Two in a row for Exodus as Panorama Champs
Posted: Monday, February 23, 2004

By John Babb, Newsday TT

Sheer brilliance, clean precision playing and execution of a very good tune, plus the tonal quality of the pans, all added up to an easy dimension for the judges to declare Exodus, the St.Augustine-based band, Panorama winners for another year with a points tally of 468. Exodus captured the first prize of $200,000 and the bpTT-sponsored Challenge Trophy. In the medium band category Excellent Stores Silver Stars were adjudged Medium Band winners 2004 for their performance of the tune "Pure Party." Like Exodus, Silver Stars also won a bpTT-sponsored Challenge Trophy. Contrary to the habit of many years, bands received their prize cheques as soon as the results were announced.

In the large band category Exodus defended their title so convincingly that the runners-up -- Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars and Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove who tied for second place -- were 12 points behind. Highly favoured WITCO Desperadoes with the tune "Whap Cocoyea" marshalled by old-stager Clive Bradley and a jumping calypsonian Shadow with his cocoyea broom, did no better than fourth place with 455 points. The Charlotte Street-based BP Renegades, who played "Pan on de Road" composed by their arranger Jit Samaroo and Michael Marcano, ended up in sixth spot. The music was quite good and well arranged, but it turned out to be the wrong tune in the wrong place. A tune entitled "Pan for the Savannah" might have done the trick. They polled 436 points. Renegades were edged out by the south band TCL Skiffle Bunch, who took fifth place with Winston Scarborough's "War 2004," for which they earned 446 points.

RBTT Redemption Sound Setters playing the same "War 2004" received 433 points, earned seventh spot -- six points ahead of the other south band NLCB Fonclaire, who got 427 points for the eighth place. Exodus, from the outset of their performance, caught the attention of the judges and the audience with such an appropriate introduction -- the melody of the soldiers' chant at Fort Bragg on the way to battle, or exercise. It was the right introduction for the tune "War 2004." It indicated that arranger Pelham Goddard had things well thought out. Backed up by such precision playing -- the players apparently were so well "drilled" into the musical phrasing plus the tonal quality of their pans, made for a clean, captivating performance that had so much verve and vitality. At times, because of their musical phrasing and emphasis on some musical notes, one felt it was "De Fosto" himself singing his tune to you. The performance left no doubt as to who had won the Panorama.

Overall, compared to previous years, some plaudits must go to Pan Trinbago by getting the show on the road almost on time. When the medium bands performed everything went according to plan, because by 9.50 pm the eight finalists bands had already performed. But the process slowed to a crawl when the large bands appeared on stage with their droves of supporters -- Renegades followed by Despers, followed by Phase II, followed by All Stars. The few stage security just could not cope with the crowd of supporters. The photographers at times were out of hand as they too crowded each band, obscuring the vision of the paying patrons. However, when told by the announcer, they co-operated. The eight minutes performance allotted each band was quite adequate. If only there was better control of the crowd of supporters, and quicker tallying of the results, patrons could have been out of the Savannah by 1.15 am. And that for a Panorama, after the performances of 16 bands, would have been wonderful.

MEDIUM BANDS CATEGORY
1: Excellent Stores Silver Stars -- 458 points
2: Potential Symphony -- 451
3: Valley Harps -- 449
4: Harmonites -- 448
5: Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille -- 447
6: Belmont Fifth Dimension -- 439
7: Carib Dixieland and Parry's Pan School -- tied
with 438 points.

LARGE BANDS CATEGORY:
1: Exodus -- 468 points
2: Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars and Phase II Pan
Groove -- tied with 456 points.
4: WITCO Desperadoes -- 455
5: TCL Skiffle Bunch -- 446
6: BP Renegades - 436
7: RBTT Redemption Sound Setters -- 433
8: NLCB Fonclaire -- 427

SMALL BANDS CATEGORY:
1: Longdenville Claytones -- 443 points

SINGLE PAN BANDS CATEGORY:
1: La Horquetta Pan Groove -- 475 points

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