All Stars stretches its lead
Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2006

By Joan Rampersad, newsday.co.tt

Neal and Massy Trinidad Steel Orchestra stretched its lead over the other big bands during the semi final round of the National Panorama competition at the Queen's Park Savannah on Sunday.

The exciting and aggressive delivery of De Fosto's song, "Soca Warriors," reminded all patrons left in the Savannah at 2.30 am yesterday of the verve and precision that the national football squad played with, when they beat their opponents in Bahrain last November for a place in World Cup 2006.

The band gave a clear signal of things to come in the finals as they moved from a three-point lead in the preliminaries to a whopping eight-point lead, after amassing 454 points from the Leon "Smooth" Edwards arrangement on Sunday.

In second position was reigning champions Phase II Pan Groove, who only obtained sponsorship via mobile services provider Digicel last week. Playing "This One's For U Bradley," composed and arranged by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, the band attained 446 points, closely followed by ten-time National Panorama champion Witco Desperadoes with 442 points. There were shades of deceased arranger Clive Bradley in the Eddie Quarless arrangement.

Going up a notch from its preliminary position was PCS Starlift with a classic Ray Holman arrangement of "If We Really Want." The delivery impressed the judges who awarded them 441 points. Sagicor Exodus made the biggest leap, from 11th position in the preliminaries to fifth place in the semi finals with a lively arrangement by Pelham Goddard of Destra's "Max It Up." The band received 431.5 points, half of a point ahead of South band TCL Skiffle Bunch. Young arranger Liam Teague produced an interesting arrangement of Destra's "Colours Again" that livened up the evening.

In the medium bands category, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille fully entertained the crowd with Ken "Professor" Philmore's arrangement of "Colours Again," that saw them surge to the top of the standings with 455.5 points, 9.5 points ahead of second placed Excellent Stores Silver Stars, that also produced a good and entertaining performance.

Close on their heels was the 2005 champion in this category, Clico Sforzata, which fell to third position after playing Baron's "This Melody Sweet" arranged by Yohan Popwell and Merlin Gill. Sforzata received 445 points.

Making an impressionable showing was West band HCL Valley Harps with "This One's For U Bradley," arranged by the lone female arranger, Michelle Huggins-Watts. Valley Harps got 442.5 points.

Earlier in the very long day at the Savannah, Merrytones was a hit with the crowd when it played "Colours Again" arranged by Seion Gomez. The band leapt to the top position of the small bands category with 435 points, some 15 points ahead of second placed Pan Elders with a Roland Gittens' arrangement of Calypso Rose's remix of "Tempo."

Claiming third spot was Petrotrin Siparia Deltones after doing "Roll It" arranged by Carlton Alexander.

Deltones received 419 points, two points more than crowd favourites Crescendoes Musical with their Curtis Edwards arrangement of "This One's For U Bradley."

The Tamana Pioneers placed fifth with Lord Kitchener's "Iron Man" of 1990, arranged by Paul Campbell. They received 412.5 points.

The other small bands to contest the finals are Fascinators — 404 points, Starland — 397 points and Southern Marines — 396 points.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=33372

Panorama 2006 Semi-finals Results

Panorama Semi-finals 2006 in Pictures

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