John Arnold. President of Pan Trinbago Patrick Arnold told Newsday yesterday that he was very pleased that the semi-final ended at 10 pm on Sunday. He said his planning committee had put all the necessary tools in place to make sure the show was kept tight and that there was an early end to it. He complimented all the bands that took part in the semi-finals for their full cooperation with Pan Trinbago personnel on the “drag,” as well as those on and at the west end of the stage. Arnold said without that cooperation, it could not have happened.

Asked if the categorising of the bands has generally made pan players happy, Arnold said: “Very much so. There are no complaints coming in. In the past only 12 bands made the final, this year we have 16 bands playing on final night. This has also given bands the opportunity to make some money.” Arnold also wanted to make it clear that President Max Richards expressed his wish to be in the North Stand for the semi-finals. So NCC, of which Arnold is a Board member, granted the President his wish, and on its own, decided to block off an area for him and provide him and his entourage with a mini-hospitality bar. Arnold said there was no extra security at the semi-final, but more enforcement of the regulations this year as they wanted an easier flow of bands, and it paid off. The top eight bands in each category will go on to play in the National Panorama finals on Saturday, February 21.

Here are the placings from Sunday’s Panorama semi-finals:
Position/Band/Points
LARGE BANDS
1. Exodus 458
2. WITCO Desperadoes 450
3. Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove 447
4. RBTT Redemption Sound Setters 438
5. Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars 436
5. TCL Group Skiffle Bunch 436
7. bpTT Renegades 428
8. NLCB Fonclaire 418
9. Solo Pan Knights 416
10. Katzenjammers 412
11. BWIA Invaders 410.5
12. Petrotrin Hatters 410
13. PCS Starlift 404
14. Pamberi 399
15. Birdsong 398

MEDIUM BANDS
1.  Excellent Stores Silver Stars 445
2. Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille 442
3. Valley Harps 441
4. Harmonites 434
4. Potential Symphony 434
6. Carib Dixieland 433
6.  Belmont Fifth Dimension 433
8. Parry’s Pan School 430
9. Petrotrin Siparia Deltones 428
10. Melodians 423
11. Sforzata 421
12. Curepe Scherzando 420
12. Tokyo 420
14. Five Rivers Modern Symphony 418
15. Point Fortin Tornadoes 416