A list of Trinidad and Tobago 2016 Carnival events and activities
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Web Posted - Sunday January 31, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It's hats off and congratulations to the three sets of winners—steel orchestras and respective arrangers—in their categories in Trinidad & Tobago's 2016 Junior National Panorama competition. The junior musical steelband festival came off Sunday January 31 at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.

Tacarigua Presbyterian with arranger Keva-Ann Blackman (Primary Schools) - St. Joseph's Convent, St. Joseph (Secondary Schools) led musically by arranger Anders Kappel Øvre, and Renegades Youth (21 & Under) with their champion arranger Andrew Charles - all tasted the sweetness of success for 2016. For Charles and Renegades Youth it was an extremely special occasion, having achieved a hat trick together, the collaboration copping the championship title for the third year in a row, 2014 and 2015 being their time as well.
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Web Posted - Saturday January 30, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Right-on, Right-on, Right-on. Yea! It’s the ‘Love Doctor’ of Pan doing his thing. No doubt. It’s a love thang...
Watching arranger Duvone Stewart conduct his champion orchestra Pan Elders leaves nothing to the imagination. Outstanding music, deft musicianship and a stellar presentation on a world stage.

....Duvone is obviously very conscious that Panorama is a real-time reality musical enclosed in a party environment where the audience is both an interactive participant and viewer. You’ve got eight minutes to bring joy to the audience, judges and the camera - in addition to making them fall madly in love with you - ‘live’ in house, or whether they are watching on a iPhone or just listening on the radio. Pan Elders is wildly successful.
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Web Posted - Friday January 29, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global - One thing is for certain this year at the 2016 Panorama Finals in Trinidad and Tobago; after Skiffle performs the structural integrity of the big stage and the North Stands will have to be checked. No doubt this big band from south, will have the Queen’s Park Savannah rocking on Panorama Finals evening. If the recently-concluded semi finals has taught us anything, it is that Skiffle under the musical directive of Odie Franklin, Marc Brooks and Kendall Williams is going to have much fun, enjoy themselves, and put down a performance that will let everyone know their contention for the title is as serious as a heart attack.

It’s been over 40 years since an orchestra from southern Trinidad has won the national Trinidad and Tobago Panorama championship. Hatters Steel Orchestra under the musical leadership of Steve Achaiba secured that top honor in 1975. Since then the ‘winning’ drought has been both significant, poignant and weighs heavily in the minds and hearts of the southern steelpan region, its players and supporters. Maybe this is the year the suffering ends. You never know. However, one thing that is certain: the field has never been more crowded with bona fide contenders for the title.
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Web Posted - Thursday January 28, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Panorama is much more than a music competition. It is a phenomenon that mirrors life experiences and values. You can experience exhilarating joy, to cold numbing pain, heartbreak and disillusion - all in one season - for an eight-minute performance. In an instant you can go from the heat of the moment with the glare of the dazzling and blinding spotlights of the big stage in the Queen's Park Savannah, to a darkened, cold, and empty panyard.

But in between there are the lessons that will follow and shape you for a lifetime - dedication, commitment, respect, loyalty, discipline, responsibility, trust, rewards, failure, leadership, true friendship, legacy and survival.
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Web Posted - Wednesday January 27, 2016
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The State will pay out $2.9 million in financial assistance to more than 180 unsponsored steel-bands across the country – including the Samaroo Jets started by the late pan icon Jit Samaroo – according to the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

In a ceremony at Nicholas Tower on Friday, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, began the distribution of cheques to several unsponsored steel bands from the East, North, South/Central and Tobago zones, “to facilitate their participation in the Panorama Competition and other related activities for the 2016 Carnival celebrations”.

“These funds will assist the steel bands in key Carnival related undertakings including preparatory activities such as blending of the pans, chroming, repair of stands and sourcing of additional support instruments,” a ministry spokesperson said last Friday in a media release. One hundred and seven (107) conventional and seventy-six (76) single pan bands will receive grants.
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Web Posted - Monday January 25, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Phase II Pan Groove leads the pack going into the last night of competition in the finals, carded for Saturday February 6th at the Queen's Park Savannah in the country's capital of Port-of-Spain.

And according to the latest revision of the Panorama rules from event organizer Pan Trinbago, nine others will follow Phase II into that arena. Again, another shock for many, not least for the band itself, former champion Exodus Steel Orchestra, missed the cut by one point with a score of 262 being judged only good enough for position 11. Band musicians had confidently pegged their Panorama fortunes on their execution of the musical collaboration between David Rudder and arranger Pelham Goddard "De Big Yard."
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Web Posted - Monday January 25, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Out of the fourteen medium steel orchestras which strived to make it to the Finals for a shot at the coveted crown, four—including Pamberi Steel Orchestra—had to kiss their chances goodbye, at least for 2016. Instead, the final ten is made up primarily of several past winners themselves in that category, such as Katzenjammers, Sound Specialists of Laventille, Steel Xplosion and Buccooneers. Title defenders Pan Elders with champion arranger Duvone Stewart are going for the hat-trick, having triumphed also in 2015 and 2014.
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Web Posted - Monday January 25, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Champion arranger Terrance “BJ” Marcelle together with his band Arima Golden Symphony is out front after the semi-final competition in the small band category. The combination is in quest of another championship title, and if successful, would mean its seventh win in the country's past eight national small steel orchestra Panorama competitions. But before that, nine other equally determined challengers have to be vanquished. They include Laventille Serenaders, Tamana Pioneers, Five Rivers Modern Symphony and Pandemonium, among others.
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Web Posted - Thursday January 21, 2016
When Steel Talks

by Dalton Narine
 

Global - Oh, lest we forget, Boogsie and Smooth fighting for the million, both hoarding a reputation of never being ‘fraid of keen competition, ‘cause “Kings Go Forth,” and they may regard wannabes in the Rama as minnows to a wash basin. As man, you as poet, you know ‘bout minnows. Let me dolls it up a bit. Some as dem fellas is small fish, too small to fry in the rangatang Savannah. So don’t be surprised if the Rama judges throw them out with they bathwater.

Also, doh get shock if the two big sharks get tie up in the lines of the judges’ reasonin’. After all, Merv, ‘member none ah dem adjudicators foreign. And Panorama is about, well, make a play.
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Web Posted - Wednesday January 20, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Tornadoes Steel Orchestra is one of four bands representing the South/Central region in the small steel orchestra category which made it through to the semi-finals being staged January 24th in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  Playing arranger's Shervon Edwards' arrangement of "Mash It Up," not only did the band make the cut, but it also trumped nineteen others at this stage.  But hot on the heels of Tornadoes' heels is the defending champion Arima Golden Symphony musically led by champion arranger Terrance "BJ" Marcelle.
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Web Posted - Wednesday January 20, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With the preliminary rounds in judging for the medium steel orchestra for the 2016 Panorama season now relegated to the history books, it is now official which fourteen bands will move on to the semi-finals slated for this coming weekend, Sunday January 24th at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
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Web Posted - Tuesday January 19, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - As has been the norm, Large Conventional Bands registered for Panorama 2016 will be visited by the judges and Pan Trinbago officials. Two judges will visit each of the zones to “listen” to the bands and give their comments while Pan Trinbago officials will conduct the head count. This will take place at the bands’ respective panyards and/or theatres.

Overall, seventeen steel orchestras comprising five (5) from the East, seven (7) from the North, four (4) from the South and one from Tobago will perform over a three-day period. In this category, several of the competitors have opted to play their own compositions.
check line-up

Web Posted - Tuesday January 19, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - As has been the norm, Large Conventional Bands registered for Panorama 2016 will be visited by the judges and Pan Trinbago officials. Two (2) judges will visit each of the zones to “listen” to the bands and give their comments while Pan Trinbago officials will conduct the head count. This will take place at the band’s respective panyards and/or theatres. Seventeen (17) steel orchestras comprising five (5) from the East, seven (7) from the North, four (4) from the South and one from Tobago will perform over a three- day period. In this category, many of the competitors have opted to play their own compositions.

check line-up

Web Posted - Tuesday January 19, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Two judges will visit the Tobago zone to “listen” to Redemption Sound Setters, currently the only large steel orchestra in the sister isle of Tobago. Years ago, Our Boys Steel Orchestra, now competing in the small steel orchestra category, was itself a large steel orchestra.

The judges will give Redemption Sound Setters their comments while Pan Trinbago officials will conduct the head count. This will take place at the band’s panyard. Starting time is 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 19^th and admission is Free.
check for judges, more

Web Posted - Monday January 18, 2016
When Steel Talks

by Dalton Narine
 

Global - It may’ve been a sacrilegious move by Starlift. Still and all, no wonder the Woodbrook band bypassed a Bomb contest that required steel orchestras to reprise jazzy but colourful Highlanders arrangements.

It’s safe to say that Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II hadn’t dared to dream of an adaptation on pan featuring “It’s a Grand Night For Singing” (from the movie “State Fair”) and "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’" (from “Oklahoma!”). Granted, the few millennial revellers may have found the sound “foreign,” but, by and large, quite a few at least sang the first line, and everybody la-la’ed the melodies.
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Web Posted - Sunday January 17, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Panorama 2016 kicked off on January 8th at the Queens Park Savannah. This signaled the real start of the Carnival in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. As always, all Carnival lovers know that the barrels must rumble to signal the start of Carnival.

On behalf of the entire Steelpan fraternity, I take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to corporate Trinbago which sees it as a civic duty to partner with Pan Trinbago, to ensure that Panorama 2016 comes off successfully.
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Web Posted - Saturday January 16, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global - “Lani K” (born Jalani Kojo) grew up in the Belmont section of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.  As the son of two-time Calypso Queen Twiggy (Ann-Marie Parks-Kojo), “Lani K” definitely was birthed into the tradition of Calypso & Soca music.

The artist is young in age, but a veteran on the circuit, having released several songs in recent years, such as 2015’s The Engine Room and My Melody. He is back for the 2016 season with Legacy.
listen to tune

Web Posted - Thursday January 14, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global - Back-to-back Trinidad & Tobago National Calypso Monarch Chuck Gordon believes a hat-trick of victories in the competition is well and truly on this Carnival.

The reigning monarch made his first move towards the feat with the release of his first 2016 calypso offering It Eh Go Wuk a melodic tale of relationships, compatibility and love for culture that is already being well received.  It is co-composed by ace panist, performing artist, composer and champion steelband arranger Ray Holman, and Fazad Shageer.
listen to tune

Web Posted - Tuesday January 12, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The preliminary phase of competition for competitors in the Single Pan Bands category in the 2016 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama is over, and results are out. In all, sixty-two bands participated from the Eastern, Northern, Tobago and South/Central regions.

According to the 2016 rules, thirty-two will move forward to the semi finals slated for Friday January 22 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Four bands in a four-way-tie: North Eastern All Stars, Pan Elites, Scrunters Pan Groove and Self Help Marines round out those making the cut.
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Web Posted - Monday January 11, 2016
When Steel Talks

by When Steel Talks
 

Global - When Steel Talks has had the great fortune of meeting and being around Jit Samaroo on a few occasions. He was as humble and pleasant, as he was intelligent and talented. Similar to other geniuses and men of great statue that we have met, you would never know that he was a giant in the room.

The past, present, and future of Pan speak on Jit Samaroo.
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Web Posted - Sunday January 10, 2016
When Steel Talks

by Simeon L. Sandiford
 

Global - The humble, reserved, unassuming musical genius Jit Sukha Samaroo was born in the village of Surrey in Lopinot, a tranquil valley of Trinidad’s Northern Range, on February 24th 1950. A blend of French, Spanish, African and Amerindian ancestry and a watershed of cross-cultural fertilization lay in waiting.

From birth, Jit’s musical skills were inculcated and influenced by his mother and the old Parranderos with traditional rhythms of Parang and Castilian. Over time, he honed his craft under the tutorship of Dr. Patricia Bishop, Dr. Gordon Maliphant, Landeg White, Winifred Sitahal and Fr. John Sewell.

Steelpan Master Craftsman Bertram ‘Birch’ Kellman introduced the 17-year old fledgling to the Renegades Steel Orchestra of La Cou Harp, one of the most feared areas of Port-of-Spain, in 1967. With a wry sense of humour, Jit tranquilised these Bad Johns on the opening night of his legendary association with an arrangement of The Osmond Brothers’ One Bad Apple ; they played until round about midnight. Within two decades, he was king of counter melody, orchestration, dynamics and rhythm for the elephantine ensemble that was Renegades at the annual Panorama competition.
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Web Posted - Sunday January 10, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With the defending champs San Juan East Side Symphony as one of the competitors in this segment, the music rivalry is expected to be palpable from the start as twenty Single Pan Bands go up against the group in east Trinidad. It will be the preliminary showing in the eastern region for the country’s 2016 Panorama season come Sunday January 10.

Twenty-one bands are listed to participate in this third consecutive night of competition, with the North and South/Central regions having had their turn this past Friday and Saturday, respectively.
details, get listing

Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2016
When Steel Talks

by DALTON NARINE
 

Global - Just a single name encapsulates this slight man, what he became and the huge legacy he left pan and country.

Imagine a shy East Indian panman/ arranger from Surrey, Lopinot, not your ordinary panist at all, being called upon by Renegades, a steelband from round the bridge, to arrange its music. Particularly Panorama fare.

This is a man who went on to win nine Panorama titles in 16 years. To understand the relevance of that milestone, Desperadoes celebrated 10 Panorama wins among three arrangers.
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Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2016
When Steel Talks

by Mark Loquan
 

Global - This morning I awoke to the sad news of the passing of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural icons, Dr. Jit Samaroo, who came from very humble beginnings to not only create history in the Panorama arena with 9 winning arrangements, but has also composed test pieces now performed in Trinidad, Mexico and the USA.
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Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -  Ten single pan bands will face the panel of judges when Pan Trinbago’s South Central Region stages the National Panorama Preliminary competition phase on Saturday 9th January 2016 at Skinner Park, San Fernando in south Trinidad, beginning 8:00 p.m. Admission is TT $60.00 on the day of the event.
click for listing and order of appearance

Web Posted - Saturday January 9, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global -  
listen to tune

Web Posted - Friday January 8, 2016
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The 2016 Panorama season gets underway officially on Friday January 8 with the Single Pan Band category in the Northern Region in the spotlight. Twenty-nine bands made known their intentions to perform before judges in this preliminary phase of competition. The venue is The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Scheduled start time is 6:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at TT $60.00.
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Web Posted - Monday January 4, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global - “Hypasounds” continues to be in fine form with his consistency in quality music which spans the region and the globe. This year (2015) he emerged as one of the top soca artist in Barbados. Both songs ‘Sugarush” and “How she like it” made it to the finals of The sweet soca competition and The Party Monarch competition respectively. He placed third in The Party Monarch and second in the BT Crop Over Superstar Competition.

 “Hypasounds” will be the recipient for the “Award of Excellence” at the Barbados Music Awards which is scheduled to be held in January 2016.
listen to tune

Web Posted - Sunday January 3, 2016
When Steel Talks

Global - One thing Trinidad and Tobago Panorama 2016 will be remembered for, is the great ‘new’ music each of the big boys - large conventional steel orchestra (large band) category - embraced on their journey to Panorama Champion Gold. Making a big statement with the tunes they have chosen as Tunes of Choice for 2016 - you can hear them screaming - “been there, seen that, done that,” - no time for “retro” tunes.
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Listen to a playlist of Trinidad and Tobago 2016 Soca tunes for Carnival.
listen to list

Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Upcoming

Global  - Upcoming Steelpan music events from all over the world
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks - Special

Champion Panorama Tunes of Trinidad and Tobago

Global - A critical component to winning any panorama competition is the song the orchestras choose to use as the basis of their panorama arrangements. Over the years these songs have inspired classic panorama arrangements. When Steel Talks invites you to take a look at and listen to, these famed tunes which have played more than just a cursory part in the history of Pan, and the lives of the players and fans.
click to hear and/or view