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BAS Pan Explosion 2K6
Pantasia retains their Champion Band Title

In Pictures BAS Pan Explosion 2K6

United Kingdom - The British Association of Steelbands (BAS) is proud to have initiated and developed this competition. Its concept is to encourage younger pannists to get involved in composing, arranging and playing musical pieces on the steelpan. 2006 saw the formation of the BAS Future Development Forum, another BAS initiative aimed at honing and developing the skills needed to prepare their younger members to undertake the responsibilities of running the Association’s business.
 

Ebony

The BASFDF were tasked with the responsibility of arranging the eight BAS Pan Explosion competition held in the Drum Centre in Aston, Birmingham on the 28th May 2006. Last year the competition was held in Portsmouth on the south coast of England and this year it was in the Midlands, yet another BAS initiative of taking this competition and the steelpan instrument to the four corners of Great Britain.

North Tyneside Steelband led by Dave Edwards was the guest band and they entertained the audience in the foyer before and during the intermission with their vibrant playing. MC on the evening was none other than the BAS Chairman, Pepe Francis with DJ Makili Fredricks pumping out sweet pan and soca music all night. Judges on the night were Princess Rollock, Jason Constantine and Stephan Phillip. Anise ‘Halfers’ Hadeed, the guest artiste, opened the evening with some catchy numbers setting the stage for the wealth of steelpan music that followed. This year the BASFDF included a duet/trio section to the existing soloist and ensembles competition.

The soloist’s competition began with Justin ‘Redz’ Richardson, who has been playing pan for as long as he can remember, playing his own composition, ‘Pan Soldier’ on tenor. His composition was dedicated to all pan greats who are no longer with us - a nice introduction with a lovely structure complimented by a good playing technique earned him second place with 243 points. Dan Sadler who plays for Sounds of Steel and has played with Ebony and the National Steelband for the Queen’s Jubilee in 2002 followed with his own composition entitled ‘From My Window’ on double seconds using four sticks. A professional ‘soft touch’ execution with lovely melodies saw him capture third place with 240 points. Carlene ‘Sweet Wrist’ Etienne a qualified music composer, who has been playing pan for thirteen years, traveled the world with Ebony winning several UK National Panorama competitions with them as well as with Phase II Pan Groove in Trinidad played her own composition ‘Changes’ on double tenor using four sticks. A controlled well phrased delivery; full of tempo saw her attain the Pan Explosion Champion Soloist title for 2006.

Soloists Results:

1st Carlene ‘Sweet Wrist’ Etienne – 247 points
2nd Justin ‘Redz’ Richardson – 243 points
3rd Dan Sadler – 240 points

 

Sounds of Steel

Croydon Steel Orchestra’s Trio – Belinda Stevens on tenor, Anne Davis on double seconds and Robert Erskine on triple guitar played ‘Flower Duet’ by L Deli. This Trio has been playing pan between five and eleven years and competed in Pan Explosion in previous years. A good balanced arrangement with nice harmonies achieved them second place with 228 points. The Ebony Duet was the Dubois twins – Samuel and Tafrina. Samuel is a qualified music teacher and the 2004 Pan Explosion Champion soloist, whilst Tafrina plays regularly at the UK and Trinidad Panorama competitions, her love for music extend well beyond pan and is also known as House DJ ’Soul Intense’. Their own composition, ‘Duality’ filled with lovely melodic interchanges and good harmonics complimented by Tafrina’s well blended stint with the drum was well received. They were crowned the Champion Duet with 264 points.

Duets/Trios Results:

1st Ebony Steel Orchestra – 264 points
2nd Croydon Steel Orchestra – 228 points.
 

Pantasia

The ensemble competition followed with Pantasia retaining the Pan Explosion Band Champions 2K6 title. David Ijaduloa and Edward James arranged their own composition ’Bring Home Da Funk’ as well as their rendition of Lord Kitchener’s ‘Pan in A Minor’. This group of multi talented players has certainly made their mark on this competition since they entered in 2004 when they achieved second. In second place was Mangrove. Having been away from this competition for sometime they made their presence felt on their return by amassing 511 points with their own composition ‘El Quadico’ written by Ryan Eastmond Cummings and arranged by him and Vanya Reid. Their tune of choice was Bunji Garlin’s ‘Fireman’ arranged by Ryan and Levi Connell. The third position was awarded to Ebony with 510 points. Their own composition, ‘Any Ting’ written and arranged by Kaleigh Lewis and Joshua Prescod saw all players soloing. Their tune of choice was Michael Jackson’s, ‘Rock with You’ also arranged by Kaleigh and Joshua with solos from all pannists. Sounds of Steel captured fourth place with 483 points. Their own composition, ‘Stand Up’ was composed and arranged by Lindsay Jobling who also performed a solo. Jack Davies was the other soloist in this rendition. Their tune of choice was Lord Kitchener’s ‘Bees Melody’ arranged by Dan Sadler with all pannists having solo lines. In fifth place was Croydon Steel Orchestra with 414 points. Their pannists have been playing for between 2 and 11 years. They have competed in this competition since 2004. Everyone in the group arranged their own composition, ‘A Bit of This, A Bit of That’ with the solo performed by Helen Gilkes. Their tune of choice was Guns and Roses’ ‘Sweet Child O Mine’ arranged by Belinda Stevens with solos by Kerrie Hughes, Judith Daniels and Annie Davis.


Ensembles Results:

1st Pantasia Steel Orchestra – 534 points
2nd Mangrove Steelband – 511 points
3rd Ebony Steelband – 510 points
4th Sounds of Steel – 483 points
5th Croydon Steel Orchestra – 414 points


BASFDF now looks forward to hosting and supporting yet another highly charged and competitive explosion of pan revealing the innovative skills and talents of the many young pan musicians aspiring to explore the vast avenues of musicianship available to them.
 

From the News Desk of PanPodium / Robbie Joseph

Contact BAS at robbie@panpodium.com

BAS Pan Explosion 2K6 In Pictures


all photos by Robby Joseph

More on  The British Association of Steelbands click here

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