WHICH BAND WILL IT BE?

Only one thing is certain with respect to tonight’s National Panorama Championships, and it is that “War 2004”, one of the tunes which helped propel The Original de Fosto Himself to the Pan Kaiso throne, will be the most played selection in the large bands category. Reigning champion, Exodus, RBTT Sound Setters, TCL Group Skiffle Bunch and NLCB Fonclaire will perform de Fosto’s “War 2004”, the only tune to be selected by more than one orchestra. Other competing steel orchestras will each present an individual selection — bpTT Renegades, “Pan on the Road”; WITCO Desperadoes — “Whap Cocoyea”; Petrotrin Phase 11 Pan Groove — “We like to Play”, and Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars — “Ah Pay Meh Dues”.

The situation is slightly different in the Medium band Championships where two compositions have each been selected by two bands — “War 2004” by Carib Dixieland and Potential Symphony, and “Pure Party” by Belmont Fifth Dimension and Silver Stars. The remaining four steelbands will each play a different tune. Sound Specialist has chosen “Don’t Stop the Carnival”; Valley Harps — “We Like to Play”; Parry’s Pan School — “Play on Mr Panman”, and Harmonites — “Jamboree”. Meanwhile, apart from the scheduled playing of de Fosto’s “War 2004” by four of the orchestras in the large band category, it is too close to predict which of the eight finalists, whether reigning champions, Exodus, or WITCO Desperadoes, Petrotrin Phase 11; Neal Massy All Stars et cetera, will emerge tonight as National Panorama champions. And this despite Exodus, the 2003 National Panorama Champion, and the only unsponsored band in tonight’s competition, entering the race with a seven-point bonus lead.

The lead may be whittled down, however, by one or all of the above majors or, for example, one or more of the remaining participating bands — RBTT Soundsetters, TCL Group Skiffle Bunch, NLCB Fonclaire — what with the relatively high level of performance of the seven challengers. Whoever wins tonight, fans are in for a musical treat. There is a need though to address the question early of members of all of the country’s steelbands, not simply this evening’s performers, to become musically literate, where this is not already so. This will take the artform, which has gained expanded international recognition, and the artistes themselves, to understandably new heights. Already, foreign steelbands have effectively challenged this country’s leading steel orchestras in international competitions held here. Meanwhile, may memorable music be provided and the best steel orchestras win in the large and medium band categories at this evening’s National Panorama championships at the Queen’s Park Savannah.