Trinidad - It has only been a few years since When Steel Talks jolted the media fraternity and people around the globe when we utilized the latest technologies to publish the panorama finals scores for the world, with accompanying pictures and full stories - before many of the panorama attendees had even begun to leave the Savannah.  We even took the then-veteran Trinidadian entertainment editor Terry Joseph by utter surprise, and he remarked in one of his columns 'how shocked he was after getting home from the Savannah' to find full coverage, with audio clips, pictures and articles awaiting him on the internet.  That simple move changed the concept of time in which the world has become accustomed to having the results available after the panorama competition.  Of course, now wireless internet access is commonplace even at the Savannah, and we were occasionally able to publish live from the event a couple of years later. 

Trinidad - Each year, there are gripes in the steelband community, both in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad, about the prize monies for their respective steelband competitions.  This year was no different, and the customary loud grumbles found themselves immortalized in song, via Winston Scarborough's (aka calypsonian D Original de Fosto) 'Pan Lamentation.'  The song was a popular one for the 2007 Panorama season, with fourteen orchestras in the conventional categories opting to take it to the competition arena.  The selection essentially served as an indictment on behalf of the pan community, and decries the lack of respect meted out to the pan people.  Among the grouses documented in de Fosto's ditty, are what have been widely-perceived by many as the 'paltry prize monies' up for grabs in the annual competition.  In one of his performances, De Fosto called for "one million, five [hundred thousand]" TT dollars for the first prize.

Trinidad - Trinidad All Stars captures steelpan music's most prestigious title / Champions of the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama Large band category  

In a hotly contested contest, Trinidad All Stars bested defending champions Phase II Pan Groove by two points - 288.5 to the latter's 286.5.  The 2007 panorama champs played De Fosto's Pan Lamentation as their tune of choice, while Phase II used their arranger Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe's original composition Sharing Licks.  This event was historic on many levels; it was the first panorama held outside of the traditional venue of Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of -Spain - Skinner Park in San Fernando, south Trinidad.  Additionally, the first prize payout was one million TT (USD 159K) to the winning band.  Total prize monies for the 2007 Panorama season will be in the millions of dollars tt when all summed up.

In the medium category, Sound Specialists of Laventille came from behind to secure that division's first place position with a score of 279.  Favored Tobago-based band Dixieland who led the pack going into the finals, had to be satisfied with, what had to be for them, a disappointing fourth place.  Defending champions Sforzata were prevented from scoring a hat trick with a 2007 win, and finished in third place overall.

Trinidad - For 2007, champion steelband arranger Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe says that he has a 'good feeling' about the final competition coming up on Saturday February 17 at Skinner Park, San Fernando.  Like that historic occasion in the making, Boogsie himself is looking not only to score the elusive hat trick in the large steel orchestra category with Phase II Pan Groove, but also to becoming the only arranger to do so with his own compositions.  The 2005 and 2006 panorama-winning arranger pointed out that though mega orchestra Renegades is the only one to date to cop three consecutive panorama wins, they were not all accomplished with the selections written by their arranger - Dr. Jit Samaroo. 

Trinidad -  Invaders Steel Orchestra may be facing the imminent loss of their sixty-seven year old historic and landmark panyard location on Tragarete Road in north Trinidad, but for the immediate future - the next forty-eight hours or so - they are focused on winning the 2007 National Panorama title in the competition being held at Skinner Park in San Fernando on Saturday February 17.  Invaders, playing at position three will have to hold their own and excel over and above their seven fellow contestants in the large steel orchestra conventional category.

Trinidad - For the first time in the history of pan a grand prize of a cool $1 million will be awarded to the champions of the popular Panorama competition.

This was disclosed by Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams at yesterday's post Cabinet press conference at Whitehall, Port of Spain.

She said $750,000 of the million dollar prize will be given by the Government and $250,000 in units from the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC). The grand prize last year totalled $450,000

Trinidad - Siparia Deltones won the 2007 panorama championship title in the small conventional steel orchestra category, pulling ahead of favorites Merrytones Steel Orchestra who came in second.  Eight steel orchestras competed in all.  Merrytones who won from 2004 - 2006, were hoping to cop a beaver trick with four consecutive wins.  Triumphing in a field of sixteen single pan bands, and leaving their fifteen challengers in the dust, was La Horquetta Pan Groove.  The band retained the leadership position it grabbed coming out of the preliminaries and semi-finals.  Full results and scores are available at the 2007 Panorama Summary page.