Finals Results for Large Conventional Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama - Renegades End 21-Year Title Drought With Arranger Duvone Stewart as 2018 National Panorama Champions
Update: Full RESULTS Summary
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It was indeed the ‘Year For Love,’ and the Year for Renegades Steel Orchestra - and the Year of Duvone Stewart as champion arranger. Renegades captured the title of 2018 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama champions, performing and triumphing from position one in a field of ten. The last time Renegades were Panorama champions was 1997 - twenty-one years ago. With a final-night score of 287, Renegades kept its lead from the semi-finals. And on the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the steel orchestra held off the 2017 title holders Trinidad All Stars who were relegated to a two-way tie for 5th place with Silver Stars. It is a very, very special and sacred year for Duvone personally, as he also triumphed in the medium band category as arranger for Pan Elders - delivering for the band and him, five consecutive championships in that arena.
Second place in the large category was taken by Skiffle Steel Orchestra, the band’s highest placing to date. The New York-based trio of Marc Brooks, Kendall Williams and Odie Franklin did the musical honors as arrangers for the third year running. Musical heavyweight Desperadoes Steel Orchestra slipped into the third spot as far as the judges saw and heard it.
But we should start at the beginning. After the medium category wrapped up, large steel orchestra Renegades was first out of the musical gates in order of appearance, about 9:57 p.m. Arranger Duvone Stewart was awash in the proverbial color of love - red - paired with a black vest having cut outs of “hearts” as he sang, danced and directed his way through the eight-minute arrangement. His army of musicians were clad in all-gold featuring red hearts in stark relief, completed with red footwear. Pan lovers roared their approval throughout Renegades’ performance which was punctuated by pyrotechnics, and a release of balloons in red, white and black, the colors of Trinidad & Tobago’s national flag. And so the musical gauntlet was thrown down by Renegades, one of the fan favorites of the night; the race to the top was on.
Starlift and Phase II Pan Groove came through next, with the leader and arranger of the latter opting to go to Panorama with a song not his original composition, as had been the case for decades. ‘Hello’ popularized by Kes was chosen by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe as Phase II’s 2018 Panorama selection and had a good crowd response. Title defenders All Stars gave it their best on the other side of midnight at around 12:14 a.m. Despite a spirited delivery All Stars was unable to retain its crown. Skiffle proudly displayed its prowess as it flexed musical muscle at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Silver Stars returned to Panorama with arranger Liam Teague, playing Ultimate Rejects’ ‘Lightning Flash.’ Bolts of lightning rising from the canopies reinforced the band’s tune of choice.
Supernovas with Amrit Samaroo in the arranger’s chair decided on Patrice Roberts’ ‘Sweet Fuh Days’; for them it was pan meeting passion as they commandeered the stage for their allotted time in the spotlight. Band number eight Exodus Steel Orchestra was gorgeously attired - easily the best dressed steel orchestra of the entire night. Ornately printed black tops and the same, but in white, were worn by players in specific positions. Exodus’ performance of a competent arrangement by co-arrangers Pelham Goddard and Terrance “BJ” Marcelle only secured a ninth spot placing.
Veterans Desperadoes Steel Orchestra got going around 2:16 a.m. putting out a distinct and solid rendition of ‘Year For Love’ as interpreted by Carlton “Zanda” Alexander. Festively colored shirts, white pants, white hats with trim were the choice of attire for Invaders Steel Orchestra, band number ten. Vibrant dancers and attendant choreography illustrating the cultures of Trinidad & Tobago were all inspired by the Ultimate Rejects’ ‘(ITF) ‘Inside The Festival.’’ Invaders vigorously closed off the competition by 2:55 a.m.
Of concern was the extremely sparse attendance of the North Stand, clearly visible throughout the competition. Disquieting occurrence for what this iconic venue that has been in the past, associated with the more invigorated of pan loving patrons. Is this the new norm? Hopefully not.
Below are the full results for the finals for large conventional steel orchestras.
Click the following links for the results in the other categories:
Single Pan | Small | Medium | Large | Results Summary
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Large Conventional Steel Orchestras |
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RESULTS | TUNE | BAND | SONG | ARRANGER | |||||||
1st 287 |
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Renegades |
“Year For Love” |
Duvone Stewart |
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2nd 280 |
Skiffle |
“Hello” |
Marc Brooks Kendall Williams Odie Franklin |
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3rd 279 |
Desperadoes |
“Year For Love” |
Carlton “Zanda” Alexander |
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4th 278 |
Invaders |
“(ITF) Inside The Festival” |
Arddin Herbert |
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5th 277 |
Silver Stars |
“Lightning Flash” |
Liam Teague |
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5th 277 |
Trinidad All Stars |
“Lightning Flash” |
Leon “Smooth” Edwards |
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7th 276 |
Phase II Pan Groove |
“Hello” |
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe |
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8th 275 |
Supernovas |
“Sweet Fuh Days” |
Amrit Samaroo |
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9th 273 |
Exodus |
“Sweet Fuh Days” |
Pelham Goddard & |
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10th 270 |
Starlift |
“Full Of Vibe” |
Robert Greenidge |