Leon “Smooth” Edward’s musical arrangement of Clive Telemaque’s Unquestionable, capably executed by members of Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra early yesterday, helped the 80-year-old band add the 2015 National Steelband Panorama title (large conventional bands) and $1 million prize to the trophy shelf.
All Stars’ score of 289 points was six ahead of defending champion Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove’s accumulation for its rendition of leader/composer/arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s Happiness, and stymied the Woodbrook band’s attempt to achieve the elusive hat-trick of wins in the contest. There was also a three-way tie for third place between three former title holders—Republic Bank Exodus, PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars and Bp Renegades—as each scored 279 points.
Playing in position one, Renegades offered a Duvone Stewart arrangement of Joahann Chuckaree’s composition Jam Dem Hard. Silver Stars played Edwin’s Legacy, composed by Alvin Daniell and Barnet “Preacher” Henry and arranged by Liam Teague, while Exodus’ contribution was De Puna Band, composed and arranged by Pelham Goddard. Sixth was T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps doing Tony Barclay’s Pan For Beethoven, arranged by Clarence Morris.
CAL Invaders placed seventh with an Arddin Herbert arrangement of Winsford Devine’s This Melody Sweet. Eighth was Witco Desperadoes with Pan Hooray composed and arranged by Robert Greenidge, and Skiffle placed tenth playing Celebration composed and arranged by Ray Holman. Category judges included Lambert Phillip, Joanne Ragbir, Damian Phillip, Roger Sardinha, Michelle Dowich and Richard Pierre.
In the Text to Vote FCL Financial People’s Choice, Exodus placed first, Trinidad All Stars was second and Phase II third. In the medium band category, Pan Elders Steel Orchestra retained its title with a score of 282 points and earned $600,000 for a Duvone Stewart arrangement of Party Time Again composed by Leston Paul and sung by Bally (Errol Ballantyne).
Second and third places went to Tobago-based orchestras NLCB Buccooneers, who performed Kitchener’s (Aldwyn Roberts) Rainorama, and NGC Steel Xplosion for The Mighty Sparrow’s (Dr Slinger Francisco) Du Du Yemi. Judging the category were Marceline Peters, Ezra Joseph, Jeanette Johnson, Martin Albino, Stephanie Power, and Andy Chichester. Couva Joylanders won the Text to Vote People’s Choice, Pan Elders placed second and Arima Angel Harps was third.
Pan Trinbago also presented special awards to Rennison Quashie, Milton “Wire” Austin, Sharon Pitt, Tommy Crichlow and Eshwarlal “Sam” Ranjitsingh for their contribution to the art form. Earlier, a 7.39 pm start turned into a long night which saw the competition ending after 4 am, perhaps unduly so, given the obvious sloth of many bands in setting up on stage, although using an area that has not changed its specifications in decades to position pan racks of equally well-known configurations.
Panorama celebrated its 52nd anniversary this year.