United Kingdom - Notting Hill Carnival’s theme
for 2006 was ASPIRING AND ACHIEVING IN UNITY. A quick look around
the pan yards made you realised that the teamwork and diligence
displayed by pannists were the perfect examples to promote this
theme. Nine steel orchestras with over 600 pan musicians who
practiced for hundreds of hours played thousands of pan instruments
on the night
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Ebony Steel
Orchestra |
Ebony Steel Orchestra captured their 15th
Panorama ‘Champions of Steel’ title when the UK Pan Community
celebrated the 28th anniversary of this renowned competition. The
evening was blessed with sporadic torrential showers before the
start of the competition but this did not deter anyone from
attending this highly fuelled national steelband musical battle.
Eternity Brass, the champions of the Battle of Drums competition at
the 2006 Rotterdam Carnival opened the show with some energetic
drumming accompanied by choreographed dances. Their appearance at
this year’s Panorama competition was made possible through an
exchange program brokered by the British Association of Steelbands
and the organisers of Rotterdam Carnival, Ducos, in Holland. In
return, Ebony Steel Orchestra will appear as a guest band at the
2007 Rotterdam Carnival.
Over the past four years the UK pan community has seen an influx of
young ‘local’ pan arrangers entered this competition. Kyron Akal,
the winning arranger of the 2004 competition. Real Steel’s, Leroy
Clarke, who has attained third and fourth positions in the past four
years. The talented Brent Holder who took Stardust to second place
last year. Paul Dowie of Croydon Steel Orchestra who joined this
competition in 2003 and has instilled a great sense of
competitiveness in his band of young pan musicians and a new entrant
this year in the likes of Chris Storey who steered Pantasia Steel
Orchestra to success in the BAS Pan Explosion competition in 2005/6.
 |
Stardust Steel
Orchestra |
Ebony played Destra’s, ‘Colours Again’. Yet
another musical masterpiece by Anise ‘Haffers’ Hadeed, the World
panorama champion arranger who has chalked up another victory and
led them to amass a grand total of 259 points to capture their 15th
‘Champions of Steel’ title. In second position with their musically
arranged rendition of ‘This One’s for U Bradley’ by World champion
soloist, Brent Holder, was Stardust Steel Orchestra with 243 points.
Brent and Stardust are a successful combination. In third place with
238 points was Southside Harmonics with a Eustace Benjamin’s musical
arrangement of Skatie’s, ‘Musical Treat’ filled with enthusiasm and
vigour. Eustace an established UK arranger has consistently
developed great musicianship in his youthful pan musicians. Fourth
place was awarded to Metronomes Steel Orchestra who played ‘This One
is for U Bradley’, musically arranged by global arranger Ken
‘Professor’ Philmore. Their energised and harmonious delivery was
awarded 233 points.
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Southside
Harmonics Steel Orchestra |
Glissando Steel Orchestra captured fifth place
with 229 points. World-renowned Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith’s melodic
arrangement was certainly a treat to pan connoisseurs on the night.
Rudy’s ‘soft touch’ is just so inspiring. Sixth position was awarded
to the Plymouth based band Real Steel who attained 215 points. Their
vibrant delivery of Leroy Clarke’s arrangement of Eunice Peters’,
‘High on Pan’ saw players feeling the music and portraying it
through their playing skills. Mangrove Steel Band captured seventh
place with 202 points. Kyron Akal’s arrangement of De Fosto’s ‘Soca
Warrior’ was certainly a great effort from a young and talented
arranger. In eight position was Croydon Steel Orchestra playing a
Paul Dowie’s musically arranged rendition of Denyse Plummer’s ‘Good
Times’ with 193 points. Paul continues to instilled a great sense of
competitiveness in his band of young pan musicians. Pantasia Steel
Orchestra attained 190 points with Chris Storey’s arrangement of
Destra’s, ‘Max It Up’. Their flag bearers treated the audience to
some energetic flag waving as they accompanied Pantasia’s delivery
that was filled with tempo. Nine outstanding steel orchestras fully
entertained the audience on the evening with a wealth of steelband
music and equally great teamwork personifying the 2006 Notting Hill
Carnival theme – Aspiring and Achieving in Unity.
The British Association of Steelbands now look forward to their 29th
Champions of Steel competition in 2007 and are already in the
process of sourcing a more suitable venue which will attract an
entry fee and where patrons will be more comfortable. The UK Pan
community now looks forward to BAS’s Pan Jamboree in Hyde Park and
the BAS Awards Presentation and Dinner in December.
1. Ebony Steel Band – Colours Again – 259 points
2. Stardust Steel Orchestra – This One’s for U Bradley – 243 points
3. Southside Harmonics Steel Orchestra – Musical Treat – 238 points
4. Metronomes Steel Orchestra - This One’s for U Bradley – 233
points
5. Glissando Steel Orchestra – Colours Again – 229 points
6. Real Steel Orchestra – High on the Pan – 215 points
7. Mangrove Steel Band – Soca Warrior – 202 points
8. Croydon Steel Orchestra – Good Times – 193 points
9. Pantasia Steel Orchestra – Max It Up – 190 points
United
Kingdom Panorama In Pictures
More On Steelpan In The UK:
click here
From the
News Desk of PanPodium / Robbie Joseph
| all photos by Robby Joseph
Contact BAS at
robbie@panpodium.com |
www.panpodium.com
More on
The British Association of Steelbands
click here
Panorama
& Bands 2006 Information
www.UK.panonthenet.com
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-From The Opinion Desk of When Steel Talks

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