bpTT Renegades captures ‘Pan in the 21st Century’ title

The two defending champions fell by the wayside in last Saturday’s TSTT sponsored Pan in the 21st Century and Pan Down Memory Lane competitions held at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The audience was intoxicated with a “Pint of Wine” delivered by bpTT Renegades appearing in position number ten. The nine-time Panorama winners started their performance at exactly 11.30 pm and were a hit from the very first note as the crowd rose from their seats with several couples dancing. Up until then, bpTT Renegades was the best sounding band in the Pan in the 21st Century competition. Before them, Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, playing in position six, also had the audience in the North Village and Grand Stand singing along as they played “How Great Thou Art” arranged by Neville Jules.

World Steelband Champions and 2003 Panorama winners Exodus gave a good account of themselves with a Pelham Goddard’s arrangement of  “What The World Needs Now”. Other good performances came from BWIA Invaders with “Make Love To You”, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove with “Dancing Queen” and defending champions Excellent Stores Silver Stars who played “Walking In Rhythm”. In the Pan Down Memory Lane competition, La Horquetta Pan Groove gave a fiery and energetic performance of Duvonne Stewart’s arrangement of Earth Wind and Fire’s “Fantasy” and had the audience going.

The defending champions Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz  appeared in position eight, two behind La Horquetta but was not able to live up to the standard set by the eventual joint winners. Ace arranger Clive Bradley came on stage with Laventille Serenaders for his arrangement of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and they too thrilled the audience with their performance. Laventille Pashphonics brought the competition to a fitting climax with their rendition of Kareem Brown’s arrangement of “Careless Whispers”. Following is the final placing in both competitions: