The national instrument was not present in Brazil on Saturday night, when Keshorn Walcott gave T&T its only medal at the Rio Olympics, but was physically represented when Pan Trinbago Inc hosted, Love Yuh Own, at the Charlotte Street pan theatre of bpTT Renegades in Port-of-Spain.
Perhaps it was Walcott's achievement–screened at the pan venue for the benefit of those in attendance–which prompted Northern Region chairman Gerald Mendez to suggest that pan be included whenever T&T participates in the Olympics, and similar premier global events. Mendez added that our national instrument must be heard whenever the national anthem is played.
The attendance wasn't large on Saturday but it was a night that was big on good steelband performances. In the spotlight were San City and Fusion Steel of San Fernando, and Newtown Playboyz. The event was graced by the presence of Port-of-Spain Mayor Kerron Valentine.
The following evening saw a larger turnout for five steelbands, including National Panorama champion Desperadoes, runner-up First Citizen Supernovas, Valley Harps, Southern Marines and Uni Stars of Laventille. Director of Community Development, Culture & the Arts, Suzanne Corbett was seen in the audience on Sunday night.
The weekend past was an active one for pan as bpTT Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra turned in an exceptional performance on Saturday afternoon, at its first Pan Extravaganza, held at the St James Amphitheatre. Joining Renegades youth players to produce some beautiful music were St Francois Girls' College Steel Orchestra, St Margaret's Youth Steel Orchestra and Trinidad All Stars Youth Steel Orchestra.
Simultaneously on Saturday, a Youth Steelband Jamboree was held at the LH Pan Groove Pan Academy, Neville Jules Crescent, Phase 5, La Horquetta. Again, youths showcased their stuff and among the bands doing so were San City Junior Steel Orchestra, Exocubs, BATCE Steel Orchestra, Golden Hands, Invaders Junior Steel Orchestra and LH Pan Academy.
Also, pan-loving landlubbers had a great time on Sunday morning aboard the Treasure Queen, when Renegades held its annual Rock D Boat cruise.
Pan on D'Avenue
Though still not having all its sponsors confirmed, all systems are go for tomorrow evening's Pan on the Avenue V, staged by the Woodbrook/St James Community Association.
Confirmed sponsors thus far include the Prime Minister's Sport & Culture Fund, TSTT, Carib, Sagicor General, NLCB, Hadco, Solo Beverages, NCC, Simon's Musical Supplies, The Achievement Centre, Wendy's, and, Johnny Q.
Pan on the Avenue V will be held along Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook from 6.30 pm, between Taylor and Colville Streets. It has been held for the past five years in celebration of the anniversary of our Independence and in recognition of our national instrument, the steelpan.
The parade will include 30 steelbands, as well as rhythm sections and traditional Carnival characters.
Having previously honoured mas personalities–steelband arrangers, tuners, and calypsonians–this year awards will be given to The Engine Room (percussionists). The parade is in memory of Amigo Nadur, principal figure behind the Carnival Monday night steelband competition at Adam Smith Square, and Japanese pan musician Asami Nagakiya.
A cultural presentation will be held at Adam Smith Square. Also Sagicor General is partnering with Arrive Alive to administer breathalyzer tests. Newcomer to the pan world Suave has been selected to be the stationary band at Adam Smith Square. Triniscene.com is also setting up a photo booth offering instant photos, and the Carib and Blink bMobile brand ladies will also be present.
IndePANdance fun
The national instrument enjoys a premier role every Independence Day. Not only is pan in the forefront of the nation's military marching bands but several steelbands are hosting Independence Day post-parade brunches on Wednesday. Independence Day Pan Brunch. Among the steelbands hosting these events are MHTL Starlift (Starlift House of Music, Mucurapo Extension, Mucurapo Road, St James; CAL Invaders, Invaders Pan Theatre, Tragarete Road, Woodbrook; and Newtown Playboyz at its Tragarete Road home in Newtown.
Of the lot, the Playboyz brunch and street festival, which begins at 7 am, is the most elaborate as it will showcase several of the nation's top steelbands, including Desperadoes, First Citizen Supernovas, bpTT Renegades, Phase II Pan Groove in collaboration with Hadco, Massy Trinidad All Stars, San City, Brimblers and Playboyz. Also on the billing are Mavis John, with Ming & Friends, calypsonians Relator and Baron.
Also holding brunches on Wednesday are How'zat Sports Bar, 163 Tragarete Road, Woodbrook and Kaiso Blues Cafe, 85 Woodford Street, Newtown. Billed to perform at the Kaiso Blues Independence Kaiso Jazz Brunch from 11 am are Relator, Trini Jacobs, and Roger Salloum's Independence Jazz Quartet.
Is Mas in Brooklyn
It is that time of year again when New York explodes to the rhythm and music of T&T. Next Thursday the 49th annual West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), New York Caribbean Carnival Week (NYCCW) will be kicked off, celebrating One Caribbean, One People, One Voice and the contributions of Caribbean heritage to the world with a five-day Caribbean-American cultural extravaganza.
Included in the festivities are five multi-cultural concerts that boast tasty Caribbean cuisine from local chefs, steelband rhythms, festive costumes, and Caribbean rhythms with artistes like King David Rudder, Kes the Band, Roy Cape All Stars, Blaxx, steel orchestras Pan Sonatas, CASYM, Pantonic, Steel Xplosion, ADLIB, METRO, D'Radoes, Crossfire Steel Orchestra, Harmony Steel Orchestra and Despers USA, Luciano, Third World, Romain Virgo, Ricardo Drue (Antigua), Lyrikal, and Skinny Fabulous (St Vincent).
Roy Cape All Stars is expected to rip up the Brooklyn Museum Grounds on September 2, when the premier Trinidad soca band headlines BrassFest.
The Museum Grounds is also the venue for Dimanche Gras on Sunday, September 4, where the finals for King and Queen of Carnival will be held, as well as the 2016 NY Panorama winer. Headlined by David Rudder, Aaron Duncan and Natasha Wilson, this show will be hosted by the popular Wassy and Jemma Jordan.
The week culminates in WIADCA's New York Caribbean Carnival Parade on Monday, September 5, on the famed Eastern Parkway "cultural row" from 11 am to 6 pm.
Pan on the Avenue V
List of Steelbands
�2 Suave
�2 Desperadoes
�2 First Citizen Supernovas
�2 bpTT Renegades
�2 Phase II Pan Groove in collaboration with Hadco
�2 PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars
�2 CAL Invaders
�2 Republic Bank Exodus
�2 Massy Trinidad All Stars
�2 MHTL Starlift
�2 Pan Elders
�2 Tropical Angel Harps
�2 Southern Marines
�2 SIS Harmonites
�2 Melodians
�2 Pandemonium
�2 Western Stars Philharmonic
�2 Arima Angel Harps
�2 Newtown Playboyz
�2 St James Tripolians
�2 Defence Force Steel Ensemble
�2 Fire Services Steel Ensemble
�2 Brimblers
�2 Harvard Harps
�2 City Su Valley
�2 Uni Stars
�2 St Margaret's Boys Youth Steel
Pan percussion awardees
�2 Sonilal "Killer" Samaroo
�2 Andrew "Soca" Brumant
�2 Kenneth Clarke
�2 Ronnie Howard
�2 Phillip Elder
�2 James Inniss
�2 Hayden Holder
�2 Desmond Patron
�2 Okatunji Balagun
�2 Jason Lewis
�2 Errol Collins
�2 Christopher Mohammed
�2 Victor Mc Queen
�2 Vance Romain
�2 Keith Diaz