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Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. -
The third installment of
Parang and Steel
held on
December 4, took on an entirely
new level of fun when
entertainer Anslem Douglas
performed PCS Silver Stars’
tune-of-choice for Panorama 2011
titled “Showtime.” Venue was the
champion band’s Tragarete Road,
Newtown, Port-of-Spain,
headquarters for the cultural
showcase which also featured
performances by parang group San
Couche, reigning National
Calypso Monarch Kurt Allen,
single pan band St James
Tripolians as well as vocalists
Kenwyn Hutcheon and Kenny J
(Kenneth Joseph).
New single pan band We Ting
added value
to the
evening’s entertainment |
Los Dinámicos
parang group offer sweet serenal
for music lovers on hand |
Taking the
spotlight with his new band
Zante, Douglas added the
selection – composed by Edwin
Pouchet, leader and arranger of
Silver Stars Steel Orchestra– to his mix of moods
repertoire. With Silver Stars panists partying among the
large and enthusiastic crowd
during the highly anticipated
live presentation of the ditty,
the jubilation increased
ten-fold.
St
James Tripolians in a
Jouvert-like jam session |
Silver Stars panist
Sekou Mc Gregor during
band performance |
It was just one week
prior at Parang and Steel that
cheers rung out with news that
Battle Zone – Silver Stars’
tune-of-choice for Panorama 2010
– won the Soca Pan Song of the
Year prize at the International
Soca Awards. The ceremony
was conceptualized and produced by
the Soca Awards Organisation and
held at the National Academy for
the Performing Arts in
Port-of-Spain. The other
contenders were: Ken “Professor”
Philmore, Mark Loquan and Destra
Garcia for
Rewind; Pelham
Goddard and David Rudder -
Pan In
de Mas; Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and
Franklyn Olliviera -
Pan Army;
and DeFosto (Winston Scarborough)
-
Smooth Sailing.
Sandra Mc David presents
Soca Pan Song
of the
Year Award to composer Edwin Pouchet |
Silver Stars panists
break out in jubilation
during Anslem
Douglas’ performance of
Showtime |
Alvin Daniell,
the man responsible for Battle Zone’s lyrics accepted
the award, journeyed to Silver
Stars’ home base and
communicated the song’s success.
There, Pouchet, composer of the
song was presented with the
award before a jubilant crowd
who continued the evening’s
celebration with music from
single pan band We Ting, Los Dinámicos
parang group and Scrunter (Irwin
Reyes Johnson).
Reigning
Calypso Monarch Kurt Allen
performs his soca parang
ditty titled Merry Carnival
Silver Stars won
Trinidad’s Panorama competition
with Battle Zone, but that
was not where victory for the
bands playing the composition
ended. Steelbands appearing in
similar-themed competitions in
Montreal, Washington and New
York clinched victories, too.
Pouchet and Daniell hoped that
“Showtime” would also be a pan favourite come Panorama 2011 in
Trinidad and Tobago as well as
other parts of the world.
Photos courtesy: Silver
Stars
From the
desk of Silver Stars
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