Pushing pan

The orchestra’s rendition of the song bore the distinct imprint of arranger Leon “Smooth” Edwards .

There were also fiery effects .

Bars from Calypso Rose’s Fire Fire were featured at the end of the performance in homage to the great doyenne of our indigenous art form. The band scored 286 points, dethroning Desperadoes .

We congratulate All Stars on a champion performance. But it is too easy to take for granted the hard work and dedication required to perform on the national level. Each and every finalist on Saturday was worthy of commendation .

We would like to salute the bands that made a particular effort to be more innovate than usual. Second-placed Despers pleased the crowd with Carlton “Zanda” Alexander’s rendition of Good Morning, which was jazzy yet euphoric. Third placed BP Renegades, however, gave all a run for their money .

Renegades came on stage in pyjamas, before awakening the crowd with a rousing rendition of Good Morning, arranged by Duvone Stewart. It was a memorable integration of theatricality and musical ingenuity which, in truth, was worthy of perhaps more than 280 points .

Looking beyond Panorama 2017, if the pan movement is to move forward, if it is to leave its complacent shores and reach for the stars, then it must embrace more creativity. The judges must also be open to and reward bold acts of play that attempt to breathe new life into the game .

The silver lining is that the finals came off without a major hitch, despite the recent Pan Trinbago turmoil. And the players were allowed to shine. At the end of the day it is their playing that makes the show and preserves the art .

As we said during the height of their confusion, Pan Trinbago must get its act together to truly find ways to nurture and facilitate the growth and development of the steelband, including its players .

It should ensure players are properly remunerated, and paid in a timely manner .

This organisation must become more professional and strategic .

It must encourage innovation, diversification and expansion of the repertoire of the bands, hamstrung year after year by the one-tune concentration for Panorama .

There has to be a deep reconsideration of the Port-of-Spaincentric focus of pan also. This should be a national instrument, not one where practitioners are based mainly in one area .

In the past, attempts have been made to capitalise on pan internationally .

Yet, the patenting of the G-Pan has not turned out to be the game-changer that many would have hoped .

Perhaps the time has come for us to understand that the survival of any art form requires change, innovation and being open to the world. Unfortunately, we seem to treat pan as we treat a child. We are possessive, strict, stern, and smother them, forbidding them from venturing out and experimenting but we become careless when it is time to put them on the road to shine .

Perhaps we need to be more open to international collaborations .

Perhaps more should be done to take pan out to countries where it can trigger fresh ideas and changes. Perhaps it is time to not focus only on the annual Panorama ritual and to push more festivals – like Pan Explosion – throughout the year. It’s time to let this child grow and prosper. Indeed, we must all join together in pushing pan .