By Joan Rampersad Tuesday, December 29 2015
IN 2015, culture and entertainment were a mixed bag. Starting with what many termed as the vexatious two-horse race for National Panorama competition, between Phase II and Massy All Stars, then adding insult to injury for them, the naming of All Stars as Mas Band of the Year.
The ‘blues’ continued with the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) president, David Lopez being sacked by Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Lincoln Douglas, while the Calypso king of the world the Mighty Sparrow (Dr Slinger Francisco) is still waiting for the money promised by the People’s Partnership Government.
On the brighter side, popular radio announcer and DJ of the 70s and 80s, Rennie Bishop, returned to local airways much to the delight of thousands, and a couple months later came the hosting of the first International Conference and Panorama (ICP) by Pan Trinbago...
...At the Savannah Party “sideshow” of the National Panorama competition, patrons were blue vex over The Greens. The novelty of the area has certainly worn off to the point where many vowed to return to the stands in 2016...
..Ken “Professor” Philmore was most vocal about his band’s final Panorama placing, calling it robbery.
He said: “They are wicked to me after all those years. They learnt theory but I learnt the practical way. I listened to All Stars and it is the same BS every year. But when they go home after Panorama I go first class flying the flag of TT .” Letters to the editor raised questions over the same two bands coming first and second every year...
Replies
... and in 2016 we have another vexatious two-horse race for National Panorama competition, between Phase II and Massy All Stars. As defending champs, All Stars is guaranteed first or second place. And flush with cash and a new sponsor, Phase II is more motivated than ever to WIN right out of the starting gates for HADCO.
A poster on this forum once complained as to why Birdsong players are willing to practice so hard under a foreign arranger when they knew that they were going to lose. Well, why would the players in Exodus and Desperadoes and Renegades and Skiffle Bunch and Starlift and Silver Stars and Invaders practice so hard when they know that they could only come THIRD AT BEST?
Special category for Ken "Professor" Philmore: He loss before he even step on the stage.
Claude
Professor only get thief once. And for that, he has gotten three decades of mileage out of that. All good arrangers have to get robbed at least three times in their career. Beyond "Pan By Storm" no one has said Professor was robbed again. lol
bogs
Lol, Bugs Pro. is meh boi but I hear what you are saying, he can't put Pan By Storm behind him.
But "Pro" flies FIRST CLASS all over the world performing.
Pro, will give up all ah that for a Panorama win. I think arrangers measure their "rank" by their placing in panorama.
Cecil
Pro not the only one who would trade all their frequent flyer miles to be part of that exclusive, exclusive, exclusive club - Big Band Panorama Champion. If you ain't got one of those Panorama Champion check mark next to you name - you fake ranking in the Pan world.
Doh leh dat ole talk fool you. Andy Narell, Raf Roberson, Two Left, our boy Glenroy, and even my good friend Claude might have a sit down with Darth Vader if it could guarantee a Panorama win. Darth Vader say he is powerless in Trinidad. Keith Dias already got his job. ha ha ha ha ha
Lucky for us the Force in T'dad too strong, too unpredictable.
bugs