Pan big bands strike a note for the future

I suspect they were afraid to rock the boat in the lead-up to Panorama 2017, or wanted to be politically correct by playing dumb.

Now that the Panorama is over, five of the big bands — Massy Trinidad All Stars, Desperadoes, BP Renegades, Phase II (supported by Hadco) and Republic Bank Exodus — have taken up their beds and are walking into the future with the International Steelband Foundation.

The foundation’s objectives are noble — to promote opportunities for its members, collaborate with other bands, local and international; to cut a long story short, to promote the advancement of pan.

The challenge facing the foundation is to survive and not end up in controversy and bacchanal, a feature of the pan movement.

I am sure other bands will be watching from the sidelines before they jump on the foundation bandwagon, which could be a vehicle for change.

Who knows where this foundation could lead.

It may well be the idea is a shot across the bow of Pan Trinbago, which is the legal body representing pan and panmen, some of whom, at the top and bottom levels, have been grumbling for change.

Pan Trinbago is going through a torrid time and its image and credibility have taken a beating.

It is regrettable that the Steelband Music Festival, which should be the showpiece of the movement, is dead as a door nail and Panorama elevated to the top shelf.

Regrettable also is the fact that after all these years pan is without a home and the iron monster in Trincity is a monument to pan shame for which the present executive cannot be chastised.

KEITH ANDERSON via email