Pan sweet pan at Big 5 concert

OH what a night, what a night, what a Saturday night!

O what a night, what a night, what a Saturday night it was when five of TT's top steelbands showed why they have collectively won 42 Panorama titles in the 55-year-old competition.

But Saturday was not about competition, it was more about giving patrons a great pan show, and that is exactly what the Big 5 did at the Big 5 We Comin’ again - A tribute to Pat Bishop show, held at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Saturday.

First up was Hadco Phase II, led by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, who had been in Cuba for the past few months, but returned for the event.

The band’s opening number was Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, which they followed with Only You (The Platters), before Golden Hands kids joined the band on stage to sing Say A Little Prayer. They warmed the hearts of patrons with their movements.

Joined by vocalist Vanessa Headley, they all performed Respect (Aretha Franklin) with a solo by Boogsie. As the guest performers left the stage, the band did its Panorama song Hello and received a good reception, after which vocalist Roger George, accompanied only by Boogsie, sang Let's Stay Together (Al Green).

Acknowledging that President Paula-Mae Weekes was in the crowd, Boogsie led the band in playing his own composition Woman is Boss, to close their stint on stage.

A new feature that put a smile on the faces of patrons was the use of moko jumbies to change band signs at the top of the stage area.

In between performances patrons were given the history of the late Pat Bishop and some of her notable achievements where pan is concerned.

Eleven-times pan champs Desperadoes took the stage next and immediately had the crowd going with a rock-n-roll medley of songs. Then came 15-yr-old Naomi Sinnette to sing A Cry for Pan, But it was the sweet and smooth delivery of Frank Sinatra’s Tangerine that got the crowd swaying and with broad smiles etched on their faces.

Guest artiste Mr. King then sang Busy Signal’s Borderline, saying to the crowd at the end of the song: “We want love in TT, honour and respect. Not crime.”

Arranger Carlton Alexander on keyboard and trumpeter Helon Brown joined the band on stage for Full of Vibes, followed by the playing of a favourite of Bishop, In My House (Oba Sinnette), arranged by the late Clive Bradley. Wowed applause followed that performance.

However, when Jesus Acostas Rees took the baton to lead the band in the classical Orpheus in the Underworld Overture (Jacques Offenbach), with clarinet solo by Geremiar Mai, no one in the Savannah could doubt that that was the performance of the night.

The band earned thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It just didn’t get any better than that for the rest of the event.

Republic Bank Exodus began their set with Steelband Times (Andre Tanker), followed with Nah Leavin’ (Denyse Plummer), then raised the tempo with Go Low (2nd Imij), complete with tassa drumming, and had the crowd singing along to Hey Jude (The Beatles).

Then joining the band on stage were saxophonist Tony Paul and vocalist Kensa Thomas (who also plays the trombone) to do Sweet Love. They moved to the brass section at the side to make way for the Lydians’ versions of Pan Talent and Steelband Jamboree, two of the Mighty Terror’s classics that had the President singing along. Nigel O’Connor and Moricia Cagan sang Stalin's Stay Giving Praises.

The mix of steel and brass and arranger Pelham Goddard on keyboard for Spain (Chick Korea). followed by O’Connor and Cagan doing a swing medley of Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock and Bill Haley’s Rock around the Clock created excitement in the crowd with some on their feet, while others opted to clap along or tap their feet. This session got the band its biggest ovation.

Massy All Stars came on to a tremendous roar of anxiety. leading to immediate feelings of ecstasy as they gave the crowd Fantasy (EWF).

Singer Kay Alleyne captivated the crowd with I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston), after which the band played the Gipsy Kings’ version of a Volare/Bamboleo medley, which had patrons doing salsa in their seats.

The seniors band members then made way for their juniors to play It's a Man's Man's Man's World (James Brown,) sung by Quinton Neckles. It was a most soulful rendition that ended on a note that got the crowd on its feet.

The youths continued with Hey Pokey Way (The Meters) and got the crowd to sing along, but the seniors came back to accompany calypso icon David Rudder for his delivery of Time Band, High Mas, Madness and Unknown Band, to close their highly entertaining set.

Then came the reigning Panorama champs, who teased with an intro of Year for Love, but paused for Mi Tierra (Gloria Estefan) and The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff) with Duvone Stewart soloing on the tenor pan, after which the band had the crowd going crazy with a Stalin medley.

The singing of A Change is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke) by young Samuel Thomas Jr was a delight to listen to, and to up the ante even more was the playing of Pint Ah Wine (Joey Lewis), which got couples dancing in the crowd.

Unfortunately Krisson Joseph forgot some lyrics while singing King Liar, but the band more than made up for it as they closed with a fiery performance of Year for Love (Voice) and Hulk (Blaxx) that had patrons merrily dancing.

Then as a lagniappe Renegades gave the crowd a medley of Kitchener songs that got to fever pitch. Patrons left in ecstasy.