Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2019 Results - Hells Gate Steel Orchestra Notches 21^st Win - Champion Arranger Khan Cordice Makes It 8

St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. -  Seven bands took the stage, but eventually with eight performances overall for the country’s 2019 national steelband Panorama competition, this event was definitely one for the record books... How about the same orchestra opening - and closing - the competition???  But more on that later.

First, kudos to all the panists, music lovers and supporters in general for their exercise in patience and overall love and dedication to the culture and art form. Much of the former was required due to the sometimes 45-plus minute time span between band performances on stage, which extended the proceedings to around 3:30 a.m. when all was ‘played’ and done.  ABS Television/Radio which live-streamed the competition, advised fairly early on that, quote: “THE BAND CHANGES WILL TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TONIGHT. BECAUSE OF THE WATER LOGGED CONDITION ON BACKSTAGE THE BANDS MUST STAY ON THE ROAD OUTSIDE. ONE ENTRANCE AND ONE EXIT.” Add to this scenario the repeat performance of an orchestra, and one could begin to consider the extenuating circumstances.

But first, and naturally, it’s hats off to, and another year of triumph for, Hells Gate Steel Orchestra now with twenty-one National Panorama Championships to its credit. The last eight of those titles have come under the baton of the musical ace, now ‘veteran’ steelband arranger and composer, Khan “KC” Cordice.

It was around 8:47 p.m. when the twin-island country’s national anthem was played on tenor by a member of Panache Steel Orchestra. It heralded the opening of the Royal Caribbean International/ Antigua Commercial Bank Panorama, which was capped off by a brief display of fireworks lighting up the night sky.

Respected veteran broadcaster Sam Roberts, himself a panman, returned to host the musical showcase for another year. Five judges were in the decision-making chairs and positioned on a raised platform in front of and some distance away from the stage.  Three were from Trinidad & Tobago: Kenrick J. Noel, Roger Sardinah and Ezra Joseph, while Randell Pyle and Patrick Thomas were Antigua & Barbuda nationals.

And so it was at precisely 9:00 p.m. with a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd on hand to take in their performance, that first to face the judges were the country’s first champion female steelband arranger, Zahra Lake, and her band, defending 2018 co-champions Panache Steel Orchestra.

Ricardo Drue’s The Good Life was a natural fit and good tune of choice for Panache, given the percentage of youth in the band’s ranks; the energetic frontline players were mainly in the age range of ten to fifteen years. Ace panist Maurisha Potter was among many seen carried away in euphoria along with her fellow musicians, while arranger Zahra Lake was equally fired up on her guitar pan - flanked by her bandmates as they repped well, her arrangement, in their quest to reign supreme for another year. By 9:08 p.m. the pink-, purple- and blue-shirted panists had laid out their final notes and best effort - or so it seemed.

Because - which was incredible - there would be an unprecedented (as far as When Steel Talks (WST) is aware) occurrence in the history of mainstream global Panorama competitions - a ‘do-over.’ This was the case as Panache played in the generally unwelcome position of number one, and then returned to the stage in the coveted position of ‘last band’ to perform once more, at the request of the judges. Their initial appearance was being ‘voided’ due to an interruptive incident involving the audio system kicking in reportedly for about twenty seconds during the band’s performance. So it goes down in history that Panache Steel Orchestra both opened and closed the Panorama...  Their repeat performance eventually was judged as meriting second place in the competition.

Guadeloupe Drummers who have participated in Antigua & Barbuda’s carnival celebrations before, were on hand to enthrall the crowd which encircled them just in front the stage until 9:34 p.m. as band number two Harmonites International set up on stage. At 9.44 p.m. Harmonites International Steel Orchestra struck up Ole Time Something arranged by one of the country’s renowned panists, Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel. The group definitely delivered on the ‘ole-time’ feel as per the theme of the tune.

The end of the next 45-minute period saw Original Steel Orchestra stepping up to the music plate by 10:30 p.m., led by Devon Bachelor who had garnered his first Panorama championship as arranger for Halcyon (which did not participate this year supposedly due to lack of player interest) back in 2016. He worked on 2003’s Ah Wanna See (Jump Inna Bhan) with Original for this season; it was another group again with a majority youth mix who enjoyed themselves participating in the Panorama.

Burning Flames’ Stampede unfolded in a spirited performance at 11:20 p.m. via West Side Symphony working alongside arranger Derel Jarvis.  In orange polo shirts and rich chocolate brown hats, it was an appearance where attention was paid to detail, big band spreads, dynamics and transitions; these all came into play and were on point. Jarvis is definitely a steelband arranger to expect musical impact from on a global level if he stays the course.  He has been on the radar for some time, and is a champion arranger at the junior level for secondary schools, having piloted AGHS (Antigua Girls’ High School) Steel Orchestra to the top for 2018’s Junior Panorama competition.

Co-title defenders Hells Gate Steel Orchestra competed in position number five; they were dressed to the ‘nines.’ The musicians were called to musical order through the count which went down at 12:18 a.m.  A smoldering, deliberate groove was characterized by tight harmonies, and an in-sync presentation - all part of Khan Cordice’s studiously, well-structured arrangement. It was a master class in musical imagery through the execution of a powerful, world-class, one hundred-plus-musician-strong steel orchestra, in lockstep with Cordice’s musical vision. And on the subject of ‘vision,’ there was that - players attired in orange fireman hats, yellow shirts and reddish/orange pants with suspenders. The occasional burst of timed pyrotechnics enhanced the Fire Unda Me Foot presentation. Given this complete musical palate for consumption, it would be the championship on this night for the Hells Gate music organization.  Well done.

The same weather system that impacted orchestras’ racks moving on and off stage and overall event runtime, was not done. It showed up on occasion, which saw pan-loving patrons putting up umbrellas as light showers briefly added themselves to the now-early-morning mix. Even the judges had umbrellas over their heads at times.

Seventy-eight panists took the stage in the form of Ebonites Steel Orchestra just after 1:00 a.m. and gave a good account of themselves. Since 2014, the year of its last championship, the band has been in erstwhile pursuit of a third title. However in this current era of more potent performances on Panorama night, it would have necessitated a more strident overall presence to pull it off this year. Still, even though it was a relatively laid-back take compared to the other 2019 competitors, Jamoy Morrison’s arrangement of Fete-tiss featured several notable and captivating passages, which showcased the unmistakable ability of Morrison who is respected in the local music community.

Playing in what would have been originally the last position in the competition, former champions and community staple Gemonites Steel Orchestra turned it on and up shortly before 1:45 a.m. With fifty-five players Gemonites extended a musical invitation handily crafted by arranger Johnny Gonsalves to all the steelband lovers present, to Jam Me. Band members along with a few dancers, jovially and competently regaled everyone still at the ARG (Antigua Recreation Grounds) venue as they showed off the ample fruits of several weeks’ work.

Then it was the turn once more for Panache with what was the eighth full and now final Panorama showcase in the event. It was said that some of the racks with pans were already rolling well on their way back to the pan yard when the news of the judges’ request to reappear had filtered through. Now, just before 2:35 a.m. and more than five hours after they first played - and show up they did - Panache came back with no less energy for their repeat - and an obvious determination to take musical advantage of this totally unexpected, and history-making opportunity for a “redo” at this juncture.

Before the 2019 Panorama results were announced at 3:20 a.m., two steelband stalwarts who have figured prominently and nationally in the art form and culture were honored with special awards. Eugene Davis, manager of West Side Symphony has to date given forty-seven years of service to the art form, while Ira “Ibo” Lashley was celebrating fifty immersive years in pan.

After the presentation of awards, the long-awaited results were finally shared. Of the seven participating steel orchestras, only places for the top three were revealed.

Pan lovers who were not at the Antigua Recreation Grounds were able to catch the competition live on Observer Radio and also via ABS Television’s live stream.

 

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