TRACKING THE PAN SCENE

Pan lovers on the Track Saturday night were busy betting that Neal & Massy All Stars was going to the World Cup because the band was playing the Original de Fosto’s “Soca Warriors,” a piece pan people were whispering All Stars had chosen because band members calculated it would give them the edge. “Germany, here comes All Stars,” was the word on the track. In the meantime, on the asphalt road circling the Savannah, another word was bothering defending  Panorama champs Phase II: “Digicel.” Players from the band were upset that the cotton tops provided by communications firm Digicel bore only the name of the sponsor. The name of the band was nowhere to be seen.

In the Witco  Desperadoes camp, there were two words on the minds of members, Clive Bradley. Many players predicted aloud that their deceased arranger would inspire them to play their best and help them to take the trophy to Laventille. In the medium band category, defending champs Clico’ Sforzata were practising and practising again their arrangement of Baron’s “This Melody Sweet,” determined to retain their title. They had to compete with loudspeakers at the corner of Stanmore Avenue belting out soca until after 8pm, without regard or mercy for the pan men and women rehearsing. Rumour, when you could hear it, had it that Valley Harps was also a serious contender.

But rumour also had it that the medium bands were disappointed at the small crowd which came to hear them, and the lack of attention. And they were right. It was only when the big bands were about to play on Saturday night that the crowd grew thick on the Track. And then suddenly there were thousands of Trinbagonians  listening to pan, drinking, eating and dancing as hundreds more tourists than in years gone by, wandered from band to band, intrigued and moved by all the steel orchestras. In the opinion of the visitors, every single band was magical and thus, a winner.

Meanwhile, vendors conducted a busy trade in everything from bake and shark to jerk chicken and roti while cold drinks were passed one after another over the counters of wooden booths. Nuts men shouted at passers-by; multi-coloured bandanas shrouded their salesmen and men and women ran along snatching empty bottles. In other words, it was life as usual on the Track at the Queen’s Park Savannah Saturday night at the 2006 Panorama finals. Newsday’s roving photographer was on the scene to capture some of the moments.