Exodus cops 2003 Panorama title

EXODUS Steel Orchestra was declared 2003 National Panorama Champion shortly after 2.30 am Sunday. Appearing in the 13th and last position among the finalists at Saturday night’s competition at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, the St Augustine-based orchestra played a compelling interpretation of The Original De Fosto’s “Pandora,” arranged by Pelham Goddard, to score 476 points and take the title and $200,000 first prize.

It was the third Panorama win for Exodus. The reigning World Steelband Music Festival champion last captured the title in 2001. In second position and earning $150,000 was defending champion Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars with 471 points scored for its version of the same song arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards. Third place and $100,000 went to Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove which scored 468 points for its playing of “Music In We Blood,” composed and arranged by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. Pre-competition speculation that the battle for the championship would have been fought between “Boogsie” and Clive Bradley, arranger for Witco Desperadoes which also chose “Music In We Blood,” came to nought, as Despers’ surprisingly poor performance could only manage a score of  443.5 points that pushed the band down to seventh position. Semi-final crowd favourites, TCL Skiffle Bunch and Excellent Stores Silver Stars, though offering commendable performances of  “Trini To The Bone” and “Identity,” respectively, were nevertheless unable to impress the judges sufficiently to place among the top five finishers.

The programme began at 7.15 pm and ended some seven hours later, during which time the 13 finalists showcased their pan talents before an audience that was uncharacteristically subdued and well below the capacity intake of both the Grand and North Stands. Meanwhile, out on “the track,” the area traditionally used by members of the public to listen to the bands run through their songs before going on stage, the crowd was thick,  the atmosphere vibrant and the food booths seemed to be doing a brisk trade. Reference by vendors to the about-face decision by Pan Trinbago, producers of the event, to revert to the east-to-west approach to the stage by competing orchestras was subtly made by a large sign attached to a fence that read  “Pan Back On Track -Thanks.”

Following are the official placings and points scored:
1 Exodus - 476
2 Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars - 471
3 Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove - 468
4 BP Renegades - 462
5 Solo Pan Knights - 455.5
6 Tropical Angel Harps - 447.5
7 WITCO Desperadoes - 443.5
8 Excellent Stores Silver Stars - 441.5
9 RBTT Redemption Sound Setters - 440.5
10 NLCB Fonclaire - 440
11 TCL Group Skiffle Bunch - 437.5
12 Birdsong - 437
13 Nutones - 427