This year, 2003, New York’s Steel band panorama was a
joint effort by promoter W.I.A.D.C.A. (West
Indian-American Day Carnival Association) and USSA (United States
Steelband Association) representative for the bands.
The following is the When Steel Talks review of the show held at the
Brooklyn Museum grounds on Saturday August 30th.
As we said in our
pre-show
review, this year’s event was promoted as the best ever.
The best panorama ever, it was not. It was an entertaining show. It was
well-attended. The bands came ready for prime time.
In spite of a late start which was strange, considering the first band stood
on stage ready and waiting to perform for at least 20 minutes, the show
moved quickly once it began. The bands moved quickly on and off the stage.
The results were announced within 20 minutes of the last band's performance.
We give the joint effort of this year’s Panorama promoters - WIADCA/USSA - a
grade of "C-". There is a possibility of a
"C" depending on if there is a
quality audio and video recording of the event available to the public. The
bands get a "B" for coming through again in big time fashion in what has to be
one of the most difficult and hostile years for pan in New York.
The Bands
They came ready for prime time. Most of them were MTV and Showtime ready. In general they all
looked good and were camera ready. Some uniforms and presentations were
superb. Indeed many fashion statements were made. CYP and ADLIB looked great
on stage. Pantonic showed creativity with props on their stands.
The Performances
This was not one of the most competitive panoramas. Pantonic left the pack
behind with a performance for the ages. It was indeed a fantastic delivery.
As Bradley said, “only this band could have delivered this music like this
and they can compete with any in the world”. There were no major
surprises in this panorama. Radoes pulled it together as expected and allowed arranger
Clive Bradley to hold down both the 1st and 3rd positions. It is safe to say
that no New York arrangers’ job is guaranteed for 2004 year, except
Bradley’s.
Promotion
While the event was well attended no new records are going to be set here.
Promotions were done through normal channels - essentially radio and print
media. The outreach was local. However, the New York pan appeal is
international. Pan aficionados were there in droves. They eat drink and
sleep pan. Wherever the panorama is they will be there. They do not need any
coaching, just when and where. Having said that, where were the new people
attending their very first panorama? No out reach was made to them. Not
enough effort was made to take advantage of TV and internet advertising. The
future of the pan movement is in attracting new people to listening and
appreciating pan. There is no better show than a panorama to do this. Where
were the pan commercials, the steel band billboards on 42nd Street, Church
Avenue??? How do you print a promotional flyer with no pictures of any New
York bands after 27 years of pan? This is the media capital of the world. An
opportunity was missed.
The WIADCA official web site is embarrassing. Any organization that heads an
event that pulls over 4 million people have to do better in providing timely
info on the net. As of today the pan portion of web site is still heavily
erroneous and shows blatant disregard for the professionalism of the pan
people themselves.
Judging
Judging is subjective. Either you have competent and fair judges or you
don’t. Next!
Press Conference Area
The pan players are the artists. It is their day. The Bradleys, Pelhams,
Philmores and Greenidges are the giants of the steelband world. Access to the
players and arrangers by the media 20 minutes after they cleared the stage
for group shots and interviews by local and foreign press in a special
briefing room or area is essential.
Sidebar
What’s the purpose of meeting with governors, mayors, kings and queens if
you cannot get permission for bands to practice past 9:00pm on the Friday
before panorama after 27 years?
Is a Program of the Panorama, listing band names, selections, etc. - for the
audience - to much to ask for???
Show Production
Videotrons
Great! Added a much-needed boost to the show.
The Stage
Too Small!!! Too Small!!! Too Small!!! Ramp to access stage
much too steep. No backdrop to project sound forward to audience
Sound
It stank. These folks did not have a clue. Can somebody spell ‘SOUND CHECK’?
It is tragic that the bands spend so much money on tuning and blending pans
for a unique tonal quality, only to have it massacred by the sound
engineers. Sound engineers should practice at home, not during the show. The
pan men and women are professionals and therefore the sound reinforcement
should be equally professional as they are. Do any of these guys actually
own a pan CD? Just joking. Not!
PS: – at least the DJ part of the sound system sounded good…
Follow-up
None!!! Can someone spell press release???
The Bands
PANTONIC
Behaved and performed like champions. They are young, gifted and
experienced. They are Bradley’s children who have grown up. Their talent,
hunger to excel and humility makes them a favorite to do it again. This
panorama they took the judging out of the judge’s hands as champions should
do, by providing a KO. They distanced themselves from the rest of their
competition. They controlled the audio output of their performance, by
taking it out of the sound engineers’ hands, through the sheer power of
their execution. They are clicking on all cylinders – great management,
great leadership, great arranger, great tuner and great players. They even
had a color yearbook. Definitely a first. Not to be overlooked, the YAMAHA
banner on their percussion float attested to the global recognition of the
band’s musical excellence.
CASYM
The judges had them in first place until Pantonic performed in position
number twelve. Expect them to be back, and come out swinging next year.
The band looked real cool in their white custom-made CASYM jumpsuits.
RADOES
Radoes showed that they are contenders. No pretenders here. Look for them to
come strong next year. Nice float and outfits.
MARSICANS
Nice conceptual presentation. Look for Pelham Goddard and this crew to
regroup and make another showing next year.
SONATAS
It was good to see Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore back on the scene. It’s crowded
at the top now, but expect Sonatas to rebound. They remain one of New York’s
steelband powerhouses. The great tone of their pans is a tribute to their
tuner Betrand ‘Birch’ Kellman.
DESPERS USA
A veteran crew, they will regroup. They will be back.
ADLIB
These young people continue to improve. Their performance showed much
promise. They looked and sounded good. They have great management that the
kids love. They are a ‘young Pantonic’. Look for them to join the upper
echelons permanently.
DEM STARS
For a band that has participated in Panorama for only the third year
running, they continue to show promise and exhibit staying power.
MOODS
A strange year and a trying season for the veteran Moods management team.
They continue in their efforts to keep a New York original [steelband]
alive. Look for them, too, to rebound.
PAN PHONIC
Much improved.
CARIBBEAN YOUTH PANORAMICS (CYP)
They played at the most difficult position in a panorama: number one. A
spirited and commendable performance, great presentation, topped off by the
surprise appearance of reigning Trinidad & Tobago Calypso Monarch, Singing
Sandra whose ‘Ancient Riddems’ CYP chose as its selection.
CROSSFIRE
Did well despite the difficulties experienced during the season. This is
only their sophomore year. The jury’s not yet back on this one. Entertaining
performance.
HARMONY
In spite of having to practice in new conditions, they made it to another
panorama.
WOMEN IN STEEL
Overcame a difficult start. New arranger this year, who got a personal
introduction to the New York steelband world via the only all-woman
steelband on the New York pan scene. Look for the group to come up with a
new strategy.
SESAME FLYERS
Extremely difficult year. Their efforts to find an outdoor practice area
took its toll on the young players. Their placing in the competition does
not reflect the band’s talent, or that of their arranger. Sesame Flyers
organization should begin work immediately in order not to have a recurrence
of practice space/pan yard tribulations as experienced in 2003. They enjoyed
themselves on stage, and gave a good performance which did not give away the
trials they had been through to reach that point.
Let us hear your views
2003 New York Panorama in Pictures...
2003 New York Panorama Band Line-up; Info
on Band
Captains, Arrangers, Tuners!
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2003
NEW YORK PAN YARDS
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