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Parang and Steel is all grown up

 Silver Stars Steel Orchestra host concert series

Trinidad and Tobago - The celebrated music showcase staged by reigning National Panorama champion PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Steel Orchestra called “Parang and Steel” is all grown up.

Scores of pan lovers converged on the band’s Tragarete Road, Newtown, headquarters to celebrate the twentieth edition of it’s “Parang and Steel” concert series on November 20.

Arguably the longest running and most consistent non-competitive pan event in Trinidad and Tobago, the event attracted scores of music lovers with a star cast that included gospelypsonian Sean Daniell, Baron (Timothy Watkins), single pan band St James Tripolians, parang group Fuego Caribeno and DJ Remixx.

Silver Stars Steel Orchestra
Silver Stars panist Zante in the spotlight

Together, with the host Silver Stars, artistes turned the panyard into a musical temple with their quality repertoires. They had patrons singing and dancing, too.

From left to right is pan tuner Tony Slater, George Duncan, vice-chairman northern region of Pan Trinbago, Allan "Pablo" Augustus, trustee, central executive of Pan Trinbago, Edwin Pouchet, leader, PCS Silver Stars and Tokyp-based pan educator Manish Robinson
(left to right) - pan tuner Tony Slater, George Duncan, vice-chairman northern region of Pan Trinbago, Allan "Pablo" Augustus, trustee, central executive of Pan Trinbago, Edwin Pouchet, leader, PCS Silver Stars and Tokyo-based pan educator Manish Robinson

The two-decade old, sought-after weekend production was much more than just a Yuletide music showcase. Alvin Daniell, executive director of Major and Minor Productions, introduced the masses to audio versions of Panorama 2011 calypsoes co-written by Silver Stars leader Edwin Pouchet and himself. The selections were: Wake Up vocalised by former National Calypso Monarch Denyse Plummer and It’s Showtime! sung by Anselm Douglas.

Edwin Pouchet (l),  leader of Silver Stars Steel Orchestra chats with band drillmaster Donell "Bravo" Thomas
Edwin Pouchet (l), leader of Silver Stars Steel Orchestra chats with band drillmaster Donell “Bravo” Thomas

Officials of the celebrated steel orchestra, however, remained tight-lipped as to which ditty Pouchet would choose to defend Silver Stars’ Panorama title.

St James Tripolians created a Jouvert-like scene as the band roved the panyard. Patrons were chipping and waving flags. Ian Welch, managing director, PCS Nitrogen, Canadian High Commissioner Karen McDonald and Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra were specially invited guests of Silver Stars at “Parang and Steel.” They, along with the capacity audience, were treated to a delightful mix of moods from the host band which played music of yesterday as well as today’s hits, leaving parang group Fuego Caribeno to inject the larger share of heart-warming parang numbers which heralded the scintillating five-week music series—“Parang and Steel.”

Photos courtesy: Silver Stars
From the desk of Silver Stars

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