LOCAL T&T STEELBAND NEWS

FRONT   Page EVENTS 2000   Page

PART 1

WHEN Hoppy said "Shoemaker does wear the worst shoes" I found it a most appropriate manner to describe [the] World Steelband Festival 2000.

There are so many bad things to say about the Festival that even the best intentions and positive aspects of the exercise seem to pale in comparison, and I am at pains as to where to begin. Should I start with the fact this event has been two years in the making and apparently absolutely no comprehensive marketing and promotional plan was implemented to guarantee maximum exposure, at home and abroad?

We have invited guests from 'foreign' into our home and failed to invite the family to meet them.

From the onset, let me state every effort should have been made to have past World Steelband Festival champion WITCO Desperadoes; Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, Phase II Pan Groove and Pamberi in this competition, from its preliminary.

Should I start with the nonsensical reasons offered for the exclusion of these, the best exponents of classical music on pan in the land; and the real reason why Laventille Serenaders withdrew?

Or, should I go for the Test Piece, Dawn of the Millennium, referred to by many at the preliminary round as Yawn of the Millennium? Should I open by waxing rhetorical about successive Governments refusing to provide performing space for the national instrument?

Or, should I just jump in the deep end, arid expose all the shortcomings of the actual festival, including the stray brown dog which made guest appearances during both evenings of semi-final performance; the omission of the fact it was Len Boogsie Sharpe who composed Rain Forest, and not Dvorák, as the programme stated and was repeated by the house announcer?

Without doing a head count, I'd say the maximum attendance on any of the four nights of elimination competition at Jean Pierre Complex was 300. Notwithstanding, none of the shows commencing exactly at their advertised start, or ending before 01:00 am, I feel all systems will work as they are supposed to at tonight's gala final.

Of course, tonight, all the part time, lip service pan lovers will be at the Complex, in their nice ‘dan dan', gallerying; some with various opinions on what could have been done better; some wondering why the $75 seats ‘harder' than the $100 ones; and even others, asking why "is only hot dogs it have to buy?"

But, by tomorrow morning, what lessons would have been learned from the past 10 days? Would the Government be shame-faced enough to finally secure funds to construct an appropriate state of the art concert facility for the national instrument? Would the citizenry have a change of heart and start to pay to hear pan? Would the state fund the expenses of having our ‘national steelband' reside abroad in metropolitan cities for most of the year, performing at major concert halls, to further legitimise the claim "Trinidad and Tobago is the Mecca of pan?"

Little did the late Dennis Franklyn (Merchant) realise how accurate he was when he penned and performed Pan in Danger years ago. Dynasties of steel and administrators later, the national instrument is at its lowest ebb, as Trinidad and Tobago flounders to retain the slogan of "Land of the Steelband."

One just has to observe the attitude, commitment, [] dedication [and] panmanship of the musicians that comprise visiting bands PANch 2000, Calypsociation, [Steel] Pan Lovers, Northern Illinois University, CASYM, as well as that of the Japanese and Germans to appreciate just how precarious [is] our position [].

To detour a bit from the festival, allow me to look at pan overall in the land of its birth. In three years time, there might be no more pan on the road on Carnival day, at the current rate of recession of pan music on the road, and on the airwaves. Carnival started with pan, so where has the story-line changed? Why can't the jefes at Pan Trinbago and the National Carnival Bands Association, two SIGs of the National Carnival Commission, come to an arrangement that allows only pan music on the road on Carnival Monday?

In other words, the bandleaders of those popular bands, like Poison, Legends, Masquerade, Funtasia, Young Harts etc, in their sense of national pride, and their eagerness to support their national instrument, would hire steelbands on Carnival Monday, instead of brass bands.

So, especially for the visitors and children, it would be an indelible and serious impression pan is in fact the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

Another bold move Pan Trinbago should contemplate is the removal of Panorama from Carnival.

This competition, if it must be held at all, and which I feel has outlived its usefulness since its inception 37 years ago, should be held either in Steelband Month in May, or somewhere between August-October.

To: PART 2

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Photo: [Not shown here: Viewed across the front-line of Exodus; a tidly suited Desmond Waithe, conjures music from some attentive and seriously concentrating band members.]
Caption:
EAST PRIDE: CHAMPION Panorama orchestra and joint defending Festival champion[s] Exodus, under the baton of conductor Desmond Waithe; is a hot favourite in tonight's final.
PHOTO By ANDRE ALEXANDER

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[ eEd missed the 'next' page of Peter Blood's article Steelband Festival signals 'Pan In Danger' when cutting up the news papers. By odd chance, the article was discovered to be on the Net. The complete article is now presented on these pages, rather than being linked, as the news-Net-version will probably evapourate 12 weeks after it first appeared. ]

AN overwhelming feeling of kinship pervades the panyard as the beat eight steel orchestras from the World Steelband Music Festival prepare for tonight's grand final, which takes place at the Jean Pierre Complex in Port of Spain.

At street level, there is an undercurrent of anxiety dominating much of the conversation about tonight's final.

With strong signals having come from the visiting bands, three of which will play tonight, local pan aficionados are not as comfortable as before.

While locals tend to agree that the festival has been an overall uplifting pan experience, there is still the deep-seated feeling that, were a foreign orchestra to win, the land in which pan was born will have lost some prestige.

The bandleaders are, however, thinking quite differently.

Junia Regrello, captain of the front-runner, TCL Group Skiffle Bunch, said yesterday "We feel that we are representing Trinidad and Tobago in the first instance, because this is an international competition. We are excited at the prospect of winning, but whatever happens, we feel good to have been part of it."
  "I would like to publicly congratulate Pan Trinbago for the effort involved in staging this festival," Regrello said. "It is public knowledge that I have had some problems with the organisation, but the mere fact that this festival came off is worthy of congratulation."
  "I feel that every pan lover should be there tonight to witness this event."
  "The only complaint that people should have after the final is that they could not get tickets for the stands" Regrello said.

Ainsworth Mohammed, whose band Exodus has so far suffered the biggest reversal, said "We are now placed in the outside lane, which is where most come from behind. We expect to reverse the results that placed us so low in the standings and we believe we have the ability to do so."
  "But that apart, the festival project is so significant that who wins is no longer the major issue. It is always nice to win and we are coming out to do that, but from the point of view of what it has done, whoever comes out victorious already had the prestige of being part of this historic occasion."

The band that has to date provided the festival with its major surprise, Switzerland's PANch 2000, shares the sentiments of Mohammed and Regrello.

PANch musical director Yaira Yonne said yesterday "We did not feel so lucky like we did in the first round, but we are more happy to be here. We are looking forward to doing our very best music and I think the band is in a good mood and quite strong."
  "But we really enjoyed the competition, not as a fight, but something we learned to like because it did so much for everyone and for this beautiful instrument." Yonne said.

Apart from PANch, three other foreign bands are in tonight's final; Britain's Ebony, led by Trinidad-born Pepe Francis; Sweden's [Finland's] Steel Pan Lovers; and the Northern Illinois University Steel Orchestra, for which local virtuoso Liam Teague plays.

In addition to the pan playoffs; visiting pan pioneer and innovator, Ellie Mannette, will receive an award from Pan Trinbago for a lifetime dedicated to research and development of the instrument.

Showtime is 8 pm.

Order of appearance:
1. Northern Illinois University Steel Band (USA)
2. T&T Defence Force Steel Orchestra (T&T)
3. BWIA Ebony Steelband (UK)
4. PANch 2000 (Switzerland)
5. Steel Pan Lovers (Sweden [Finland])
6. TCL Group Skiffle Bunch (T&T)
7. BWIA Invaders (T&T)
8. Exodus (T&T)

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Photo: [Not shown here: Portrait - dated.]
Caption:
LIAM TEAGUE

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Photo: [Not shown here: Portrait - recent.]
Caption:
YAIRA YONNE

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Photo: [Not shown here: Portrait - very dated.]
Caption:
JUNIA REGRELLO

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PHOTOS By [ EXPRESS Library collection - unattributed. ]

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VENUE: Jean Pierre Complex
START TIME: 8 pm

Competitors order of appearance, tune of choice, calypso of choice, conductor, semi-final points:

1. Northern Illinois University Steel Band (USA)...Wood & Steel/Pan 2000...Clifford Alexis (538.5)
2. T&T Defence Force Steelband (Teteron)... Symphony No 4 - The Finale/Penny, Queen of the Universe... Deryk Nurse (535.[5])
3. BWIA Ebony (UK)... Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna/High Mas [ Celebrating with Steel ] ... Frank Rollock (527)
4. PANch 2000 (Switzerland)... Dichter und Bauer/Mind Yuh Business...Yaira Yonne (534.5)
5. Steel Pan Lovers (Finland)... Finlandia/Pan in A Minor... Ari Viitanen (506)
6. TCL Group Skiffle Bunch (San Fernando)... In the Rain Forest/Pan by Storm... Ben Jackson (558)
7. BWIA Invaders (Woodbrook)... Carnival Overture/Toco Band... Dr Jennine Remy (534)
8. Exodus (St Augustine)... Capriccio Italien/Steelband Times... Desmond [ Waithe ] (525)

A SIGNIFICANT chapter in the annals of pan history will be written tonight when the World Steelband Music Festival concludes at [the] Jean Pierre Complex.

Four local conventional steel orchestras will face of against four foreign bands in what is expected to be a keenly contested final.

At the completion of the preliminary and semi-final rounds of competition, one is hard-pressed to identify a clear favourite.

At the preliminary round, PANch 2000 emerged the overall winner. However, the eight-month-old Swiss band's dream-start ended at the semi-final, with TCL Skiffle Bunch, Northern Illinois University (NIU) and T&T Defence Force passing it in the placings going into tonight's final.

Overall, it has been the music which has emerged as the clear winner of this historic steelband competition. On every evening, there have been at least a pair of performances which brought the sparsely occupied venue to its feet.

On opening night, it was PANch 2000's technically sound treatment of its Tune of Choice, Von Suppe's Dichter Und Bauer.

Also impressing that night was Exodus' interpretation of Pelham Goddard's arrangement of Andre Tanker's Steelband Times.

On night two, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 4 - The Finale was executed with military precision by T&T Defence Force.

London's Ebony also raised eyebrows with its adventurous rendition of David Rudder's High Mas [ Hollis Wright's Celebrating with Steel ], arranged by Anise Hadeed.

Then came the semi-final and after an almost punctual start, the night clearly belonged to the two BWIA sponsored orchestras, Invaders and Ebony, with the Wood-brook band, under the baton of Dr Jennine Remy, winning by seven points ahead of its UK sister[s] aggregation.

Based on the high quality of music presented to the three-member adjudication panel, it was obvious that one would have to secure above 500 points to make the cut to the final.

Ensuring this mark were Exodus (525) and Finland's Steel Pan Lovers (506), the smallest orchestra in tonight's final.

Just when everyone thought it would be impossible to surpass Invaders' superb performance the previous evening, along came TCL Skiffle Bunch with the festival's most astounding performance to date, its execution of Len Boogsie Sharpe's, In the Rain Forest, conducted by young exuberant Ben Jackson.

In the Skiffle Bunch piece, the listener can easily discern all the elements one would associate with a rain forest, especially the Amazon, with motifs of samba, a drizzle on tropical leaves, and a thunder-storm.

When the musical torrent subsided, Skiffle Bunch had jumped 24 points ahead of previous night's winner Invaders.

Nineteen-and-a-half points in Skiffle Bunch's wake, NIU brings to the festival a palate of colourful percussive instruments in its rendition of Robert Chapell's appropriately named Tune of Choice Wood and Steel.

The band's range of unique instruments include the amadinda and the jimbe drum.

Retired Chief of Defence Staff Commodore, Anthony Franklyn, is confident that the Army/Coast Guard orchestra has what it takes to add the world champion to the national title it shares with Exodus.

The band's arrangement of Kitchener's Penny, Queen of the Universe is one of the best interpreted calypsos in the final.

Always a favourite among lovers of pan music locally, Sibelius' Finlandia has been delectably interpreted by Finland's Steel Pan Lovers, directed by Ari Viitanen.

The Finns also play a mean arrangement of Kitchener's Pan in A Minor.

Beside being crowned the Best Steel Orchestra in the world, tonight's champion will walk away with a US$22,500 cash prize.

See Page 24

WHEN THE curtain comes down on the staging of this year's World Steelband Music Festival tonight, one big question will be on the edge of everyone's lips.

Who will ‘steel' the show.

Eight conventional orchestras will appear for the last time in the Festival series, before a three-member panel of adjudicators – Ann Marion Osborne, Richard Murphy and Eugene Dominic Novotney – delivering two musical items – a classical [ Incorrect - eEd ] tune of choice and a calypso of choice – in the 25-minute time slot allotted to each of them.

The advertisement for the event stated "Dey coming" (the foreign participants) but they are already here.

Under the resplendent lights of the Jean Pierre Complex, Port-of-Spain, variations of musical melodies from panmen and women, young and old alike will fill the void that has been home to the pan contest for the past ten days.

Northern Illinois University of Chicago will break the ice in this keen contested feature pan event.

Its performance during the competition has been one of particular interest. Unlike its opponents, NIU chose to perform two original compositions. The calypso Pan 2000 is composed and arranged by Clifford Alexis, a Trinidadian resident in the US state of Chicago, and co-director of the University steelband. They will also perform Wood and Steel composed and arranged by Richard Chapell, Director of Percussion at the educational institution.

Following on its heel[s] is joint defending champion Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force under the direction of conductor Derek Nurse. It will perform Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 4 in F Minor and Penny, Queen of the Universe [as] arranged by Ricardo Dennis.

Ebony Steelband of London, one of two steelbands sponsored by the national airline BWIA, appears in third position.

Switzerland-based PANch 2000 just ten months old – the band with a Cinderella story in the Festival – which has been the leader among the foreign competitors at the event, having much fortune in the Festival, takes centre stage at number four.

The spirited Steel Pan Lovers of Finland, a band which spared nothing when it came to entertaining the populace, delivers its musical presentation at number five.

How they play tonight: Country of origin, classical, calypso, semi-final SCORES: [ Not shown here - See ]

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ORCHESTRA or STEELBAND - FINALISTS
8 Bands qualify for the Finals on Saturday 21st October, 2000
Jean Pierre Complex, Wrightson Road, Woodbrook, Port of Spain

On Web:
See SFO for Semi-Finals Play Order position
See FPO for Finals Play Order position

Orchestras or Steelbands Finalists - Combined Results - Semi Finals
Orchestras or Steelbands Finalists - Final Results

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Photo: [Above right: A clear shot of PANch's T-shirt on the lady playing the shiny 3 Cello pans.]
Caption:
THIS TRIPLE cello pannist of PANch 2000 makes sure her business is "a OK" during its performance of Len Boogsie Sharpe's Mind Yuh Business
PHOTO By SEAN NERO

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Photo: [Above left: NIU Curly-locks intent on her 8 bass.]
Caption:
EIGHT BASS player Michelle Hooper attached to Northern Illinois University Steel Orchestra isn't allowing any distractions.
PHOTO By SEAN NERO

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SINCE October 9th, Trinidad and Tobago has hosted two significant events, both related to the globalisation of pan.

Tonight, the final eight conventional steel orchestras will match skills at the Jean Pierre Complex in Port of Spain, to determine the winner of the World Steelband Music Festival, the first to be held on such a scale [ but not the first World Steelband Music Festival - See 1988 - eEd ] since this indigenous instrument was invented some 80 years ago.

Orchestras comprised almost exclusively of steelpans, hailing from places as far afield as Switzerland, Finland, Paris, London, New York and Illinois and the wider Caribbean, and ensembles from Florida, Guyana and Jamaica came here for the playoffs. At least one pannist from Japan came to participate, performing in the front-line of a local band.

The festival began October 12th and within two nights produced some startling results. PANch 2000, a hitherto unknown band from Switzerland, raced ahead of all comers, causing a raising of eyebrows from the local pan cognoscenti.

Nor were they the only visiting orchestra to astonish local audiences who, prior to this experience, might have developed custodial positions about pan, including an emotionally inspired view that no one could replicate our playing skills at what is, after all, the national musical instrument.

Our treasured pan tuners were in for a similar degree of surprise, when a team of visiting scholars joined with local scientists to detail their findings about pan, based on continuing research, some of which spanned 20 years and would undoubtedly help inform the future of pan.

But there were other precious lessons too. While Panyard Inc., a private American firm manufacturing pans in Akron, Ohio, can boast an anechoic chamber in which to fine tune their instruments, the University of the West Indies (UWI) at St Augustine was lamenting the fact that it has no such facilities at its disposal. Consequently, experiments aimed at finding the best approach to a crucial area like the miking of pans had to be approached via a different route.

Running concurrently, the World Steelband Music Festival and the first International Conference on the Science and Technology of the Steelpan provided the perfect backdrop for a fresh look at the instrument that is celebrated by every politician, often without the accompanying comfort of visionary support.

Pan Trinbago, often pilloried for its public lapses, deserves congratulation for the conception of the festival and its role as sponsor and resource pool for the conference, as should Dr Anthony Achong and his team from UWI and the National Institute for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

Indeed, it is a coming together of minds and not just on the intellectual level. More than 400 visiting pannists and some 600 local players got to share ideas and learn from each other, as cultures kissed rather than clashed.

So when the last note is struck tonight and the judges conclude their deliberations, whichever band gets to wear the prestigious title of Best in the World deserves our congratulations.

We would like, however, to add our applause and accolades to the gains made by pan, for it is the instrument that has won at every sequence.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com
express@trinidadexpress.com

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Photo: [Left: Smiling young lady of Skiffle Bunch lively on 4 bass.]
Caption:
Taking the Complex by storm
THIS TCL Skiffle Bunch member goes through her paces during the band's performance of Ken Philmore's composition Pan by Storm at the World Steelband Music Festival 2000 semi-final at the Jean Pierre Complex on Wednesday night [18th].
Skiffle Bunch finished first.
PHOTO By ROBERTO CODALLO

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AS expected in competition, Murphy's Law usually surfaces at the most unfortunate time. Beside Tobago's Dem Boys Single Pan ensemble, renowned composer/arranger Len Boogsie Sharpe is also peeved at the World Steelband Festival 2000 Management Committee.

At Wednesday's semi-final round of competition, not only did a typographical error on the programme omit Sharpe as the composer of In the Rain Forest, Tune of Choice of TCL Skiffle Bunch, but the error was compounded when the house announcer credited composer Anton Dvorák as the composer of the piece. [ This no doubt would have also upset Dvorák, had he been around - eEd ]

Although a subsequent announcement was made correcting the error, Sharpe, who seemed annoyed over the mistake, left as soon as Skiffle Bunch had finished playing.

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Photo: [See below: Smiling alongside each other; Elliot Mannette (left) and Boogsie.]
Caption:
MANNETTE RETURNS:
PAN legend Ellie Mannette (left) is greeted by ace pannist Len Boogsie Sharpe, at Piarco International Airport yesterday. Sharpe joined with Invaders to play With A Song in My Heart while Mannette looked on. Mannette even took the sticks and knocked out a few notes himself. (See story on Page 4)
PHOTO By ANDRE ALEXANDER

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AFTER almost changing his mind and deciding not to make the trip to Trinidad, Ellie Mannette expressed joy at finally being back home for the first time in 33 years.

He and his entourage arrived at the Piarco International Airport at 4 pm yesterday on a BWIA flight out of Washington, DC. On hand to greet him were members of BWIA Invaders Steel Orchestra, the band he founded back in the 1950's [ 1940's - eEd ].

  "I am so happy to finally be back home after so long. I can't wait to get out of the airport and see what Trinidad has become since I left. I am also so excited to see my dad. This is just great."
  "Trinidad has changed much and I want to take in everything and spend as much time as I can seeing everything there is to see," Mannette said.

Minutes after the plane touched down, Mannette was escorted to the VIP Lounge, where there was a brief media conference followed by a reception.

As he entered the lounge, he was serenaded by young pannist Attiba Williams who performed Ras Shorty I's Watch Out My Children on the tenor pan.

An obviously delighted Mannette praised the young man and noted that it was a good thing to see that the youth was carrying on the legacy of the pan.

Pan Trinbago president, Patrick Arnold, welcomed Mannette, defining his visit as an honour to the nation. A special invitation to attend tonight's World Steelband Music Festival also was extended to the pioneer of the pan movement.

Also on hand from the pan fraternity to welcome Mannette were his fellow pan-men from the early days, Oscar Pyle; and the first president of Pan Trinbago [ The National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen - 1950; later to be renamed Pan Trinbago in 1971 - eEd ] Sydney Gallah [ Gallop ].

Also on hand were Dr Clem Imbert, Len Boogsie Sharpe and Father Christian Perriera.

Minister of Culture, Daphne Phillips, thanked him for giving the nation, and by extension the world, the pan and its music.

  She said: "You have made your mark and I am sure will continue to leave footprints along the path as the steelpan continues to develop.
  "Your genius has been a major catalyst in the development of the steelpan. We have indeed come a long way – from the biscuit pan days, the soap box, sweet oil pan, convex pan, du dup, ping pong and the eight-note pan."
  She added: "In 1946 when you sank the 55-gallon oil drum into its concave shape, this innovation changed the very structure of the pan and revolutionised the approach to the tuning of pans.
  "It also initiated the creation of other types of pans. My Government is pleased to welcome home the Father of the modern steel drum – consummate master craftsman," Phillips said.

Mannette spoke briefly of his early days in the United States and of how everyone he met back then were amazed whenever he played the pan.

He noted that when he was leaving Trinidad in 1967, many people were not pleased because they believed that he would have allowed the Americans to lay claim to the pan.

Mannette assured his audience that every paper prepared from research and every innovation to the pan would be made available to Trinidad.

  "I will always work towards advancing the art form. Any papers published will be sent to Trinidad. There are many innovations and new technology[s] coming out."
  "For instance, there is a method of sinking the pan using compressed water pressure. The pan has come from the trash can in 1937 to this today. The violin and piano took 500 years to develop. The pan is just 52 years old."

Mannette, who is accompanied on his visit by some of his students at the West Virginia University Pan Tuning Academy, said he wanted to build with his students a complete set of pans here in Trinidad.

He said within six weeks, he and his students could roll out the finished pans, which he would like to give to either Invaders or the University of the West Indies.

THE EDITOR: Please allow me some space in your newspaper to make a number of comments on the recently held Pan Market and blocko on the Brian Lara Promenade. First of all let me say a special thanks to Ebony Steel Orchestra and Trinmar Hatters, the only two bands to appear.

With respect to Ebony Steel Orchestra they had performed the night before. Seeing that Trinidad and Tobago is the host of the festival I was expecting to see a number of local bands appearing at this function with the visiting bands having an opportunity of taking in the show, but for what ever reason that was not the situation.

When would Pan Trinbago organise something that pannists and citizens of this republic would be proud of, I keep asking myself?

It was one of the most embarrassing situations for me as a national of Trinidad and Tobago. Seeing that this is part of the World Steelband Festival, the organisers of this event should be fired instantly. Public Relations was lacking, infrastructure was very poor, (no lighting [in the tents] for foreign bands [indeed for both bands - eEd] ) is this how we showcase Trinidad and Tobago to the outside world? I would like the organisers to clear the air on the non-appearance of all the bands that were advertised to be on the programme and why smaller bands were not given an opportunity to perform for the foreigners or is it a case of who you know in Pan Trinbago.

As a steelband lover and a concerned Trini, I approached an official of Pan Trinbago enquiring where I could find the President of Pan Trinbago, who also happens to be the President of the World Steelband Festival Committee; to my astonishment I was told that the President went home to Tobago, but it does not surprise me of the organising skill of the Executive of the Pan Body. There is not an event that I attend outside of Panorama, which is a success. It leaves me to wonder whether these fellas do sit down and look at a situation before going ahead into it. Do they sit and analyse the do's and don'ts?

Come on fellas don't let it be said, when the history of the organisation is written, that this Executive was the worst ever in the Steelband Movement.

KIRBY JONES
La Brea

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© 2000: tobagojo@trinidad.net - 20001123 Last Update: 07 December 2000 00:00:00 Processed by: Jeremy G de Barry

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