Despers and LH Pan Groove set records
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2006

Despers does double and LH Pan Groove sets show record

By Terry Joseph

Members of the La Horquetta Pan Groove, during their winning performance in the Pan Down Memory Lane category of the TSTT Art of Pan competition at the Queen's Park Savannah on Saturday night.

Witco Desperadoes has successfully defended its title among conventional orchestras and La Horquetta Pan Groove scored an unprecedented fourth straight win over like single-pan bands when the TSTT Art of Pan competition concluded on Saturday at the Queen's Park Savannah.

It took all of five hours to hear the 25 competing steelbands, 13 of which comprised the Pan Down Memory Lane contest for single-pan bands, the other dozen conventional orchestras locked in battle for the Pan in the 21st Century title, playoffs of which ran in tandem.

A Grand Stand-only crowd that, at its best time numbered 3,000 and included Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams and Minister of State in the Ministry, Eddie Hart, heard first notes from Trinidad Nostalgic about 15 minutes after the advertised 7 p.m. start of the Pan Down Memory Lane segment and, for the most part, stayed well into the night, given the spread of playing positions drawn by the more popular conventional orchestras.

Among that grouping, murmur began the minute Despers completed its rendition of Ne-Yo's "So Sick", pan fans suggesting the other bands were playing to determine lesser positions, predicting the Laventille Hill orchestra had unassailably secured top berth and a $50,000 cash prize, reminiscent of last year's interpretation of (the late) Clive Bradley's work on John Legend's "Ordinary People".

Former champs, bpTT Renegades, with Dr Jit Samaroo's arrangement of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (aka: "You're Gonna Miss My Loving"), was a hit with the crowd, as were the three bands tying for third spot, Trinidad All Stars bidding with a Neville Jules arrangement of the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Luiz Bonfa smasher "Black Orpheus", BWIA Invaders doing Arddin Herbert's take on the Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" and Solo Pan Knights, conducted through The Commodores' "Night Shift" by Ben Jackson.

Pelham Goddard could do no better than hold down seventh position with Sagicor Exodus playing his arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" but his work with Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz produced much more impressive result in the Pan Down Memory Lane category, the Newtown band coming in second for its rendition of Burt Bacharach's "Walk on By".

Other exciting performances in this category came from St James Tripolians ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"), La Romaine Super Vibes doing "Every Breath You Take" and the two bands tying in fifth position, Ice Water Pan Ensemble (Gina) and The Graduates with Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" but it was always La Horquetta Pan Groove leading the pack.

Results: Pan in the 21st Century & Down Memory Lane Finals 2006

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