In this edition:

1. Panorama 2001 Results
2. Spotlight on Panorama Champions: Exodus Steel Orchestra
   
3. Pan Notes
   
4. Pan News
5. Archived News

1. Panorama 2001 Results     [back to top]

This year's Panorama was fraught with the usual controversy, including arguments over the venue of Panorama finals and the issue of players and arrangers being attached to more than one band. Panorama finals posed the usual challenges with ticketing, as patrons with reserved tickets were unable to find seats. But when the dust had settled, it was the music and the spirit of the players and patrons that once again rescued the Panorama.

Panorama 2001 will be remembered for its high standard of music. The music of the Mighty Shadow dominated the final round of competition and was played by five of the fourteen bands. However, Exodus copped the title of Panorama champions with a Pelham Goddard arrangement of "A Happy Song". The following is a summary of how the bands placed in the various competitions for the season:

Conventional Bands

Single Pans

2. Profile of Panorama Champions 2001 - Exodus     [back to top]

The Exodus Steel Orchestra was formed in June 1981 and is situated in the borough of Tunapuna. The band has approximately forty full time members who make up their stage side and between eighty part time members who make up the full compliment of one hundred for the Panorama competition. The Exodus has performed creditably in all the major competitions since its inception in 1983, winning the Panorama title for the first time in 1992 with a Pelham Goddard arrangement of a David Rudder song - "Savannah Party". This year, the band copped the Panorama title with another Pelham Goddard arrangement of "A Happy Song" sung by Roger George. Exodus scored a total of 471 points in a close race that saw the second place winners, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars scoring 468. WITCO Desperadoes, failed to score a hat trick, placing third (466) with a Clyde Bradley arrangement of the Mighty Shadow's "Horn".

According to Manager, Ainsworth Mohammed, the band's success can be attributed to five factors: good management, good music, great instruments, excellent players and a clear and articulated vision of the band's future. Also, the band has implemented strict policies that impact their creditable performance. For instance, the members of Exodus are not allowed to play for other bands, must know over 80% of the bands' repertoire (forty five songs) and must attend practice on a regular basis. The band stands out as being one of the few "unsponsored" conventional bands, although they do get support from a number of business and community concerns.

Exodus has toured every year since 1983 both in the region (Jamaica Carnival) and further afield in Europe and Asia.

The band has also distinguished itself as the founder and manager of the much-anticipated Pan Ramajay Festival that has brought some of the region's most respected musicians to these shores over its ten-year history. This year, the festival is scheduled for May 25th and 26th at the Forecourt of the Queen's Park Savannah.

3. Pan Notes     [back to top]

Carnival 2001 will be remembered for the wealth of new pan music that was created. The growing popularity of Pan Trinbago's Pan Kaiso Competition has contributed in no small way to this resurgence in music for the pan. This month's Panland News reviews two new pan releases:

2001 Calypso Compilation (Major & Minor Productions - daniell@wow.net)
This CD, dedicated to the late great Lord Kitchener, features thirteen of our best bards singing praises to the pan. The songs on this cd are some of the most popular for the 2001 season and include music from De Fosto (Kitchener Say), Roger George (A Happy Song), Wayne Rodriguez (Raindrops on my Pan), Denyse Plummer (Fire and Steel) and Preacher (Rain Melody). This offer is a collector's item for any serious pan enthusiast.

More Kaiso for Pan 2001 (Major and Minor Productions - daniell@wow.net)
This compilation features more artists singing praise songs for the pan. Among them are David Rudder's "Freedom", Wayne Rodriguez' "Heroes of the Nation", De Fosto's "Queen of the Road", and Carol Jacobs' "She Like It". Although the songs on this cd were not as popular during the carnival season, their beauty lies in their variety.

4. Pan News     [back to top]

Trinidad and Tobago Instruments signs distribution deal.

John Nonaka, President of Nonaka-Boeki (right), Michael Cooper, TTIL President (centre) and Mr. Nonaka's assistant at the NAMM 2001 show

Trinidad and Tobago Instruments Limited (TTIL) recently appointed the prestigious Japanese music import company, Nonaka Boeki Limited, to distribute its steel pans and accessories in Japan. It is envisaged that this arrangement will further penetrate the Japanese market by capitalising on the Japanese interest in the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. This exclusive deal represents the culmination of a business relationship that began two years ago.

Rated as one of the largest music product suppliers in the world, Nonaka Boeki Limited has been importing specialised musical instruments and accessories from all over the world since 1953. The relationship with Nonaka Boeki Limited promises to develop the Japanese market for the steel pan instrument in particular and the culture of Trinidad and Tobago in general. The employment and income opportunities for performers, tuners, steel pan impresarios and other cultural entrepreneurs that can be accrued from this relationship promises to be sizeable.

TTIL will continue to forge strategic alliances with foreign partners to penetrate new markets that have an interest in the cultural products and services of Trinidad and Tobago.

TTIL launches new website

Trinidad and Tobago Instruments Limited has developed a new website that promises to give pan surfers a more comprehensive concept of the company and the range of products and services that it offers. The website borrows conceptually and aesthetically from the new catalogue that was launched in June 2000.

The new website also promises to be more user friendly and has an impressive range of links to other steel pan related sites. Customers are allowed to place orders from the site. An up to date schedule of pan and pan related activities will be hosted on the Events page and the monthly edition of Panland News will still be available and mailed to interested subscribers. The second phase of upgrading the website will involve the introduction of e-commerce capability and an online store.

Melodies for the Mini C Pan

Trinidad and Tobago Instruments Limited has launched a new product - "Melodies for the Mini C Pan" - a method book and cd, which provides basic instructions for the use of the Mini C with twenty simple melodies. This product can be used to introduce the steel pan to the adult hobbyist as well as the child beginner. It is especially tailored to teach music literacy to students in a friendly manner.

"Melodies for the Mini C Pan" contains a brief history of the steelpan, a methodology for the use of the product, and a listing of the twenty songs by category and rating.

Although the product is created as a companion for the Mini C pan, it can be similarly utilised with the Mid Pan, Tenor Pan or any other steel pan that contains the notes of the Mini C Pan.

Firsts in Panorama by Gideon Maxim

Released in time for Panorama 2001, this booklet details the best in Panorama trivia and is a must-have for any serious Panorama enthusiast. In keeping with his commitment to document the history of pan, documentalist Mr. Gideon Maxim adds "Firsts in Panorama" to his already impressive list of books on the history of the steel pan. The booklet covers a wide range of topics including innovations in pan, the music, and the competition format.

All products mentioned can be sourced through TTIL.