Blog 2.0

back in the day, if i listen to a panorama tune a few times, i could jump on a pan and play some of the licks, from memory, I know I am getting old, but I still have that ability, I was given a rough track by a jazz band once and my first take was perfect, that was the final take and we only did a second one just for so, I jumped in a panyard and started playing a piece of their panorama tune in Brooklyn, if I go to you tube and listen to calypsoes and panorama tunes I never hear from back in the 90's go back, next day I could mout some of the arrangement, but  panorama tunes now, there is a notable lack of "assault on the senses" as Dalton Narine used to describe it, there is little or no show stoppers, and a total lack of climax to the music, the way bands disconnected from the theme of the pieces it was no surprise that phase II won they stuck to the theme,boogsie tried a show stopper but it was too brief,  and the parts were still a little abstract, I wonder if the 8 minute limit, is making arrangers not give extra play to their sweet parts, that helps to make you want to sing the lines, I know its not just me because I observe that young people who were not born yet humming and mouthing older panorama pieces when it is played, but silent when a recent tune is played,so my question is has Panorama music gotten too abstract? 

I am from Laventille and my favourite Steel Orchestra is Desperadoes. However, I am not bias; my love is for honesty and PAN over any BAND.  My beloved Desperadoes do not seem to know what is honour, loyalty or appreciation.                                                                                             Mr. Rupert Phillip, a member of Desperadoes since 1962, passed on in December of 2012.  Rupert, is the only member that performed at 99% of all the band's various functions from 1962 through 2012. Rupert, is the only percussionist and only member of Desperadoes that performed at all 50 Panorama Preliminaries from 1963 through 2012.  Rupert, is the only Desperadoes member that performed at 43 of the 44 Panorama Semi Finals from 1968 to 2012.  Rupert, is the only Desperadoes member and the only person that performed at 45 of the 49 Panorama Finals from 1963 to 2012.  I asked someone in management, why the band did not ask for a minute of silence for Rupert at the Semi Finals?             The answer was, we will look into that at the Finals. {yea right}                 it never happened. Not even 10 seconds for Rupert. 

My wife has said to me on many an occasion, why I do not stop getting involved with Desperadoes' business. But as I stated prior, PAN and PRINCIPLE is bigger than any band.            

It is only around carnival time we hear so much about pan what about the rest of the year. It is time the powers that be begin to make some waves in this country  to have something done for pan and panmen, After all this is our national instrument. the only one created in the 20th century. Let us stand up and begin discussions to have have pan more on the front burner not only at carnival time.Lets join together people and do something for pan in Trinidad and Tobago.