Savannah Party on Sunday

What an amazing weekend and week we’ve had. Beginning on Friday, there were the Holy Name Convent Past Pupils’ Association’s Vintage Fuh So—The Trailblazers, at Queen’s Hall, and the Chutney Soca Monarch semifinal, in Rienzi Complex, Couva. David Rudder also had Carib Woodbrook Playboyz panyard swinging with a riveting performance.

Also held on the weekend were Panorama eliminations in various categories; a slew of huge all-inclusive fetes; the International Groovy and Power Soca semi-finals in Arima; and, T&T whipping Guyana in the final of the Caribbean T20 championship in St Lucia. 

On Monday, Martin Luther King Day, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th US president; Orville London and his PNM slate put a resounding licking on Ashworth Jack and TOP in the THA elections; and 17 large, conventional steel orchestras played for the Panorama judges in their panyards.

The judges of Panorama must be commended for the job they’ve been doing thus far in this year’s competition. In Tobago last week, to judge Single Pan bands, they traversed the length of the island to listen to every participant. 

The judges ended their chore at three in the morning in Canaan. Also deserving praise are the police for the efficient job done in escorting the judges from panyard to panyard.

This year’s Panorama competition attracted almost 100 participants, competing in four categories. Held on Sunday night, at various venues, competition for small and medium bands was extremely keen, as 20 bands from a field of 33 will be chosen to contest the small band semifinal, and 14 of 20 going forward, respectively.

So keen was competition in the small category that a mere point separated the two top participants—Laventille Serenaders and Super Novas. With Serenaders amassing 271 points, for its rendition of Nicole Greaves’ Hammer Time, Super Novas was allotted 270, followed by Tamana Pioneers on 268 points, both bands playing Maestro’s Gold.

The newly sponsored NGC Couva Joylanders, playing Band From Space, scored 260 points to lead the 14 medium bands into their semi. 

Playing We Come Out to Play, and awarded 258 points, was Curepe Scherzando, followed by Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille one point less, playing Long Time.

I found Sunday’s preliminaries at the Queen’s Park Savannah to be a bit subdued and laid-back, with few bands really exciting patrons. Causing the crowd sit up and pay attention, though, were two bands, if only for their unique tunes of choice. 

They were Western Stars Philharmonics playing Designer’s The Changing Wind and Panatics playing Splinters, the latter being a selection that even the house DJ didn’t have a copy of to play before the band’s performance. Both bands were placed low in the results.

Among the bands to generate some excitement on the night were Pandemonium, Musical Gems, Codrington Pan Family, Cocorite West Wind and Serenaders.

Pan Trinbago stages the Single Pan and Small Bands semifinals tomorrow, at the Savannah, from noon.

On Sunday, the eagerly anticipated Savannah Party takes place, at the same time and venue.

Third World reunion

Come Carnival Sunday, February 10, avant-garde St James steel orchestra Third World Symphony will host its second annual reunion, and 40th anniversary, from 2 pm. Founded in 1972, Third World participated in six Panorama competitions, reaching the semifinals in 1973 and ‘74. In 1977, the band placed sixth in the final, and the following year placed eighth. 

Under the able direction of Pelham Goddard, Third World produced a disco 45 of Gold and American Patrol. To date, this is the only steelband record to reach number one on the Caribbean Hit Parade, staying at the top of the ratings for ten weeks. Third World recorded two other albums—Holiday for Steel and Pan Bread.

Third World still has a large fan base and a number of these folks and past pan players are expected to be present at the St James Amphitheatre on the Western Main Road. The Carnival Sunday reunion is being held by the St James Third World Foundation. 

St Ann’s Normandie Hotel is home to Penny’s Fete in 2013.

History is made this year as Miss Universe 1977, Janelle Penny Commissiong Chow, brings her popular all-inclusive place to a place that is as significant to her history as she is to the nation’s. Her grandfather, Edward Commissiong, was Maitre’d at the The Hotel Normandie for 27 years, a very long time ago. This brings a special meaning to both Penny and The Normandie. 

If you’ve never been to Penny’s Fete, if you’ve never been Under the Trees, Carnival 2013 presents an opportunity to join two giants in the Greatest Show on Earth for a special and momentous culmination that celebrates who we are.

Penny’s Fete takes place on Saturday, February 9, at 4.30 pm, and the event has in recent years supported the relief effort for Haiti following the earthquake of 2010 and contributed to victims of Breast Cancer.

Laslap cruise on Ash Wednesday

C2K13 doesn’t end at midnight on February 12. Ensuring that the music and fun continues is KR Promotions with its now established Last Jam IV Intravenous cruise on Ash Wednesday. This exclusive semi all-inclusive Ash Wednesday boat ride is being held aboard the Treasure Queen, from 7 pm and it’s dubbed “a Dutch cruise,” with each patrons being allowed aboard with a bottle of their choice liquor.

Promoter Kemoni Richmond told Pulse this week, “Intravenous simply means ‘within a vein’, and we intend to inject all the energy and vibes of Carnival into the veins of all patrons.”

KR Promotions is offering landlubbers, on arrival at Pier 2, Chaguaramas, free premium drinks before boarding; non stop vibes aboard the boat provided by local and international disc jockeys; live performances by the season’s best soca artistes; and, free eats upon docking. 

The menu includes Sheldon's Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Special Fire Side Foods Bar-B-Que Chicken, Corn Soup, Gherra Chicken, Goat and Pork, Roast Fish and Doubles.

Live performances will be by Shal Marshall, Super Jigga TC, Benjai, Zuki & Tim Tim, Swappi, J'Angel and Dev.

The DJ cast includes Dr Jay from Toronto; New York City finest, including Back to Basic, Platinum Sounds, Sterling Silver and Pantrin Vybez; Kashi and Dave Smooth from Barbados; and T&T’s Rapid Response, Trevlyn & Die Hard, Hollywood Sachy & Dane, and Sumari Sounds.

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