:-)

PANORAMA 1999 Steelband Competition Trinidad & Tobago

National Panorama Steelband Semi Finals 1999
CONVENTIONAL Steelbands

Order of Appearance
Semifinalists for 1999
Event - 7th February 1999
The Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad

    PLAY ORDER    

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   Well it’s that Panorama feeling again. Excitingly this year the standard of the steelbands music has risen by yet another quantum hop to be something extraordinary pleasing. The judges decisions have however been at variance with public choice, but this is not too unusual. They have floored Panberi, misunderstood Birdsong and rendered three bands from Tobago to be equally at home in the Big Yards regardless that an other Tobago band seemed to be the unofficial peoples choice. All that aside, welcome to Trinidad and Tobago, the lands of the unfinish, and The Big Yard where 2nd judgement will sift 11 to glory to make 12 at the start of the finish.

   Where every band is a gem to this niche of our islands folk-art, observations need again turn ‘pecong’ and sallow. All events so far have started late, causing anguish to spectators and bands alike. With added rain at Skinners Park, the crowd clapped an ovation of respect to the children of that resilient band Mount Moriah Pan Movement who played through the shower at some middle hour in the morning. Spectators knowing that the band had not a hope in hell of making the semies; the spirit and gusto of the bands playing exemplified a moment of determined pride that the onlookers understood too well, and returned to the band their heartfelt appreciation with the noise of their moving hands.

   To turn music into words is poor substitute to the sound. To turn sound into music by the amplification systems on stage was fair in the South, just very bad in the East, poor at the Grand Stand and goodness knows what in Tobago. Again microphones suffered the deranging onslaught of the flag bearers; ending akimbo in the bands or pointing useless in odd directions. The stages of the South and East could have shown more depth for space; and the Tobago layout was reported to be a traffic jam.

   On a rising note, the Expo site has proven itself to be a surprisingly relaxed venue, though suffering from a ‘touch of the unfinish’. Despite early outcries, it should now prove a popular venue for the East Zone.

   A prize given for the most outstanding flag-woman, her abilities not in question, should have been de-sexed and diverted to the flag-man of single pan band Shades in Steel; who entertained with outstanding carnival flourish in step, swing and technique that had Skinners Park shouting at his every prance.

   All slights away; these stages have served an astounding pourri of musical wonders to which the tangible antics of Clive Bradleys wild trajectories off stage, only add to the legend that his head is in an intangible state of disrepair. He brings an old and wondrous instrument to these shows. The drum stick that he waves about is extremely charmed. It intermittently rings the cow-bell in his hand to hold time with the band as he dances in front of it. Parading the stage at the front, he stops at times to rock too and frow in sideways motion as he faces the band to brandish control; one trouser leg turned high on the left to bare a calf. When the stick goes up; the volume rises. When the stick dips down; the volume fades to a whisper; to rise again with the path of the stick. When he stabs it towards the band, the music knocks to the stab. When he stabs it down, the music halts with staggering precision. Strutting the arrangers helm of Nu Tones and Despers, Bradley is a cranky and extrovert orchestral wizard. Some other arrangers are less conspicuous; hidden or playing in the bowels of their bands. Some, being pan wizards as well, show in the front line with the tenors.

   Of all that have failed to reach this stage, with apologies to some North bands that these ears have missed; InnCoGen Pamberi were electrifying, Southern Marines Steelband Foundation and Hatters gave that good round sound and Birdsong were dangerously mesmeric to the inner soul.

   Those that have arrived to challenge at this last semi-final of the century, will show the signs that ‘pan’ has grown to a new maturity that points to what is yet to come. Skiffle Bunch’s use of Andy Narrel’s Coffee Street, a staggeringly beautiful tune that skirts and presses the rules to the limit, will serve in example to the new mood of thinking that Bradley inadvertantly set in motion when he slowed down Rudder’s High Mas’ to more than great effect last year.

   “If music be the food of love...”

tojo 06/02/99

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CONVENTIONAL Steelbands
Semifinals 1999 - Play Order
Posted - 6th February 1999

20 steelbands to play. Nu Tones, last years winners, will sit it out as they automatically qualify for this years finals.

1999 C-SF Play Order

© 1999: steelbands@trinidad.net - 990129 Last Update: 08 February 1999 00:00:00 Processed by: Jeremy G de Barry